CHOICE partnered with the CSIRO from 2015 to 2019 to test solar panels from Opal, LG, JA Solar, Suntech and more. The results from those tests are summarised in this article.
As of 2022 we have since begun a new round of solar panel tests with a new partner, PV Lab Australia.
We also surveyed CHOICE members in 2018 about their home solar PV systems to find out about their experience with various solar technologies, solar installers and energy companies.
Which solar panels did best in the CSIRO tests?
We recommended panels that score 80% or more. But the other solar panels in our test also performed well, scoring at least 75%.
Note that all these panels have long since been superseded by newer and better-performing models.
Previously tested solar panels in order of CHOICE score
| JA Solar JAP6-60-255/3BB | 82% |
| Tindo Karra-270 | 82% |
| Trina TSM-270PD05 | 82% |
| Jinko JKM270PP-60 | 81% |
| Winaico WST-285P6 | 80% |
| JA Solar JAM60S01-285/SC | 78% |
| LG LG300S1C-A5 | 78% |
| Suntech STP300S-20/Wfm | 77% |
| Opal QSA300M-60-S | 76% |
| Yingli YL270P-29b | 76% |
| Opal QSA270P-60-S | 75% |
For our latest reviews of currently available panels, see our solar panel reviews.
What our members told us
We surveyed more than 1000 CHOICE members across Australia in 2018 about their experience buying and owning a solar system.
The most commonly owned solar panel brands were Suntech, Trina, LG, Jinko and Sunpower.
Although 33% reported having problems with their solar system, only 2% reported problems with the panels themselves.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
