How to choose solar panels for business in 2026
When building a solar power plant for business, most companies pay attention only to the price of the equipment. In fact, it is the choice of photovoltaic modules that determines how much electricity the solar power plant will produce over the next 25–30 years, what its payback will be and the actual ROI of the investment.
That is why professional EPC companies evaluate equipment not only by power or cost, but also by the manufacturer's financial reliability, module efficiency, degradation, bankability and long-term warranties.
Why the BloombergNEF Tier 1 rating is more important than advertising ratings
If you are looking for which solar panels are the best, you will quickly find dozens of ratings. However, most of them are based on marketing assessments or user reviews. Global banks, investment funds and large developers use a different benchmark - BloombergNEF Tier 1 PV Module Manufacturers.
BloombergNEF (BNEF) is an analytical division of the international media company Bloomberg, which studies the global markets of energy, climate technologies and investments.
The quarterly Tier 1 PV Modules rating is not an assessment of the "quality" of panels, but a list of manufacturers who have proven their financial stability and ability to supply equipment for large-scale projects. To be included in the rating, a manufacturer must meet strict criteria, including:
- implementation of large industrial projects;
- supply of modules for facilities financed by international banks;
- stable production;
- confirmed financial stability;
- high reputation in the global market.
That is why Tier 1 is often called the "bank list of manufacturers".
Solar panel manufacturers ranking 2026
In terms of production volumes, the global market is currently led by:
| Manufacturer | Annual production volume |
|---|---|
| Jinko Solar | 120 MW/year |
| LONGi Solar | 120 MW/year |
| Trina Solar | 100 MW/year |
| JA Solar | 88 MW/year |
| TW Solar (Tongwei) | 85 MW/year |
All of these companies are in the top 5 of the BloombergNEF Tier 1 Q2 2026 supplemental rating and supply equipment worldwide and are used in the largest industrial solar power plants.
Let's compare the world leaders
Jinko Solar is one of the largest manufacturers of photovoltaic modules in the world.
ADVANTAGES:
- high efficiency;
- wide model range;
- high reliability;
- excellent reputation among EPC companies;
- successful experience in implementing thousands of industrial projects.
LONGi Solar is a world leader in the production of monocrystalline solar modules and one of the most innovative manufacturers in the industry.
ADVANTAGES:
- over 25 years of operation;
- production capacity of over 120 GW;
- stable BloombergNEF Tier 1 status;
- one of the highest bank ratings among PV module manufacturers;
- active investments in its own R&D centers.
Particular attention is drawn to the new generation of Hi-MO X10 modules, which in 2025 received the international PV Magazine Award for the innovative HPBC 2.0 (Hybrid Passivated Back Contact) technology.
Hi-MO X10 is considered one of the best solutions because the modules use Back Contact technology, thanks to which more active area absorbs sunlight, electrical losses are reduced and generation efficiency is increased.
Among the technical advantages:
-
Bidirectional generation up to 75%;
-
Temperature coefficient of –0.26%/°C, which ensures stable output even in hot weather;
-
TaiRay Silicon Wafer technology, which increases the strength of the plates by approximately 16%;
-
Hot Spot prevention function, which minimizes the risks of local overheating in partial shading;
-
Higher electricity generation throughout the entire life cycle.
That is why LONGi is increasingly chosen by large investors, international developers and financial institutions.
Trina Solar is one of the pioneers of the global solar energy market.
ADVANTAGES:
- high module efficiency;
- strong investment in research;
- wide range of solutions for Utility0 Scale;
- good warranty conditions.
JA Solar is a manufacturer with an excellent price-performance ratio.
ADVANTAGES:
- stable quality;
- extensive experience;
- high production rates;
- popularity among industrial EPC contractors.
TW Solar (Tongwei) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of silicon wafers and solar cells.
ADVANTAGES:
- vertically integrated production;
- quality control at all stages;
- modern production technologies;
- rapid scaling of production capacities.
How to choose solar panels for business
When choosing equipment, ETL Group recommends evaluating not only the initial cost. It is important to consider:
- the presence of the manufacturer in BloombergNEF Tier 1;
- the company's financial stability;
- product and performance guarantees;
- module efficiency;
- temperature coefficient;
- degradation rate;
- resistance to mechanical loads;
- compatibility with modern ininverters and energy storage systems (ESS/BESS);
The choice of solar panels is not a question of brand or the lowest price. It is a strategic investment decision that determines the efficiency of the solar power plant for decades.
That is why professional EPC companies focus on manufacturers from BloombergNEF Tier 1, who have confirmed their financial stability, technological leadership and ability to ensure long-term performance of the equipment.
At ETL Group, the selection of photovoltaic modules is carried out individually for each project, taking into account the consumption profile, economic model, payback requirements and scaling prospects. This approach allows you to build solar power plants for business that provide maximum output, high reliability and predicted ROI throughout the entire service life.
