Renesola review

Renesola - Solar Panel Reviews

4.1

Based on 81 ratings

Finn's Renesola Panels Review & Verdict

Finn Peacock has been a Chartered Electrical Engineer since 1998, and is ex-CSIRO

Aside from anything else, it appears Renesola no longer has offices in Australia, so I can't recommend their solar panels. Local representation is important for support and warranty issues if your solar installer disappears.

Renesola Panels: Pros & Cons

  • 20 years of experience in solar manufacturing
  • No local (Australian) offices

About Renesola

Renesola is a Chinese producer of solar panels, and was founded in 2005.

Contact Details

Renesola used to have offices in Sydney and Melbourne, but it seems the company doesn't have a local presence any more. So, here's the company's HQ details in China:

Address: No.5 Fuqiang road, Xuejia town, Xinbei district, Changzhou City
E-mail: [email protected]
Support E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +86 519 859 51588
Website

Company Info

The company rapidly expanded after its founding and claims that in 2013 and 2014 more Renesola panels were installed in Australia than any other brand. Unfortunately, like many companies that expand rapidly, they ran into severe financial difficulty that limited their expansion for several years.

Today, Renesola is a significant producer of solar panels; with 10GW+ of manufacturing capacity. The company says it has shipped 25GW+ of solar products since it was founded; but that appears to be up until 2021.

As well as manufacturing solar panels, Renesola used to provide one-stop turnkey integrated solutions for large solar projects covering development, financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance. This activity was spun out to a new brand - Emeren.

Renesola Panels In Australia

Renasola produces a variety of series of solar panels, but those most suited to residential rooftops in Australia and CEC-approved are the RS41 and RS41H series.

RS41 Series

The RS41 series are monofacial single-glass panels with 108 (6 x 18) TOPCon N-Type half-cut cells. Measuring 1722 x 1134 x 30 mm and weighing 22kg, the modules are available in Australia in 440W capacity, and have a conversion efficiency of 22.53%. These modules have a temperature coefficient of Pmax of -0.29%/°C and are available in standard/silver frame and all black/black frame.. 

RS41H Series

The RS41H series are bifacial panels with double-glass and N-Type TOPCon cells. At 1800 × 1134 × 30mm these are *just* outside what would be considered a suitable size for rooftop installations (2m2) and they weigh 25.4kg; so quite heavy as well. Available in 450W-460W in Australia (front-side rating), they have a 22.78% conversion efficiency and temperature coefficient of -0.29%/°C.

Warranty Information

For the panels above, Renesola's product warranty is for 15 years. The performance warranty is 30 years, with permitted degradation levels of 0.40% for years 2 - 30.

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Renesola Reviews (81)

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I have 39 x Renesola JC250M-24/Bb (250W) connected to a Fronius IGP100 V2 inverter.
All 39 of the panels were hit with hail with only 8 panels showing obvious damage.

System Cost

$10,000 to $15,000

System Size

10kW

Installed By

Mark Group Werribee
PV array installed 2 Dec 2014 with 18 x ReneSola 250W Poly PV Panels with SMA Tripower Inverter. Both strings failed Nov 2019 with snail trails on 50% of panels and Insulation resist error coming up on SMA display and stopped exporting power. Technical data is (Array 1 308V dc, short cct 9.6amp and array 2 260V dc short cct 9.2 amp - 1000 volt Mohm 50 Mohms with both arrays sitting around 6-12 volts to earth). In short, more than 50% of panels are on the way out before 5 years and the European inverters (more sensitive than other inverters I am told) are designed to shut down when there is too much resistance.
Retailer/Agent is out of business - True Value Solar
Tried to contact ReneSola Australia but they are not contactable.
Completed ReneSolar warranty form and sent direct to head office email address, but it bounced back.
Tried to call ReneSolar China and it rang out.
Result is that our solar PV experience is less that satisfactory as a result of choosing ReneSolar panels and we have made a loss.
Advice is to go high spec for everything, as it is cheaper in the long run. We went high spec on the inverter, assuming the technology curve had closed with the maturing of the life-cycle and closing of the technology gap between PV manufacturers, but failed to give adequate consideration to product quality in the decision making process. Also, don't think you can just remove, bypass or replace panels in the future, as this is complicated by matching panel performance qualities, expense of testing, locating and replacing defective panels vs new system which attract STC's.
Not happy - steer clear.

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

True Value Solar
This is what stated in their warranty card: ten year material warranty and workmanship warranty AND Microcrack-proof packaging patent.

Issue that I have in my panels:
1 x panel (SN: 42154913052801229B) has incurred a short-circuit under the glass and has cracked the pane. This is the most urgent issue.
There are also around 6 other panels that also have a number of snail trails or possible micro-crack on the cells.
Panels were installed professionally and certified by Australian Clean Energy Council. They cost almost $5,000 in 2013

This is what Renesola offered me as translation of the warranty:
For the broken panel we will make compensation, its a 250W panel and had been used 6 years, we need subtract the normal attenuation with 6% according to the warranty, so that we will make compensation with 235W and each watt with currently price 0.3dollar, totally about $70.5, please help offer the invoice with $70.5 including RENESOLA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD and your bank information, thanks.

Poor quality, shonky operation and the warranty is rubbish. I dont know how they were allowed to enter Australian market. My attempt to contribute to green planet will end up increasing land fill. The panels are useless in less than 6 years and they dont worth $5k

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

True Value Solar
Manufacturer: Renesola Jiangsu ltd.
model: RENESOLA JC250M-24/Bb-b (60 Polycells)
Number of panels installed: 20 in two arrays of 10

I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone to be used in conjunction with an SMA inverter.

Wish I had installed a 10KW system. (Maximum allowed under small generation systems).

Inverter Brand

SMA

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Blue Tongue Solar
Performance is good but a maintenance inspection in May/June 2019 identified thousands of hairline cracks in the base material on all 21 panels which we were told will eventually lead to earth faults. They were installed in August 2014. They were warranted for 10 years - "You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of an acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure." We have written to Solargain on 12 June 2019, 2 days after the inspection, seeking rectification but as yet have had no written response.

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Solargain Brisbane
The panels are rated at 3.6 kw and deliver at peak about 3.2 kw which is what I expected.
I have no issue with the panels and expect the perfomance to continue.

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solargain Brisbane
We are happy with them. We have a single storey property with all 16 panels facing north with uninterrupted sun access, therefore the perfect aspect.
I have read that Samil is not the best inverter. We paid $4k for our system which is super-cheap and so far had no issues. Our last bill (May '16) was $156 for 123 days, pretty cheap. My husband wants to install batteries (acid not lithium) but I am not convinced we need it, its too early to say if we might never do it.

Inverter Brand

Samil Power

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

4kW

Installed By

Mark Group Regional VIC
I check the Inverter readout regularly as to how much power is being produced and the amount is often at 2.5Kw plus for a 3Kw system and this seems to be acceptable according to the installer. When the system was brand new , production was often nudging 3Kw and a couple of times actually slightly exceeded it which surprised me. The supplier recommends cleaning the panels once a year, when I asked the installer the best way to do this he said he doubted the effectiveness of doing it and that he doesn't clean his own. I went ahead and did it anyway and will probably keep doing it annually but it has raised a question mark., yes

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Mark Group Adelaide
What can I say, it is the joining of the panels and the inverter that make the system. On a good day I produce 19 kWh with a 3 kW inverter.

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Mark Group Regional NSW
I was told these Renesolar Panels had a 25 year guaranteed output of at least 90%.

Inverter Brand

Zeversolar

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Mark Group Regional NSW
Have only seen max 5KW output on a few occasions on perfectly clear days in summer. Possibly due to westerly aspect. Very low output on current cloudy winter days. Have nothing to compare with so performance may be consistent with most panels.

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Mark Group Adelaide
Panels are fine but the installation wasn't right as one of the panels wasn't installed flat inline with the rest.
Calls to he Mark Group weren't returned.
Had to sort it myself.

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

More than 6kW

Installed By

Mark Group Melbourne
The installers have mounted the panels on the north facing side of the house and have installed them so as they are not seen from the front of the house therefore not creating a ugly look on the overall appearance of the house

Inverter Brand

SMA

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

EOC Energy VIC
12 panels facing north and 8 panels facing east - perfect array as gives a nice smooth curve of production over the day. Being in a urban/rural environment have aligned the use of power through the day to maximise use of solar generation for water pumps, garden watering reticulation system, jacuzzi heating and washing. Once batteries become affordable we believe we will nearly be self sufficient and hardly need the grid except in overcast days when the solar output falls below our requirements.

Inverter Brand

SMA

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

SolarWide Pty Ltd

Inverter Brand

Growatt

System Cost

$6,000 to $8,000

System Size

13kW

Installed By

Arise Solar

Inverter Brand

Fronius (Other)

System Cost

$12,500 to $15,000

System Size

9kW

Installed By

Sunface Solar
we have 10 panels facing mainly north (a very slight east), and 10 facing mainly west (a very slight north)

Inverter Brand

SolaX Power

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

VV Electrical and Solar

Inverter Brand

SolaX Power

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

More than 6kW

Installed By

Arise Solar

Inverter Brand

SolaX Power

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

6kW

Installed By

Green Solar

System Cost

$10,000 to $15,000

System Size

4kW

Installed By

Mark Group Australia NSW
As mentioned there could be an earth leakage problem.

Inverter Brand

INVOLAR

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Easy Being Solar

Inverter Brand

Enphase

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Albany Solar

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

More than 6kW

Installed By

Solargain Brisbane

Inverter Brand

Shenzen Sofar Solar

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Specialized Solar
We have had no problems with the panels at this stage.

Inverter Brand

Shenzen Sofar Solar

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Specialized Solar

Inverter Brand

Enphase

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solargain ACT

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Westsun Solar

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Mark Group Brisbane

Inverter Brand

SMA

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solargain Brisbane
The panels are installed on a tiled roof and facing due West at 18 degrees pitch.

Inverter Brand

Growatt

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Pure Coastal Solar

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

4kW

Installed By

Mark Group Hervey Bay

Inverter Brand

SolaX Power

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Energy Options
face east and west, still pumping out the juice OK, you don't have to have north facing

Inverter Brand

Enphase

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solar Power Pro

Inverter Brand

Zeversolar

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Mark Group Melbourne

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

2kW

Installed By

Solargain Southwest

Inverter Brand

Enphase

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solargain Sydney
Seem to be doing what they are supposed to do so far

Inverter Brand

SMA

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

4kW

Installed By

Solargain Southwest

Inverter Brand

Delta

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

4kW

Installed By

Green Wiring

Inverter Brand

ReneSola Zhejiang

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Specialized Solar

Inverter Brand

Delta

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Green Wiring

Inverter Brand

Delta

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

2kW

Installed By

Green Wiring

Inverter Brand

ReneSola Zhejiang

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

4kW

Installed By

Mark Group Regional VIC

Inverter Brand

SMA

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

4kW

Installed By

Living Energy Solutions R

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

5kW

Installed By

Solargain Perth
Same things with the panels. Havent had any issues with them. 14 x 250w panels = 3.5kw in total.

Inverter Brand

Afore New Energy Technology Shanghai

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solar E Pty Ltd

Inverter Brand

Delta

System Cost

Under $3000

System Size

1.5kW

Installed By

Green Wiring
Panels working really well. Due to the location/direction of the panels I am getting a good all year round performance from them. I'm very pleased

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solargain Perth

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$3,000 to $6,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Mark Group Brisbane
Very happy with the results and money saved on electricity bills

Inverter Brand

Enphase

System Cost

$6,000 to $10,000

System Size

3kW

Installed By

Solargain Melbourne

Inverter Brand

Fronius

System Cost

$10,000 to $15,000

System Size

6kW

Installed By

Mark Group Regional NSW
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