High-Power Modules In TOP SOLAR MODULES Analysis

After efficiency, a solar module’s wattage is its most telling feature – both in terms of performance and marketability. Rated power is not just a technical specification; it’s a key sales metric that often defines a product’s commercial success. That’s why, alongside our efficiency analysis, TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES Analysis H1-2025 includes a high-level review of module power ratings. We assess power development in 2 ways: by tracking changes in the top 3 highest power ratings overall, and by identifying the highest power rating within each cell technology. As with efficiency, we’ve grouped power ratings into distinct classes. While not a strict rule, this categorization aligns with common industry practices. Typically, modules below 500 W are used in residential settings, those between 500 and 600 W are suitable for commercial and industrial (C&I) installations, and modules above 600 W are preferred for utility-scale projects. We’ve applied this same framework in our analysis. When viewed through this lens, the TOP SOLAR MODULES listing is clearly dominated by high-power modules rated above 600 W.

>600 W Class: This category continues to dominate the TOP SOLAR MODULES listing. In H1 2025, its share rose from 48% in January 2025 to 53% in June 2025, while the number of products increased from 24 to 27. This reflects the increasing dominance of high-power modules. In 2024, the >600 W class maintained its strong position, starting with a 45% share in January and ending at 49% in December, with product count increasing by just one, from 25 to 26. Despite the relatively small change in count, the class consistently held the highest share throughout the year. In 2023, this power band experienced the most consistent growth. It started the year at 41% share with 14 products and climbed steadily to 45% with 25 products by December – an increase of 11 products over the year. This marks the largest single-year expansion across all power categories in the TOP SOLAR MODULES listing.

500-600 W Class: In the 500-600 W category, the first half of 2025 saw a slight decline. Product count fell from 20 in December 2024 to 18 in June 2025, resulting in its share dropping from 39% to 35%. Despite this decrease, the segment remains important for the C&I sector. During 2024, the share for this category hovered around 38% throughout most of the year. Starting with 22 products and a 40% share in January, it ended slightly lower at 20 products and 38% share by December. This reflected a moderate decline as some products were phased out or replaced by higher-power modules. In 2023, this band underwent significant fluctuation. Beginning the year with 10 products and a 29% share, the count more than doubled to 22 by December. The segment closed the year with a strong 40% share, suggesting increasing popularity during that period, though some of this momentum reversed in 2024.

<500 W Class: The <500 W category continued its downward trend in 2025. The number of products remained static at 7 from January through June. However, due to fluctuations in the overall product count, its share held steady at 14%. This class now represents the least adopted module size in the TOP SOLAR MODULES listing. In 2024, this band saw a marginal decline, with its share dropping from 15% in January to 13% in December, and the product count decreased from 8 to 7. The continued market shift toward larger, higher efficiency modules explains the slow erosion of this category. In 2023, the <500 W power class witnessed the most significant drop in share. Starting with 10 products and a 29% share in January, it briefly peaked at 32% in March with 12 products, before falling sharply to15% with just 8 products by December.

This text is an edited excerpt from the TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES H1-2025 report, which can be downloaded for free here.