Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co., Ltd – or Aiko to its friends – has launched what it claims is the most powerful residential rooftop solar panel currently available in Australia.
The Aiko Neostar 2P 470 Watt solar panel was very recently added to the Clean Energy Council’s approved solar modules list1 under a slightly different company name – Zhejiang Aiko Solar Technology Co Ltd; and it’s all systems go.
“AIKO’s newly CEC-approved Neostar 470W panel brings a powerful and efficient solution to Australian rooftops,” says the company. “Offering more energy output in less space, this panel makes it possible for more homeowners with limited roof space to adopt solar, removing previous barriers.”
Aiko Neostar 2P 470W Solar Panel Specifications
- Cells: 108 N-Type ABC (All Back Contact)
- Dimensions: 1757 x 1134 mm
- Panel Weight: 21.5 kg
- Maximum Power: 470 Watts
- Power sorting tolerance: 0~＋3%
- Module efficiency: 23.6%
- Frame: Black anodised aluminium alloy
- Operating Temperature: -40℃ – +85℃
- Temperature Coefficient Pmax: -0.26%/ °C
- Product Warranty: 25 years
- Performance Warranty: 30 years (88.85% at year 30)
While not apples-to-apples, let’s compare some of those specs to another new panel we mentioned just a couple of days ago – the Australian-made Tindo Walara 425W.
Aside from the obvious difference in power2, the Neostar 2P is around the same size (a tad larger), half a kilogram lighter (but the datasheet indicates ±3% on weight), and has a better temperature coefficient. The Neostar 2P performance warranty is five years longer, which states a final degradation figure less at year 30 than Tindo’s at year 25. But whether either company will still be around in 25/30 years is anyone’s guess.
Price difference between the two isn’t clear at this stage, but Aiko solar panels are generally towards the cheaper end of the spectrum of good quality modules, and Tindo towards the pricier end.
One of the features of the Neostar 2P panels is what Aiko calls “Partial Shading Optimisation”. According to SQ’s resident fact-checker, Ronald Brakels:
“Most panels have three bypass diodes and when one or two solar cells are shaded, it can cause all the solar cells on that string to be bypassed. This can cause the output of the panel to be reduced by one-third. But Aiko panels can bypass individual cells that are shaded. It doesn’t work perfectly and some energy is lost as heat, but it can reduce losses compared to conventional panels.”
Here’s a brief video demonstrating the feature. I suggest muting your speakers, but I’m a cranky old fart when it comes to music (and just about everything else):
A full datasheet for the Aiko Neostar 2P 470W can be found here. You can compare Aiko modules side-by-side with other brands on the SolarQuotes solar panel comparison table (we’ll be adding the Neostar 2P soon).
Who The Heck Is Aiko?
While having a Japanese name, Aiko is headquartered in China, which is where all its manufacturing also occurs. The company was founded in 2009, focusing on production of solar cells – and to date Aiko has cranked out more than 130 gigawatts of them. In 2022, the firm branched out into manufacturing solar panels.
The Australian launch of the brand was in March this year, and the company has an office in Melbourne.
The firm is a very new addition to the SolarQuotes recommended panel brands chart. While these panels are a newcomer to the Australian scene and we only have one customer rating on the SQ Aiko solar panel reviews page so far, we’re comfortable recommending the brand based on feedback regarding quality and support from installers we trust. It’s worth checking out our Aiko reviews page for more information on the brand and its tech.
On a related note, pick up some tips on buying solar panels for your home.
About Michael Bloch
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Just for public transparency and Consensus. What is the metric or rule by SQ applies for panel recommendations?
I asked because I have seen on the site and on another Panels article that the “grandma rule” was applied to the recommendation of a panel.
Now that you are recommending AIKO, Simply based on…“Feedback on quality and support from installers we trust“ yet with at current no Australian track record nor any independence competitive testing to verify these claims?
I would love to draw back to the article written about some power which is for US installation arm completely independent of the manufacturing in research and development arm called Maxeon. To which you have been recommended these panels based around a theorised financial position or ability to service said financial position into the future and the average person not being able to differentiate between the 2 different brands. And aspect that you had heavy influence over clarifying or identifying for the general person.
Are the long-standing in installers who speak on the quality and decades of support from Maxeon in Australia, not trusted enough to be retaining the listing of these panels if that is the only metric for a relatively unknown panel to be recommended to grandma?
Given the position of influence SQ has to be general public and as a source of information, which is often good. I would much rather see a guided rule that is applied consistently then a vague interpretation of “Recommended to granny” Which rule seems to be, Let’s say Selectively elastic, in its application.
So again, To summarise on the opening list a set of rules or characteristics but a panel must comply to in order to be recommended by your site and yourself and two panels need to meet all of these characteristics or rules or just simply One or a combination of?
What does 0~ mean normally the ~ goes in front of the number. (In terms of module power tolerance).
Hi Matthew, that’s how it was noted on the datasheet under “Power Sorting Tolerance”. I’ve noticed Trina uses the same sort of designation on some of its datasheets. I’ll update the dot point above from “Positive Power Tolerance” to “Power Sorting Tolerance”, just to be clearer.
Hi Michael
Can you tell me what differences there are between the Aiko Neostar 2P & Aiko Neostar 2S are ? I’ve gone through both spec sheets for the 465w version but fail to see any diffs.
Thanks
I have noticed there are two varieties of Aiko Neostar – 2P and 2S. I have looked through the spec sheets but cannot see what the model differences are. Anyone know ?
Thanks
Hi Don,
Aiko Energy here. The Neostar 2S is the Black frame/Black back sheet panel. The Neostar 2P is the Black Frame/White back sheet panel.
Thanks
Hello Ross,
Very useful explanation, thank you.
Would you care to cover the pros and cons of black or silver rear panels? Is it just cosmetic or does the black rear panel radiate more heat and thus make the panel more efficient? Is there a pricing difference?
Thank you,
Clive in Melbourne.
Hi Clive,
The white back sheet and black back sheet panels have the exact same dimensions, the only difference is the white back sheet are more efficient and thus are available in the higher wattage.
All other characteristics such as temperature coefficient, hail testing etc…. are all the same.
So is it only difference in the color ? and rest of the technical spec are the same ?
Thanks Ross, finally know the diff 🙂