Quality vs. cheap solar panels
When it comes to investing in solar energy, the allure of low-cost panels can be strong. After all, who doesn’t want to save money? But the real question is—at what cost?
SOLARWATT believe in long-term value over short-term savings. Choosing the cheapest solar panel may look good on paper, but the hidden costs can be significant. Here’s why quality matters, and what really separates a premium solar panel from a budget alternative.
The hidden costs of cheap solar panels.
It sounds appealing, doesn’t it? But in order to achieve that low price, manufacturers often cut corners—literally and figuratively.
1. Flimsy Frames
Cheap frames may use thinner aluminium or softer alloys. These are more likely to bend or crack under stress from wind or snow. Glass can slip out, shatter, or crack, leading to complete module failure. Sharp, poorly finished frame edges can even damage the panel from the inside.
2. Low-Quality Glass
Budget glass often discolours, yellows, or degrades under UV exposure and moisture. It may also be brittle, leading to breakages in hail or snowfall. This not only affects the look of the installation but also reduces the efficiency and longevity of the system.
3. Inferior Embedding & Back sheet Materials
These layers are crucial for protecting the solar cells. Cheap materials can lead to delamination, corrosion, and hotspots. In worst-case scenarios, this can cause fires, especially when combined with poor-quality junction boxes.
4. Poor Connections, Higher Risk
Subpar connectors and busbars corrode quickly, especially in coastal or humid areas. They can also create ‘hotspots’ and lead to energy losses, electrical shocks, or even fires. UV exposure shortens the lifespan of low-grade cabling.
5. No Proper Testing or Quality Control
Many budget panels bypass essential quality checks like damp-heat testing, mechanical stress simulations, and fire safety assessments. Without this, you’re gambling with panel durability and safety.
6. Cheap Packaging Equals Transport Damage
Savings on packaging often result in scratched, cracked or broken panels before they even reach your home. Replacing damaged modules isn’t just inconvenient—it’s wasteful and unsustainable.
7. Unsustainable & Unethical Manufacturing
Many low-cost manufacturers compromise on labour conditions and environmental practices. At SOLARWATT, we only work with suppliers who meet International Labour Organisation standards and produce their panels in carbon-neutral factories.
8. Inferior Warranties & Poor Service
Low-cost panels often come with poor after-sales service and limited warranties that don’t cover real-world conditions like salt mist or ammonia exposure. Even filing a claim can become a frustrating maze of finger-pointing.
Why SOLARWATT panels are different.
At SOLARWATT, there are no compromises.
- Rigorous Testing: We test every module multiple times—internally and externally—before launch. These tests even exceed standard TÜV requirements.
- Durability: Their glass-glass modules are resistant to hail, ammonia, and salt mist. They perform reliably for decades.
- Proven Performance: In third-party tests, competing panels showed up to 34% performance loss after UV and climate chamber testing. SOLARWATT panels showed less than 4%—even after three times the test duration.
- Sustainability at Heart: Our panels are manufactured using renewable energy, with <240 kg CO₂ released per module. Each panel offsets its production emissions in just over a year of use.
- Trusted Warranty: We offer a 30-year product and performance warranty on our panel vision range, with 90% guaranteed residual performance. That’s peace of mind, guaranteed.
Going cheap today could mean replacing faulty panels tomorrow, dealing with poor customer service, or risking safety and performance. From the products we recommend, our reliability and dedication to customer service alongside seamless installation services, At SOLARWTT we believe in quality, every step-of-the-way.
