Panasonic Solar Panels Review (2026): Are They Any Good?
Panasonic made some of the best solar panels ever sold in Britain. Its HIT panels were the choice of careful buyers for a decade, and many are still on UK roofs. But Panasonic no longer makes or sells solar panels. It stopped building them in 2022 and left the solar business in 2025. This review covers how good the panels were, every HIT model and size, the EverVolt range, where they were made, what the exit means for your warranty, and what to buy today.
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Panasonic panels aren’t sold any more, but several current panels match or beat them. We introduce you to one vetted, MCS-certified installer who surveys your roof and puts a fixed price in writing. It’s free and takes about two minutes.
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- A free home survey, with your roof measured and checked for shade
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- Today’s closest matches to Panasonic quality, priced for your roof
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- A health check on your Panasonic HIT panels and inverter
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Does Panasonic still make solar panels?
No. Panasonic did make solar panels, for more than 20 years, but it has now left the business completely. It happened in stages.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Sanyo, a Japanese electronics company, launches the first HIT solar panel. |
| 2009–2012 | Panasonic buys Sanyo, and the panels are rebranded as Panasonic HIT. |
| 2017 | Panasonic extends the HIT product warranty in Europe to 25 years. |
| 2020 | Panasonic stops making solar cells at Tesla’s factory in Buffalo, New York. |
| 1 February 2021 | Panasonic announces it will stop making solar panels itself. |
| March 2022 | The Malaysian factory closes. Production in Japan ends the same financial year. Panasonic carries on selling panels made for it by other companies, mainly as the EverVolt range in North America. |
| 28 April 2025 | Panasonic announces it is leaving solar and battery storage, saying the business is “no longer the right business fit”. It promises to honour all warranties. |
| 2026 | No new Panasonic panels are being made or sold. Panasonic still makes heat pumps, batteries for electric cars and much else. |
The reason was price. Chinese manufacturers cut the cost of panels so far that Panasonic couldn’t make a premium product at a profit. The same pressure ended LG’s solar business in 2022 and pushed Meyer Burger into insolvency. Panasonic described its exit as a strategic decision, and not a comment on the technology.
So if you see “new” Panasonic solar panels for sale in 2026, they’re old stock. And if you were hoping for a Panasonic quote, you’ll want one of the alternatives. Panasonic does still make very good heat pumps (Panasonic heat pump review).
Our scores
Our rating
Panasonic HIT
★★★★☆ A superb panel to own, but no longer one you can buy
The bottom line: if you own them, keep them. If you’re buying, choose a panel that’s still in production.
Get my Panasonic alternative price →Are Panasonic solar panels good?
Yes. For most of the 2010s, Panasonic HIT was one of the two or three best panels you could put on a roof, and it earned that on four counts.
- The technology. HIT stands for “heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer”. Each cell is a slice of very pure N-type silicon with ultra-thin layers of a second kind of silicon on both sides. That cuts the losses inside the cell. Sanyo invented it, and the rest of the industry has only recently caught up.
- Heat. HIT panels lose just 0.258% of their output for each degree the panel warms up. Ordinary panels of the time lost about 0.40%. On a hot summer roof, that meant several per cent more power when it mattered.
- Slow ageing. N-type cells don’t suffer the early light-induced loss that older P-type cells did. Panasonic guaranteed at least 86.2% of rated power after 25 years, a strong figure for its day.
- Reliability. Panasonic made its own cells and panels in its own factories and reported very low failure rates.
The honest caveat is that solar has moved on. A good mainstream panel in 2026 is 22–23% efficient and costs a third of what a HIT panel did. HIT was ahead of its time, and its time has passed (types of solar panels).
Panasonic HIT solar panels: models, wattages and sizes
Almost every Panasonic solar panel on a UK roof is a HIT panel. They came in two physical sizes, and knowing which you have matters for repairs. This table covers the models people look up most.
| Panasonic HIT model | Power | Efficiency | Panel size | Weight | Sold roughly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N240 / N245 | 240W, 245W | About 19.0–19.4% | 1,580 × 798 × 35mm | 15kg | 2012–2018 |
| N250 | 250W | 19.8% | 1,580 × 798 × 35mm | 15kg | 2015–2019 |
| N285 / N295 | 285W, 295W | About 19% | About 1,463 × 1,053 × 35mm | About 18kg | 2015–2019 |
| N320 / N325 / N330 | 320W, 325W, 330W | 19.1–19.7% | 1,590 × 1,053 × 35mm | 19kg | 2016–2020 |
| KURO 325 (all black) | 325W | About 19.4% | 1,590 × 1,053 × 40mm | 19kg | 2018–2021 |
| N335 / N340 | 335W, 340W | 20.0%, 20.4% | 1,590 × 1,053 × 40mm | 19kg | 2019–2021 |
A few notes on reading that table:
- The Panasonic 240W solar panel and its 245W and 250W sisters are the narrow ones, under 80cm wide. They were popular on small and awkward British roofs because more of them fit.
- The Panasonic 330W solar panel, sold as the HIT N330, was the best seller. Counting the 320 watt, 325 watt and 335 watt versions alongside the 330 watt, it’s the panel most UK owners have.
- Panasonic all black solar panels were sold under the name KURO, which is Japanese for black.
- Model codes start VBHN, followed by the wattage, such as VBHN330SJ47 or VBHN340SJ53. The code is on the label on the back of the panel and on your MCS certificate.
Panasonic solar panel size compared with today’s panels
HIT panels are smaller than modern ones. A current 450W panel is typically 1,762 × 1,134mm. That means you can’t swap a modern panel into the space a HIT panel leaves. The rails and clamps will need moving (solar panel sizes).
Panasonic EverVolt solar panels
EverVolt was the name Panasonic used for the panels it sold after it stopped making its own. They were built for Panasonic by other manufacturers and sold mainly in the United States and Canada.
| EverVolt series | Cells | Power | Efficiency | Guaranteed at 25 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EverVolt H | Heterojunction, 66 half-cells | 400W, 410W | 21.6%, 22.2% | At least 92% |
| EverVolt HK Black | Heterojunction, all black | Up to about 430W | About 22% | About 91% |
| EverVolt PK Black | PERC, 60 half-cells, all black | 360W, 370W | 19.7%, 20.3% | At least 86% |
If you’re searching for Panasonic solar panels of 400W or more, these are the ones. The heterojunction versions were very good panels, with the same excellent heat performance as HIT and a 25-year warranty covering the product, the output and, in the US, the labour.
You’re unlikely to find EverVolt on a British roof. Some guides say they were sold in the UK and Ireland in small numbers, but we couldn’t confirm that, and we found no UK price list for them. The range ended with Panasonic’s 2025 exit.
Where are Panasonic solar panels made?
It depends on the age of the panel.
- HIT panels, up to 2022, were made by Panasonic itself. The cells came from Panasonic’s plants in Japan, including Shimane, and the panels were assembled in Japan and at Panasonic’s factory in Kulim, Malaysia. Most HIT panels sold in Europe came through Panasonic’s European solar office near Munich.
- EverVolt panels, 2021 to 2025, were made by other companies under contract. The heterojunction models are widely reported to have been built by REC, which is why they look so similar to REC’s own Alpha panels. Panasonic didn’t publicly name its suppliers.
- Panels sold with Tesla. Panasonic made solar cells at Tesla’s Buffalo factory in New York until 2020. Those went into Tesla’s products in the US, not into Panasonic-branded panels here (Tesla solar panels review).
So who makes Panasonic solar panels now? Nobody. The label on the back of your panel will show where yours was built.
Panasonic solar panel efficiency
The last HIT panels reached 20.4% efficiency (the N340), and the EverVolt H reached 22.2%. For comparison, the best panels on sale in 2026 are about 24–25% efficient and a good mainstream panel is 22–23% (most efficient solar panels).
Efficiency on the datasheet isn’t the whole story, and this is where HIT still looks good. Because it loses so little power in heat, a HIT panel produced more energy over a year than its rated efficiency suggested. A 330W HIT panel on a south-facing UK roof generates roughly 300–350kWh a year. A typical 2016 system of twelve N330 panels, just under 4kW, still produces about 3,500–3,900kWh a year, worth around £670–£750 at October 2026 electricity prices if you use half of it at home (solar panel efficiency, solar panel output).
Wanted Panasonic and found it’s gone?
A vetted local installer will price today’s closest matches, with the exact panel model and warranty named in writing, so you can see what Panasonic-level quality costs now.
Get My Panasonic Alternative Price →Panasonic solar panel warranty: what the exit means
| Your panels | Product warranty | Power guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| HIT fitted in Europe from 2017 | 25 years if you registered on Panasonic’s European solar website. 15 years if you didn’t | 25 years. 97% in year one, then 0.45% less each year, leaving 86.2% at year 25 |
| HIT fitted before 2017 | 10 years on most, 15 on some later models | 25 years. Older terms guaranteed 90% at 10 years and 80% at 25 |
| EverVolt | 25 years | 25 years, to about 86–92% depending on the model |
The good news is who stands behind it. Unlike a small solar company that has gone bust, Panasonic is a very large, profitable business that has left one product line. When it announced its exit, it said it would honour all warranties and keep a support channel open. That is a much better position than owners of panels from failed manufacturers are in.
Three things to know all the same:
- You won’t get a Panasonic panel as a replacement. There are none being made. A valid claim is likely to be settled with a compatible panel from another maker or with money.
- Check which warranty you have. If your panels went in after 2017 and nobody registered them, you may have 15 years, not 25. Look for a warranty certificate in your handover pack.
- Start with your installer. They hold the records and know the claim route. If they’ve stopped trading, contact Panasonic directly with your MCS certificate, the panel serial numbers and photos (solar panel warranties explained).
Replacing a failed Panasonic panel or adding more
Panels rarely fail, and HIT panels fail less than most. If your output has dropped, look at the inverter first. On a system from 2012 to 2018 it’s now at the age where it’s the likeliest culprit (solar panels not working, inverter replacement cost, how long inverters last).
If a panel has failed or been damaged, there’s one thing that makes HIT different. HIT panels run at an unusually high voltage. An N330 has an open-circuit voltage of about 70V, where a modern panel is about 38–40V. You can’t simply wire a modern panel into a string of HIT panels. The options are:
- A used HIT panel of the same model. They do come up for sale, with no warranty. For a single panel it’s often the neatest fix.
- Optimisers or microinverters on the replacement, so panels of different voltages can work together (solar panel optimisers, microinverters vs string inverters).
- A separate string. If you’re adding several panels, put the new ones on their own input of the inverter, or on a second inverter.
Adding more capacity is very possible. The best-value upgrade for most HIT owners, though, is a battery, because it lets you use more of what your excellent panels already make (adding a battery to existing solar). If you’re on the Feed-in Tariff, speak to your FiT payer before changing any panels.
Panasonic solar panels price, and panels for sale
When they were on sale in the UK, Panasonic solar panels cost roughly £250–£400 each, about twice the price of a mainstream panel at the time. A 4kW HIT system typically cost £1,000–£2,000 more than the same size with standard panels. Those figures are approximate.
You can still find Panasonic solar panels for sale in 2026, as leftover new stock or second-hand. Before you buy Panasonic solar panels this way, weigh these up:
- They’re old technology at 19–20% efficiency. A current panel gives you 15–25% more power from the same space.
- The warranty position is unclear on stock that has sat in a warehouse for years, and there’s none at all on used panels.
- An MCS installer may not fit them. You need an MCS certificate to be paid for exported electricity, and many installers won’t certify panels they didn’t supply.
Panasonic solar panel kits, with panels and an inverter boxed together, were never a mainstream product here, and any you see advertised are a reseller’s own bundle. The one good reason to buy is to repair or extend an existing HIT system with matching panels. For a new system, today’s prices are far lower than Panasonic’s ever were. A fitted 4kW system costs about £5,500–£7,500 with any mainstream panel, including 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 (solar panel cost, 4kW solar system, solar panel payback).
Panasonic vs LG vs SunPower solar panels
These were the three premium brands of the 2010s, and people still compare them. All three stories ended differently.
| Panasonic HIT | LG NeON | SunPower Maxeon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell type | Heterojunction | N-type, and back contact on the NeON R | Back contact |
| Peak efficiency when sold | About 20.4% | About 22% | About 22.8% |
| Loss per °C of heat | 0.258% | About 0.30% | About 0.29% |
| Guaranteed output at 25 years | 86.2% | About 90% | About 92% |
| Product warranty | Up to 25 years | 25 years | 25 years, later 40 |
| Status in 2026 | Discontinued 2025 | Discontinued June 2022 | Maxeon panels still made. SunPower’s US business failed in 2024 |
| Who backs the warranty | Panasonic, still a major company | LG, still a major company | Maxeon |
Panasonic vs LG: LG’s panels were a little more efficient. Panasonic’s did better in heat. Both makers have left solar and both say they’ll honour warranties, so owners of either are in a similar, fairly comfortable position (LG solar panels review).
Panasonic vs SunPower: SunPower had the higher efficiency and the longer guarantee, at a higher price still. Its back-contact panels are still made by Maxeon (SunPower solar panels review).
Panasonic vs REC: REC uses the same heterojunction technology in its Alpha range and is still in business, which makes it the natural successor (REC solar panels review).
The best alternatives to Panasonic solar panels today
| If you liked Panasonic for… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heterojunction cells and heat performance | REC Alpha | The same cell technology, from a maker with a long record |
| The highest efficiency for a small roof | Aiko, including the Neostar | Back-contact panels at up to about 25% |
| An all-black look | Aiko, REC, or all-black Jinko | Clean front with no silver lines |
| A big, stable manufacturer | Jinko, JA Solar, Trina, LONGi | 22–23% efficiency, 25-year product warranties, far lower prices |
| A premium European name | SolarWatt | Glass-on-both-sides panels with a 30-year warranty |
Every panel in that table is more efficient than any HIT panel was, and most cost well under half as much. The full ranking is in best solar panels UK.
Got Panasonic HIT panels on your roof?
A vetted, MCS-certified installer can check the panels and inverter, tell you what’s worth fixing, and price a battery or extra panels in writing.
Check My Panasonic System →Pros & cons
Pros
- Excellent build quality and a strong reliability record
- Best-in-class performance in heat, at 0.258% per °C
- Up to 25 years of product warranty on panels from 2017
- Warranties backed by a very large, solvent company
- Compact sizes that suit small roofs
Cons
- No longer made or sold
- No like-for-like replacement panels
- High voltage makes mixing with modern panels harder
- 19–20% efficiency is now behind the mainstream
- 25-year warranty needed registering, or it’s 15
Verdict: are Panasonic solar panels any good?
3.5 / 5. As panels, they were among the best ever made, and if they’re on your roof you chose well. They should go on generating for decades, they shrug off heat, and the company behind the warranty is one of the largest in the world. The score reflects one fact only: you can’t buy them any more.
If you own Panasonic panels, keep them, look after the inverter and consider a battery. If you wanted Panasonic for a new system, the same thinking that led you there points to REC or Aiko today, or to a mainstream brand if value matters most. Whichever you choose, the installer matters as much as the panel (how to choose a solar installer, MCS certification, are solar panels worth it?).
New to solar, or ready to upgrade what you’ve got?
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Panasonic solar panels: frequently asked questions
Does Panasonic still make solar panels?
No. Panasonic stopped making its own solar panels in 2022, when its Malaysian factory closed and production in Japan ended. It sold panels made by other companies for a few years, mainly as the EverVolt range in North America, and on 28 April 2025 it announced it was leaving solar and battery storage. It has said it will honour existing warranties.
Are Panasonic solar panels good?
Yes. Panasonic HIT panels used heterojunction cells with very low losses in heat, at 0.258% per °C, and reached about 20% efficiency when most rivals were at 17–18%. They have a strong reliability record. The drawback in 2026 is that they’re discontinued, so a failed panel can’t be replaced like for like. We rate them 3.5 out of 5.
Where are Panasonic solar panels made?
Panasonic HIT panels were made by Panasonic in Japan and at its factory in Kulim, Malaysia, until 2022. The later EverVolt panels were made for Panasonic by other manufacturers, and the heterojunction models are widely reported to have been built by REC. No Panasonic solar panels are being made today.
What size is a Panasonic solar panel?
Panasonic HIT panels came in two main sizes. The N240, N245 and N250 measure 1,580 × 798 × 35mm and weigh 15kg. The N320 to N340 and the all-black KURO measure 1,590 × 1,053mm, 35–40mm deep, and weigh 19kg. Both are smaller than a modern panel, which is typically about 1,762 × 1,134mm.
Is my Panasonic solar panel warranty still valid?
Yes. Panasonic said it would honour all warranties when it left solar in 2025, and it remains a very large company. HIT panels fitted in Europe from 2017 have a 25-year product warranty if they were registered, or 15 years if not, plus a 25-year power guarantee to 86.2%. A valid claim is likely to be settled with another maker’s panel or with money.
Can I still buy Panasonic solar panels in the UK?
Only as leftover or second-hand stock. They made sense to buy for repairing or extending an existing Panasonic system with matching panels. For a new system they’re poor value: they’re 19–20% efficient against 22–23% for current panels, the warranty position on old stock is unclear, and many MCS installers won’t fit panels they didn’t supply.
Which is better, Panasonic or LG solar panels?
They were very close. LG’s NeON panels were slightly more efficient, at up to about 22%, and Panasonic’s HIT panels performed better in heat. Both companies have stopped making solar panels, LG in June 2022 and Panasonic in 2025, and both have said they will honour warranties. For a new system, look at REC or Aiko.
What is the best alternative to Panasonic solar panels?
REC’s Alpha range is the closest, because it uses the same heterojunction cell technology and REC is still in business. For the highest efficiency on a small roof, Aiko’s back-contact panels reach about 25%. For the best value, Jinko, JA Solar, Trina and LONGi offer 22–23% efficiency with 25-year product warranties at much lower prices.
Going Solar UK is an introduction service, not an installer, and has no connection with Panasonic. Panasonic’s exit from manufacturing is as reported by pv magazine in February 2021, and its exit from solar and storage as announced on 28 April 2025. Specifications are from Panasonic HIT and EverVolt datasheets and press releases, and Panasonic remains the source for warranty support. Years on sale, the 285W and 295W figures, KURO efficiency and historical UK prices are approximate. Reports that REC built EverVolt panels are not confirmed by Panasonic, and we could not confirm that EverVolt was sold in the UK. European warranty terms are from Panasonic datasheets and a European distributor, so check your own certificate. Competitor figures are typical for the ranges named. Installed prices are typical 2026 UK estimates. Always confirm the exact model, datasheet and warranty with an MCS-certified installer.