Kyocera is one of the world’s oldest solar panel manufacturers, and has manufactured solar panels since the early 1980s. The electronics company manufactures its solar products in Japan and China, and is one of the most popular brands featured in quotes to solar shoppers comparing their options on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.
The best way to be confident in your solar investment is to thoroughly review the product options available to you. To make your solar research process easier, EnergySage has developed Kyocera reviews. As the leading online marketplace for homeowners considering solar, EnergySage is uniquely positioned to evaluate the technical specifications of Kyocera solar panels and help you compare them to other manufacturers on the market.
Key takeaways
- Kyocera’s solar panels range in efficiency from 14.75% to 16.11%, and they have a materials warranty lasting for 10 years.
- Shop for Kyocera solar panels (and many other brands!) today on the EnergySage Marketplace.
How Kyocera 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 Kyocera reviews for each metric to help make your solar decision easier. We’ve also created a comparison of Kyocera solar 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 Kyocera solar panels will vary depending on the specific model that you choose for your system. Across Kyocera’s solar product line, panels have an efficiency rating of 14.75% to 16.11%. This puts most Kyocera panels fall into the “standard” efficiency range for solar, but some of the panels on the lower end have an efficiency rating that puts them in the “economy” category.
Performance (Temperature Coefficient)
For this portion of EnergySage’s Kyocera 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 Kyocera KU260-6MCA panel has a temperature coefficient of -0.45%/°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 0.45%. If its temperature increases all the way to 35° C (95° F), electricity production will reduce by 4.5%.
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. All Kyocera panels have a temperature coefficient of -0.45.
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.
Kyocera offers a standard 10-year warranty against any defects in their solar panels.
How much do Kyocera solar panels cost?
NOTE: Kyocera hasn’t been quoted enough recently on our platform for accurate updated cost figures. The data below is from 2020.
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 Kyocera 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 Kyocera systems, we analyzed quotes including Kyocera solar panels that homeowners received from installers on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace. Most Kyocera systems are typically priced between $3.07 and $3.45 per watt, which makes them one of the least expensive products on the market for home solar.
This means that, for a 5 kW system, your gross cost (before you subtract any tax credits or other incentives) would be anywhere from $15,350 to $17,250. 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 5 kW system with Kyocera would cost anywhere from $10,745 to $12,075. There are plenty of state-level solar incentives and rebates that can help you reduce upfront costs even further.
Kyocera solar panels don’t offer industry-leading efficiency or performance, but they are featured in some of the least expensive solar quotes offered to solar shoppers in the EnergySage Solar Marketplace, and they can be a smart choice for homeowners who are interested in an economical solar panel installation. Their reputation within the solar industry (as one of the first companies to manufacture solar panels) is another reason to consider Kyocera.
How to find the best price on Kyocera solar panels
The best way to determine whether Kyocera solar panels are 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 Kyocera solar panels in their quotes to EnergySage users. When registering, simply note in your profile that you’re interested in receiving quotes that include Kyocera for your home.
