Hyundai is one of the most recognizable names in the solar industry. The company started its solar business in 2005, and its solar panels are produced by a separate branch of the company that owns Hyundai Motors. Like some other leading solar brands (such as LG), their panels are manufactured in South Korea, and have primarily focused on solar markets outside of North America. However, recently Hyundai has begun to re-enter the American solar market, and are a player to be on the lookout for in late 2020 and beyond.
EnergySage has reviewed the product specifications of each Hyundai solar panel series to make your solar research process easier. As the leading online marketplace for homeowners considering solar, EnergySage is uniquely positioned to evaluate the technical specifications of Hyundai solar panels and help you compare them to other manufacturers on the market.
Key takeaways
- Hyundai makes several lines of solar panels, including their HG Series, HI Series, RI Series, and PI Series.
- Hyundai’s solar panels range in efficiency from 18.1% to 20.3%, and they have an output warranty lasting up to 12 years.
- Hyundai solar panels cost between $2.50 and $3.56/W on the EnergySage Marketplace – that’s $15,000 to $21,360 for a 6 kW system, before the federal solar tax credit.
- Shop for Hyundai solar panels (and many other brands!) today on the EnergySage Marketplace.
Hyundai solar panels: HG-, RG RI-Series (and more) for homeowners
Hyundai produces several series of solar panels, including the following for residential consumers:
- HG Series
- HI Series
- RI Series
- PI Series
How Hyundai solar panels compare to other panel manufacturers
There are four key metrics that you should review as you evaluate solar panel quality: efficiency, performance, warranties, and price. EnergySage has developed Hyundai panel reviews for each metric to help make your solar decision easier. We’ve also created a comparison of Hyundai panels against other leading panel manufacturers that are frequently featured in offers to homeowners and businesses shopping for solar on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.
Efficiency
The term “solar panel efficiency” refers to how well a solar panel captures sunlight and converts it into useful electricity. In the same conditions, a high-efficiency solar panel will produce more electricity than a lower-efficiency panel of the same size. For this reason, a higher efficiency rating is generally preferable.
The efficiency of your Hyundai panels will vary depending on the specific model that you choose for your system. Panels in Hyundai’s product line on EnergySage have an efficiency rating of 18.10% to 19.88%.
Performance (Temperature Coefficient)
For this portion of EnergySage’s Hyundai solar panel reviews, we use the temperature coefficient to evaluate solar panel performance. The temperature coefficient is an indicator of how well your solar panel can handle less-than-ideal conditions. Solar panels, like other electronic equipment, perform better when they are kept cool (ideally around 25° C/77° F). The temperature coefficient tells you how much your panel’s performance will change during hot sunny summer days.
For every degree above 25° C (77° F), your solar panel’s electricity production will decrease by its temperature coefficient. For example, the Hyundai HiS-S370RI panel from the RI-Series has a temperature coefficient of -0.4%/°C. This means that, if the panel’s temperature increases by one degree from 25° C (77° F) to 26° C (79° F), its electricity production will decrease by 0.4%. If its temperature increases all the way to 35° C (95° F), electricity production will reduce by 4%.
Your solar panels will likely see more than a few hot and sunny days over the course of each year, so ideally, they will have the lowest temperature coefficient possible. Hyundai panels have temperature coefficients ranging from -0.42 to -0.35.
Warranties
Whether you’re buying a TV, a car, or solar panels, the manufacturer should stand behind their product with a strong warranty. A solar panel’s materials warranty (sometimes referred to as the product or equipment warranty) is a guarantee from the manufacturer that they will replace your panel if it fails as a result of manufacturing defects or environmental issues.
Most solar panel manufacturers offer a 10 or 12-year materials warranty – Hyundai offers a 12-year warranty for its older panels.
How much do Hyundai solar panels cost?
For many homeowners, the final decision around the solar equipment you choose rests on cost. The total price you pay for a solar energy system with Hyundai panels will vary depending on the other equipment (such as inverters and mounts) used in the installation, as well as the characteristics of your roof.
To identify the range of prices for Hyundai PV systems, we analyzed quotes including Hyundai solar panels that homeowners received from installers on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace. Most Hyundai PV systems are typically priced between $2.50 and $3.56 per watt.
This means that, for a 6 kW system, your gross cost (before you subtract any tax credits or other incentives) would be anywhere from $15,000 to $21,360. Additionally, most homeowners end up paying much less than the total gross cost. With the 26 percent federal tax credit for solar, which everyone is eligible for, a 6 kW system with Hyundai panels would cost anywhere from $11,100 to $15,806. There are plenty of state-level solar incentives and rebates that can help you reduce upfront costs even further.
Hyundai solar panels don’t offer high efficiency, performance, or warranty coverage. However, they are a low-cost option, and if you have significant roof space and are interested in purchasing panels from a trusted brand, they can be a reasonable decision. They are a popular low-cost option for shoppers comparing solar quotes on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.
How to find the best price on Hyundai solar panels
The best way to determine whether Hyundai offers the best solar panels for your home is to review multiple quotes with different solar equipment options before making a decision. When you compare all of your options on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace, you’ll find the right combination of price and quality that meets your needs.
Many of our qualified, pre-vetted solar installers offer Hyundai solar panels in their quotes to EnergySage users. When registering, simply note in your profile that you’re interested in receiving quotes that include Hyundai panels for your home.
