Meyer Burger Solar Panels Review (2026): Are They Any Good?
Meyer Burger made some of the best-engineered solar panels in Europe, designed in Switzerland and built in Germany. But the company has collapsed. Its German factories filed for insolvency in 2025, production has stopped for good and its shares were delisted in January 2026. This review covers how good the panels were, what the collapse means for your warranty, whether leftover stock is worth buying, what Meyer Burger panels cost, and the best alternatives.
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Is Meyer Burger still in business?
No, not as a panel maker. Meyer Burger was a Swiss company, founded in 1953, that spent decades building the machines other firms used to make solar cells. In 2021 it started making its own panels in Germany. Four years later it ran out of money. The timeline:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Meyer Burger launches its own heterojunction panels, with cells made in Thalheim and panels assembled in Freiberg, Germany |
| March 2024 | Panel assembly in Freiberg stops. The company moves assembly to a new factory in Arizona, USA |
| November 2024 | Its biggest US customer cancels a 5GW supply contract |
| Late May 2025 | The Arizona factory closes and 282 workers are laid off. The two German subsidiaries file for insolvency, affecting about 620 jobs |
| 25 June 2025 | The US business files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy |
| 1 September 2025 | With no investor found, the German operations shut down permanently |
| December 2025 | A Swiss court grants the parent company a debt moratorium. The board says there is no realistic chance of rescuing the group |
| 14 January 2026 | Meyer Burger’s shares are delisted from the Swiss stock exchange |
| March 2026 | The remaining production equipment and technology are reported sold to a US solar company |
The company blamed very low panel prices from China and the loss of that US contract. It is one of the biggest European solar makers to fail. Our Sharp, LG and Bosch reviews cover earlier exits, though those companies survived and Meyer Burger did not. That difference matters a great deal for warranties.
Our scores
Our rating
Meyer Burger Black, White & Glass
★★★☆☆ Excellent panels from a company that no longer exists to back them
The bottom line: if they’re on your roof, they’re good panels and worth keeping. For a new install, don’t buy a panel whose maker can’t honour its warranty.
Get my Meyer Burger alternative price →Were Meyer Burger solar panels any good?
Yes. On engineering, they were among the best panels sold in the UK. Three things set them apart:
- Heterojunction (HJT) cells. These combine two types of silicon in one cell. The practical benefit is a very low temperature coefficient of -0.259% per °C, so the panels lose less output on a hot roof than standard panels, and they work well in low light.
- SmartWire connections. Instead of a few flat ribbons, each cell was connected by a fine mesh of wires. That reduces the effect of tiny cracks, because current has many paths out of the cell.
- Slow degradation. Meyer Burger guaranteed that output would fall by no more than 0.25% a year after the first year, about half the rate of a typical panel at the time.
The panels were also made without lead, in factories run on renewable electricity. Where they fell behind was headline efficiency. At 20.4% to 21.5%, the last Meyer Burger Black was a step below today’s mainstream panels at 22–23%, and well below the best at around 24% (most efficient panels). And they were always expensive. See types of solar panels and solar panel efficiency.
The range: Black, White and Glass
| Model | Build | Power | Efficiency | Size and weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meyer Burger Black | Black frame and black backsheet | 375–395W | 20.4–21.5% | 1,767 × 1,041 × 35mm, 19.7kg |
| Meyer Burger White | Black frame, white backsheet | Slightly higher than the Black | Slightly higher | Same size |
| Meyer Burger Glass | Glass on both sides, bifacial | Similar | Similar | Same size, heavier |
The Black was the one fitted to most UK homes, because it looks neat on a roof. All three used 120 half-cut HJT cells. The figures for the Black are from its datasheet. If you have the White or Glass, check your own datasheet or the label on the back of a panel for the exact rating.
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Check My Meyer Burger System →Meyer Burger warranty and degradation: where it stands
On paper, the warranty was one of the best available:
| Cover | What Meyer Burger promised | Where it stands in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Product warranty | 25 years on the Black and White, reported as 30 years on the Glass | A claim against an insolvent company |
| Power guarantee | No more than 2% lost in year one, then 0.25% a year, so at least 92% after 25 years | A claim against an insolvent company |
| Your installer’s workmanship guarantee | Usually 2–10 years, sometimes insurance-backed | Unaffected |
| Your consumer rights against the seller | Goods must be of satisfactory quality | Unaffected |
A manufacturer’s warranty is a promise by the company. When that company is insolvent, the promise becomes an unsecured claim in the insolvency, alongside everyone else the company owes money to. German reports say the administrators have declared that the companies’ assets won’t cover even the costs and debts of the insolvency itself, and that no insurance policy backs the panel warranties. In practice, that means you should not expect the Meyer Burger warranty to pay out.
That is the difference from Sharp, where a healthy parent company took over the warranties. Here there is no parent left. More on how the layers of cover work: solar panel warranties explained.
Already have Meyer Burger panels? What to do
First, don’t worry about the panels themselves. Nothing about the company’s collapse makes them stop working, and well-made HJT panels should generate for 25 years or more. What has changed is who you turn to if something goes wrong.
- Keep your paperwork. You want the invoice, the MCS certificate, the datasheet and serial numbers, and any insurance-backed guarantee from your installer.
- For a fault, go to your installer. Under the Consumer Rights Act, the business that sold you the system is responsible for goods that aren’t of satisfactory quality, and you can bring a claim for up to six years in England and Wales. That right is against the seller, so the manufacturer’s insolvency doesn’t remove it.
- Check how you paid. If any part was paid by credit card, or with a loan arranged by the installer, the lender may be jointly responsible under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
- Check your home insurance. Storm, fire and accidental damage are normally covered by buildings insurance, whoever made the panels (solar panels and insurance).
- If your installer has also gone, an insurance-backed guarantee is what pays. Otherwise a repair is at your own cost.
Replacing a failed panel. You won’t find a new Meyer Burger to match. An installer can fit a current panel of similar voltage and current, ideally with an optimiser so it doesn’t hold back the rest of the string (optimisers). Adding a battery works with any existing system (add a battery). See also repairs, solar panels not working and servicing.
Meyer Burger solar panels price
Meyer Burger panels were always sold as a premium product, and a system cost noticeably more than one using mainstream panels. There is no current price list, because there is no production. What’s left is clearance stock:
- UK wholesaler Wind & Sun listed the 380W Meyer Burger Black at about £68 plus VAT, and it was sold out when we checked.
- Meyer Burger’s own shop in Germany was reported to be selling leftover panels at about €160 each, collected from its warehouse.
For comparison, a typical 4kW system with current mainstream panels costs £5,500–£7,500 fitted in 2026, with 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. The panels are only about £1,000 of that, so even a very cheap clearance panel saves little on the whole job. See solar panel cost UK.
Should you buy leftover Meyer Burger stock?
For most people, no. If an installer offers you Meyer Burger panels in 2026, think about what you’re getting:
- No meaningful manufacturer warranty. You’d be relying entirely on your installer and your consumer rights.
- No matching replacements. If one panel fails in year six, there’s nothing identical to swap in.
- Older efficiency. At up to 21.5%, you’d fit less power on the same roof than with a current 23–24% panel.
- A small saving. Panels are a small share of the total cost.
The only case for it is a very low price from an installer you trust, who puts a long workmanship and product guarantee of their own in writing. Even then, a current panel is the simpler choice.
Where were Meyer Burger panels made?
The panels sold in the UK were labelled “Made in Germany. Designed in Switzerland.” The cells were made in Thalheim, in Saxony-Anhalt, and the panels were assembled in Freiberg, in Saxony, until March 2024. After that, assembly moved to Goodyear, Arizona, using cells shipped from Germany, mainly for the American market. The company’s headquarters and research were in Thun, Switzerland. All of these sites have now closed or been sold.
The best alternatives to Meyer Burger
| If you wanted… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The same HJT technology | REC (Alpha range) | Heterojunction cells, low temperature coefficient, strong warranty with a certified installer |
| A European brand with a long warranty | Solarwatt | Glass-glass panels with a 30-year product warranty, though now built in Asia |
| Top efficiency | Aiko | Back-contact cells at about 24%, good in partial shade |
| Durability at a mainstream price | Trina (Vertex S+) | Glass-glass TOPCon with a 25-year product warranty |
| Best value | Jinko, JA Solar, Canadian Solar | N-type TOPCon at 22–23%, widely stocked |
The lesson from Meyer Burger is that a long warranty is only as good as the company behind it. When you compare panels, look at how big and how financially sound the maker is, as well as the number of years on the certificate. Rankings across all brands: best solar panels UK.
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Get My Meyer Burger Alternative Price →Pros & cons
Pros
- Excellent build quality, designed in Switzerland and made in Germany
- HJT cells with a very low temperature coefficient
- Slow degradation, guaranteed at 0.25% a year
- Lead-free and made with renewable electricity
- Existing systems should keep working for decades
Cons
- The company is insolvent and production has ended
- Manufacturer’s warranty has little practical value
- No matching replacement panels
- Efficiency of up to 21.5% is behind current panels
- Only clearance stock remains
Verdict: are Meyer Burger solar panels any good?
2.8 / 5. Meyer Burger made excellent solar panels, and if they’re on your roof you have a well-built system that should serve you for decades. But the company is insolvent, production has stopped, and the manufacturer’s warranty can’t be relied on. Owners should keep their paperwork, lean on their installer’s guarantee and their consumer rights, and carry on.
If you’re buying in 2026, choose a brand that will still be here. REC is the closest on technology, Aiko leads on efficiency, and Trina, Jinko and JA Solar offer the best value. Choose the installer as carefully as the panel (how to choose, MCS certification).
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Meyer Burger solar panels: frequently asked questions
Are Meyer Burger solar panels good?
Yes, the panels themselves are very good. They use heterojunction cells with a low temperature coefficient of -0.259% per °C, degrade slowly and were made in Germany to a high standard. The problem is the company. Meyer Burger is insolvent and has stopped production, so the manufacturer’s warranty can’t be relied on. Keep them if you have them, but choose a brand still in business for a new install.
Is Meyer Burger still in business?
No, not as a panel maker. Its German subsidiaries filed for insolvency in late May 2025, its US business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 25 June 2025, and its German operations closed permanently on 1 September 2025. The Swiss parent company entered a debt moratorium, its shares were delisted on 14 January 2026, and its remaining equipment has been sold.
Is my Meyer Burger warranty still valid?
The manufacturer’s warranty is now an unsecured claim against an insolvent company, and reports from Germany say there is no insurance behind it, so in practice you should not expect it to pay out. Your rights against the installer who sold you the system are unaffected. That includes their workmanship guarantee and your rights under the Consumer Rights Act, which last up to six years in England and Wales.
What was the Meyer Burger warranty and degradation rate?
The Meyer Burger Black and White carried a 25-year product warranty and a 25-year power guarantee. Output was guaranteed to fall by no more than 2% in the first year and 0.25% a year after that, leaving at least 92% after 25 years. That was one of the lowest degradation rates on the market, thanks to the heterojunction cells.
How much do Meyer Burger solar panels cost?
There is no current price, because production has ended. Remaining clearance stock has been listed at about £68 plus VAT for a 380W panel at one UK wholesaler, now sold out, and about €160 a panel in Germany. Before the collapse they were priced as a premium panel. A typical 4kW system with current mainstream panels costs £5,500–£7,500 fitted in 2026.
Where were Meyer Burger solar panels made?
Panels sold in the UK were labelled as made in Germany and designed in Switzerland. The cells were made in Thalheim and the panels assembled in Freiberg until March 2024. Assembly then moved to Goodyear, Arizona, mainly for the US market. All of these factories have now closed.
What is the best alternative to Meyer Burger solar panels?
REC’s Alpha range is the closest match, because it also uses heterojunction cells. Solarwatt offers glass-glass panels with a 30-year product warranty. Aiko has the highest efficiency at about 24%, and Trina, Jinko and JA Solar offer the best value. Whichever you choose, check that the manufacturer is financially sound as well as how long the warranty runs.
Meyer Burger’s insolvency timeline is from reports by Solar Power World, Electrek, pv Europe, SIX Exchange Regulation and SWI swissinfo.ch (December 2025). The March 2026 sale of equipment and the position of the warranty in the German insolvency are as reported by German-language sources and have not been confirmed by us with the administrators. Specifications are from the Meyer Burger Black datasheet and the Wind & Sun product listing. The consumer-rights section is general information, not legal advice, and your position depends on your own contract. Prices are typical 2026 UK estimates with 0% VAT, which applies until 31 March 2027. Always confirm the model, datasheet and warranty with an MCS-certified installer.