Sharp solar panels reviews

Sharp Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation, exclusively imports Sharp PV modules and offers warranty support in Australia. 

Australian Contact Information

Physical address: 2 Julius Ave, North Ryde NSW 2113
Mailing address: PO Box 84, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2113
Tel: 1300 135 022
E-mail: [email protected]
Australian Website

Company Information

Sharp is a pioneer in solar manufacturing, racking up 60 years of panel production. But the firm has had its share of hard times.

Previously a popular choice for PV modules in Australia, Sharp solar panels were off the Clean Energy Council's approved list after 2012 and Sharp Corp. was in serious financial trouble; but managed to avert bankruptcy with a huge bailout. When the company continued to face issues in 2015, rumours swirled it would sell or exit its solar business, which the company denied. And as it turned out (thanks in part to a second bailout); it didn't.

But it wasn't until May 2023 when Sharp modules were again listed by the CEC, regaining approval for use in Australia for new grid-connect PV installations.

Sharp NU-JC Series Solar Panels

IMPORTANT: As at 31 October, 2024 there doesn't appear to be any Sharp panels on the CEC's approved solar panels list. If this is indeed the case, then they aren't eligible for grid-connect installations or Australia's solar rebate.

Sharp's NU-JC panels have been available to Australian customers in 410 Watts and 415 Watts, but the company states more powerful panels in this series up to 440W will be available soon.

The NU-JC410B and NU-JC415B are available in a black frame, while the NU-JC415 has a silver frame. All three have 108 half-cut cells, weigh 20.7 kilograms and measure 1722 x 1134 x 30 mm.

The three models have a temperature coefficient of Pmax of –0.341%/°C, meaning for each degree above 25°C (panel temperature), they lose  –0.341% conversion efficiency. Given Australia's often very hot conditions, it's worth noting the temperature coefficient when comparing solar panels.

While Sharp is a Japanese company, its panels are made in China.

Warranty Information 

The product warranty on all NU-JC panels is 25 years. There's also a 25-year performance warranty, but the details vary depending on the model.

For the NU-JC410B, NU-JC415, NU-JC415B, Sharp guarantees the actual power output of the module will be no less than 98% of the labeled power output in the first year and will not decline by more than 0.55% each year thereafter. So, by the end of year 25, actual power output will be no less than 84.8% of rated output.

For the NU-JC430B and NU-JC440, first year output will be no less than 99%, and in years 2 - 25 will not decline by more than 0.4% annually; meaning at the end of the 25th year, the actual power output will be no less than 89.4% of
the labeled power output.