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The 7 largest solar panel manufacturers in the world
Discover which companies are producing the highest number of solar panels around the world
Written byMelody Abeni
🇨🇳 The majority of solar panel manufacturers are based in China
🏠The largest solar panel manufacturer is TW-Solar, followed by JA Solar
đź’· TW-Solar is the only solar panel company on the Fortune Global 500 list
Solar power is currently the world’s third largest renewable electricity technology after hydropower and wind (International Energy Agency, 2024), and it's ultimately powered by solar panel manufacturers.Â
From Asia to North America and everywhere in between, these manufacturers aren't just driving technological innovation but also shaping the future of clean energy worldwide
This article will explore the achievements and contributions of the top seven industry giants in the solar photovoltaic (PV) world.
What are the UK’s seven largest solar manufacturers?
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Spring 2023 Solar Industry Update Report sets out the details of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers.
We've outlined them below, in ascending order, based on the manufacturers' number of solar shipments in 2022.Â
These shipments are measured in gigawatt-peak (GWp), which is a unit that tells us the peak power output of a solar PV device under standard test conditions. One gigawatt (GW) is equal to 1 billion watts (W), or 1 million kilowatts (kW).Â
7. Trina Solar
| Name | Country | Year founded | Solar manufactured in 2022 (GWp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trina Solar Co. Ltd. | China | 1997 |
Trina Solar Co. Ltd. is a Chinese solar PV module manufacturer that shipped the equivalent of 14.5GWp worth of solar modules in 2022. That’s enough electricity to power over 7 million washing machines for an hour (based on a typical 2.1kW appliance).
The company operates in over 160 countries and employs over 23,000 people. Besides manufacturing solar products like PV panels, storage batteries, and solar trackers, Trina Solar offers project management, construction, and maintenance services for large-scale solar installations.
The company also invests heavily in research and development (R&D), claiming its 25th world record for solar cell efficiency and module power in 2022. This has helped it maintain a strong market presence, securing a revenue of $12.5 billion (approx. ÂŁ9.85 billion) in 2022.
6. Canadian Solar
| Name | Country | Year founded | Solar manufactured in 2022 (GWp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Solar Inc. | Canada | 2001 |
The sixth largest solar manufacturer in terms of shipments is Canadian Solar Inc. - the only solar PV module manufacturer on this list with headquarters based outside of China.
With over 20,000 employees in at least 30 countries, Canadian Solar operates large manufacturing facilities in both Canada and China, as well as Indonesia, Vietnam and Brazil.
Canadian Solar caters to residential, commercial and utility needs with a product range including PV panels, storage batteries and solar inverters.Â
In 2022, the company exported around 16.8GWp of solar modules, resulting in an annual revenue of USD $7.47 billion (approx. ÂŁ5.88 billion).
5. JinkoSolar
| Name | Country | Year founded | Solar manufactured in 2022 (GWp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd | China | 2006 |
Jinko Solar Co. Ltd. is another big Chinese manufacturer, and the fifth largest on this list with 23.9GWp shipped in 2022. The company HQ is in Shanghai and it has 14 factories elsewhere in China, as well as in Malaysia, Vietnam, and the United States.
JinkoSolar offers a range of PV modules and storage systems for both domestic and commercial use, and has cumulatively delivered 210GWp worth of solar products since 2006. In 2022, the company reported USD $12.11 billion (approx. ÂŁ9.54 billion) in revenue.
4. LONGi
| Name | Country | Year founded | Solar manufactured in 2022 (GWp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd. | China | 2000 |
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd. ranks fourth on our list, with 29.2GWp of solar module shipments in 2022 and USD $19.27 billion (approx. ÂŁ15.23 billion) in revenues the same year.
Operating with 60,000-plus employees in over 30 countries, LONGi Solar specialises in monocrystalline silicon technology and aims to produce 100GWp of solar wafers and 50GWp of solar cells each year.
The company has seven domestic manufacturing plants in China, as well as overseas facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam. As part of its sustainability commitments, the company uses clean energy and green manufacturing within all its operations through its "Solar for Solar" business model.
3. AIKO
| Name | Country | Year founded | Solar manufactured in 2022 (GWp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai AIKO Energy Co. Ltd. | China | 1996 |
The third largest solar panel manufacturer is Shanghai AIKO Energy Co. Ltd., which exported 30.7GWp of solar modules in 2022.
AIKO’s sleek black N-type ABC (All Back Contact) monocrystalline glass modules have been consistently ranked as the world's most efficient panels (at 24% efficiency) since their launch in March 2023.
As well as selling panels, the company's product range also includes individual PV cells, solar inverters, battery storage, mounting systems and specialist digital programs.
With a turnover exceeding CNY ÂĄ35.08 billion (approx. ÂŁ3.84 billion) in 2022 and cumulative shipments exceeding 120 GW, AIKO employs over 15,000 people globally and holds over 1,061 patents.
2. JA Solar
| Name | Country | Year founded | Solar manufactured in 2022 (GWp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JA Solar Technology Co. Ltd. | China | 2005 |
Narrowly missing out on the top position, Beijing-based JA Solar Technology Co. Ltd. is the second largest solar panel manufacturer in the world with 36.2GWp of solar modules shipped in 2022.
Based on Ofgem’s estimates of a typical household’s annual electricity usage, 36.2GWp is enough electricity to power over 13.4 million UK homes - around half of the 26.4 million homes in England and Wales.
With over 32,500 employees and operations in at least eight countries, JA Solar reported an operating revenue of USD $10.7 billion (approx. ÂŁ8.43 billion) in 2022 - with a market share of at least 68% in the UK and 23% in Europe.
JA Solar's product range includes high-efficiency PV modules like its DeepBlue 4.0/3.0 series, PV production materials and storage batteries.
1. Tongwei Solar (TW-Solar)
| Name | Country | Year founded | Solar manufactured in 2022 (GWp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tongwei Solar Co. Ltd. | China | 2009 |
Tongwei Solar (TW-Solar), a subsidiary of the Chinese Tongwei Group, sits at the top of the list as the largest solar panel manufacturer in the world. TW-Solar shipped a whopping 38.1GW of solar modules in 2022, doubling Trina Solar's shipments and achieving an annual revenue of USD $20.57 billion (approx. ÂŁ16.20 billion).
The company employs over 50,000 staff around the globe and is the world's largest in-house polycrystalline silicon producer. It also plans to double its annual production capacity of 80GWp to 150GWp by 2025.
In August 2023, Tongwei Group made history as the first solar PV company on the Fortune Global 500 list, and is currently the only solar company on the global list (as of March 2024).
Summary
The top seven global solar panel manufacturers are mostly (though not exclusively) Chinese.
Miles ahead of the pack is Tongwei Solar, exporting 38.1GWp in 2022, closely followed by JA Solar, AIKO, LONGi, JinkoSolar, Canadian Solar, and Trina Solar.Â
Each manufacturer brings unique strengths to the industry table. But by making significant investments in research and global operations, these heavyweights are collectively driving the renewable energy industry forward with their innovative technology and practices.
The largest solar panel manufacturers: FAQs
Who is the largest solar panel manufacturer?
Tongwei Solar (TW-Solar) holds the title of the largest solar panel manufacturer globally and is the only solar panel company on the Fortune Global 500 list.Â
With its headquarters in China, TW-Solar is renowned as the largest polycrystalline silicon producer and for its extensive production capacity at 80GWp per year.
Who manufactures solar panels in the UK?
There are a few solar panel companies in the UK, including England-based UKSOL, GB-Sol in South Wales, and Viridian Solar (who produce roof-integrated solar panels).Â
However, it's worth noting that many of these manufacturers use overseas factories to be able to offer competitive prices to consumers.Â
Who are the best manufacturers of solar panels?
The top global solar panel manufacturers, based on their scale, include companies such as TW-Solar, JA Solar, AIKO, and others - these manufacturers ship a large number of solar products around the world each year.
Ultimately, the "best" manufacturer for your solar project depends on whether their products suit your budget, efficiency needs and lifestyle.
Written byMelody Abeni
Based in London, Melody is a specialist green technology writer who has been covering sustainability, climate action and ESG for the past five years, after gathering operational experience in green investing and financial services. She has written for various industry publications, including renewable technology advisor The Eco Experts, and she holds a Master’s degree in law from Birkbeck University.