LONGi Solar Panel Review (2024)

Overview of LONGi Solar Panels

LONGi Solar is a major global player in the solar product manufacturing industry, producing wafers, cells, and panels that contribute to the solar energy sector. The company has been instrumental in improving solar efficiency with innovations like monocrystalline PERC cells. LONGi also manufactures affordable solar panels for residential and commercial use. Over the past few years, the company has positioned itself as a leader in solar research and development, making strides in improving silicon cell technology and developing unique HPBC cells. These advancements have helped make the LONGi Hi-MO 6 panels among the most efficient solar panels available today.

Quick Summary of LONGi Solar Panels

• How powerful (Watts) are the panels: 350W – 600W
• How good are the panels at turning sunlight into power (Efficiency %): Very High – 20.5% – 23.0%
• What kind of technology is used in the cells: P-type HPBC and N-type TOPCon
• How much do they cost: Not too expensive ($$$)
• Which panel is liked the most: Hi-MO 5m 415W
• How long is the warranty: Standard – 15 years
• How good is their customer service: Pretty good, rated 3.5 out of 5
• Overall, are they recommended: Yes, with four stars (☆☆☆☆)

LONGi Origins

LONGi Solar was founded in 2000 and is part of the LONGi Group, based in China. With factories in locations like Malaysia, Vietnam, India, and China, the company has experienced rapid growth over the past five years. In 2020, LONGi became the world’s largest solar company based on market capital and sales revenue. The company produces over 110GW of solar products annually, including more than 25GW of panels, 30GW of cells, and over 55GW of wafers.

LONGi Solar specializes exclusively in monocrystalline products and has played a key role in the industry’s shift back to using higher-quality monocrystalline cells. Prior to their innovations, the industry predominantly relied on polycrystalline cells due to their lower cost. LONGi’s investment in new factories and the mass production of monocrystalline wafers has contributed to making mono-Si wafers and cells more affordable and widely used in solar energy systems.

LONGi Solar’s Impressive Cell Efficiency

LONGi Solar not only has a massive capacity for making solar products but also a large team of people who work on researching and developing the best panels. They’ve set many records for their great solar cell efficiency. Recently, their team achieved something really amazing. They used a special type of cell technology called heterojunction (HJT), and they made a cell that’s 26.81% efficient. That’s the best anyone has done with silicon solar cells!

HPBC Cell Technology

In November 2022, LONGi Solar introduced its groundbreaking Hi-MO 6 series, marking a milestone in solar panel technology. The new panels utilize Hybrid Passivated Back Contact (HPBC) cell technology, which has enabled them to achieve an efficiency of 22.8% when produced at scale. This is a remarkable feat, as most solar panels could only reach such high efficiency with N-type TOPCon or IBC cells, which are traditionally associated with more expensive, high-performance panels. By using a P-type HPBC cell design, LONGi has matched the efficiency levels of top-tier brands like SunPower, renowned for producing some of the most efficient solar panels in the world. LONGi is the first solar company to accomplish this with P-type technology, setting a new industry standard.

For years, leading solar companies like SunPower and REC relied on N-type wafer-based cells, which offered higher efficiency but came at a premium price. With the introduction of the Hi-MO 6 series, LONGi, along with other Chinese manufacturers like Jinko Solar, is driving a shift toward more affordable and efficient solar technologies. The development of these advanced HPBC cells represents a step forward, not only improving solar panel efficiency but also lowering the cost of solar energy. LONGi’s efforts are part of a broader push within the solar industry to make clean energy more accessible and cost-effective for a global market.

LONGi Solar Panels

LONGi Solar is known for producing a wide range of high-quality solar panels designed to meet varying energy needs, from residential homes to large-scale commercial and industrial solar projects. Their product lineup includes two main series: the Hi-MO 4 and Hi-MO 5, which have been popular choices for their reliability and efficiency. In early 2023, LONGi introduced an even more advanced model—the Hi-MO 6 series. This new generation of panels brings enhanced performance and higher efficiency, making it an appealing option for those looking for cutting-edge solar technology.

LONGi offers panels with different cell configurations to cater to diverse energy requirements, including 54, 60, 66, and 72-cell options, with flexibility for even larger formats. Whether you need panels for a small home, a business, or a massive solar farm, there’s a LONGi panel that fits your needs. The versatility of their product range, combined with their commitment to high-performance technology, ensures that customers can find the right solar solution, no matter the scale or application.

Hi-MO 5 Series

LONGi’s Hi-MO 5m and Hi-MO 5 panels are designed to meet the needs of various solar installations, ranging from residential rooftops to large-scale business and utility projects. While the Hi-MO 5m panels are ideal for home solar systems, the larger Hi-MO 5 panels are better suited for businesses and large solar farms. These panels incorporate the latest technology like monocrystalline PERC cells with multi-busbar (MBB) half-cut cells, providing a solid foundation for high efficiency and reliability. The use of gallium-doped silicon in the Hi-MO 5 panels minimizes long-term power loss, ensuring consistent performance over time. After 25 years, the panels usually experience only an 11% to 12% decrease in efficiency, with a smaller 2% drop in the first year of use.

Here are the details for the Hi-MO 5 panels:

• Monocrystalline PERC gallium-doped silicon cells
• Power rating: 400W to 550W
• Maximum panel efficiency: 21.3%
• Half-cut cells with 9 busbars and smart soldering
• Bigger 182mm M10 wafer
• 12-year product warranty
• 30-year performance warranty
• 84.9% power remains after 30 years

Hi-MO 6 Series

The new Hi-MO 6 series from LONGi Solar represents a leap forward in solar panel technology. These panels are the first to feature the innovative Hybrid Passivated Back Contact (HPBC) cell design. What sets them apart is that they use traditional P-type cells rather than the more commonly used N-type cells found in most other high-efficiency panels. The HPBC cell design eliminates busbars on the front, which enhances the panel’s efficiency. By incorporating rear-side passivation on the back of the cells, along with advanced back-contact soldering, the Hi-MO 6 panels are stronger and more durable.

The Hi-MO 6 series is available in four different variants, each designed to suit specific applications, whether for residential, commercial, or industrial use. These variants use the same M10-sized (182mm) HPBC cells, offering options in 72-cell, 66-cell, 60-cell, and 54-cell configurations. These panels, powered by cutting-edge technology, make the Hi-MO 6 series one of the best and most efficient solar panels available on the market today. With their combination of high performance, durability, and innovative design, they are an excellent choice for those looking to maximize their solar energy generation.

• Explorer Series: Classic design with HPBC cells
• Scientists Series: Low degradation, maximum efficiency HPBC cells 
• Guardian Series: Includes smart panel-level optimizers
• Artist Series: Available in various unique colors

Here are the details for the Hi-MO 6 panels:

• Monocrystalline HPBC cells
• Power rating: 410W to 600W
• Maximum panel efficiency: 23.0%
• Half-cut cells with HPBC cell technology (MBB)
• Large 182mm M10 wafer
• 15-year product warranty
• 25-year performance warranty
• 88.9% power remains after 25 years

Gallium-Doped Silicon for Better Solar Panels

In 2020, LONGi Solar joined forces with Shin-Etsu Chemical Co to make a new kind of solar cell. This cell is special because it uses gallium-doped silicon. It helps reduce light-induced degradation (LID) in regular P-type PERC silicon.

LID is when a solar panel loses a bit of its power during the first few hundred hours of working because of tiny bits of oxygen left during the making of normal Boron-doped silicon. Over the panel’s life, the power loss due to LID goes down a lot, to about 0.5% to 0.8% each year, depending on how good the silicon is.

Most solar panel makers use boron-doped P-type silicon wafers, and after 25 years, their panels still have about 82% to 83% of their original power. But with gallium-doped silicon, LONGi can bring the LID effects down to just 2% in the first year and less than 0.5% each year after that. This means the panels can keep around 85% of their original power even after 30 years.

Smart Soldering Technology for Better Connections

Many solar panel manufacturers use multi-busbar (MBB) technology to increase efficiency by reducing the gaps between cells and expanding the surface area. LONGi Solar has taken this innovation a step further with their proprietary “Smart Soldering technology.” Instead of using traditional busbars, LONGi employs a unique triangular-shaped micro busbar with flat ends to connect the cells, which improves performance in multiple ways.

This triangular ribbon design makes sure that the cells capture more sunlight on the front side, while also connecting more effectively with a tiny 0.6mm gap between them. As a result, the cells work together better, enhancing the overall performance of the panel. Testing has demonstrated that this Smart Soldering technology can increase the panel’s efficiency by up to 0.3% compared to conventional MBB technology. This improvement translates into panels that generate more electricity from the same amount of sunlight, boosting their effectiveness in energy generation.

The Bottom Line

LONGi Solar has rapidly established itself as one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world, leading the charge in developing new and more efficient solar cell technologies. With a vast production capacity, LONGi contributes to making solar energy more affordable and produces cost-effective solar panels that are accessible for both residential and commercial use. In essence, LONGi Solar panels are a trusted and budget-friendly option for those seeking advanced solar technology with improved long-term performance.

The company has recently achieved significant milestones, introducing groundbreaking technologies like Gallium-doped silicon, smart soldering, and the highly efficient HPBC cells. These innovations have solidified LONGi’s position as one of the foremost innovators in the solar energy sector. Their latest release, the Hi-MO 6 series, showcases even more advanced features, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of solar technology. As we look ahead, it’s exciting to consider what further creative ideas and advancements LONGi will bring to the table to continue enhancing solar energy’s efficiency and reliability in the years to come.

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