Broadly speaking pv manufacturers can be ranked into tiers according to measurement and weighting on the following metrics.

Tier 1 solar panels definition. Most tier 1 manufacturers have been affected by issues of quality or bankruptcy. To be classified as tier 1 the panel manufacturer must have provided own brand own manufacture products to five different projects which have been financed non recourse by five different banks in the past two years. If you re considering purchasing solar the term tier 1 panels would most likely have been thrust at you to imply quality performance and reliability. Are either publicly listed on a stock exchange or have a strong and stable balance sheet.

Generally tier 1 is merely a measure of industry acceptance and there s no specific criterion when it comes to solar panel quality production and components. Strategic and tactical position. Finally at least 5 years history producing solar panels is the other criterion for being considered tier 1 for pike research. Having been around for at least this amount of time in what is a relatively young industry is testament to a company s commitment to its own longevity as well as to its customers and is indicative of the likelihood that that company will still be around in 20 years time to service its warranties.

Tier 1 solar panels are panels that are manufactured by big brands who have a good reputation in the industry. Bloomberg defines a tier 1 solar manufacturer as those which have provided products to five different projects which have been financed non recourse by five different non development banks in the past two years. As these companies have generally been around for more than a few years you re a lot safer investing in tier 1 companies than tier 2 or 3. However this quarterly ranking by bloomberg new energy finance is really just a measure of the manufacturer s financial stability based on the manufacturer having supplied at least six large scale bank financed projects in the.

The tier rating is used amongst the solar industry as a tool to avoid dodgy solar panels and promote high quality panels. Generally speaking when a solar panel is ranked or advertised as tier 1 it is claiming that it is of high quality and has been constructed and designed to live out the 25 year life expectancy in good form. To begin let s take a look at what qualifies a panel to become tier 1. Each year solar review publishes the latest tier 1 solar panels list in a bid to assist end user education understand the term tier 1 was not created as a quality guideline.

But just what defines a tier 1 solar panel.

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