REC TwinPeak 5 Solar Panel Production Kicks Off

Manufacturing of the fifth generation of REC’s TwinPeak modules is under way, with the first REC TwinPeak 5 solar panel shipments to arrive on Australian shores next month.

REC TwinPeak 5 Specifications

REC’s TwinPeak series has been produced since 2014. The first generation had a maximum capacity of 275W, which was a pretty powerful panel at the time. It was 3 years before the second-generation was released (which went up to 320W) and the third generation (2020) hit 340W capacity.

It was only last year TwinPeak 4 started rolling off the production line. So, what are the differences between the 4 and TwinPeak 5? The following are some selected specs for the 5 compared to the 4.

• Cells: 132¹ half-cut mono c-Si p-type cells (TP4: 120 cells)
• Dimensions: 1899 x 1040 x 30 mm  (TP4: 1755 x 1040 x 30 mm)
• Weight: 21.6kg (TP4: 20.0 kg)
• Capacities: 395W, 400W, 405W, 410W, 415W (TP4: 360W, 365W, 370W, 375W)
• Panel conversion efficiencies: 20.1% – 21.1% (TP4: 19.7% – 20.5%)
• Temperature coefficient of PMAX: -0.34 %/°C (TP4: Same)
• Warranty:  25 years on product, performance and labour if installed by a REC certified installer (TP4: same)
• Annual degradation:  2 percent maximum power degradation in the first year, 0.5 percent per year thereafter until year 25, at which point a minimum of 86% original capacity (TP4: same)

So, the TwinPeak 5 is a bigger, heavier panel, but will be available in significantly greater capacities. The full datasheet can be viewed here.

The REC TwinPeak 5 line is being produced at the company’s Industry 4.0 manufacturing site in Singapore, and will be available in both white and black backsheet variants.

“The new product improves on the strengths that have made the TwinPeak family such a success, including REC’s revolutionary Twin Design,” says the firm.

REC Pumping Out New Products In 2022

It’s been a busy year for REC, with the TwinPeak 5 the third product introduction this year.

One of the others we’ve covered on SQ was the REC Alpha Pure-R, which was unveiled at Intersolar Europe back in May this year. It’s available in 410W – 430W capacities and production commenced in September.

Another is the REC N-Peak 3 Black Series, the company’s third generation of n-type² TOPCon cell-based modules. To be available in 390W and 400W capacities, the N-Peak 3 Black Series measures 1,899mm x 1040mm x 30mm and weighs in at 21.8kg.

The first U.S REC N-Peak 3 Black Series shipments are planned for January 2023. I’ve asked whether this panel will be available in Australia (and when), but at the time of writing hadn’t received a reply.

—-
UPDATE 28 November: REC have advised the N-Peak 3 Black Series will *not* be released in Australia/ New Zealand
—–

REC modules have been pretty popular in Australia since they were introduced locally in 2010. REC solar panel reviews here on SolarQuotes from Australian owners have been generally positive. The company has achieved an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from 754 ratings at the time of publishing, and 4.9 stars over the last 6 and 12 months. REC is currently listed on SQ’s recommended solar panel brands chart.

In terms of pricing, REC is more towards the premium end of the market. In this year’s SolarQuotes Installers Choice Awards, REC scored second place for the best solar panels in 2022 “money no object” category; a ranking it also attained in 2021.

You can compare the company’s panels with those from a bunch of other brands on SQ’s solar panel comparison table.