REC Group is Europe’s largest manufacturer of solar panels, and has offices in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia. The company was founded in Norway in 1996 and manufactures its solar panels in Singapore. With their Alpha and Alpha-black series of solar panels, REC has introduced a high-powered solar panel that competes with other excellent brands in the market. As a result, REC solar panels are an increasingly popular option in quotes to shoppers comparing solar offers on the EnergySage Marketplace.
Key takeaways
- REC makes several lines of solar panels, including their Alpha, Pure Black, Alpha, and TwinPeak models.
- REC’s solar panels range in efficiency from 16.5% to 21.9%, and they have a materials warranty lasting for up to 25 years.
- REC solar panels cost between $2.32 and $3.10/W on the EnergySage Marketplace – that’s $13,920 to $18,600 for a 6 kW system, before the federal solar tax credit.
- Shop for REC solar panels (and many other brands!) today on the EnergySage Marketplace.
REC solar panels: Twinpeak 2, N-Peak and the new Alpha series
REC offers several different series of solar panels for residential and commercial systems, with their new focus on the high-powered Alpha and Alpha Black series for homeowners:
- Twinpeak 4
- Alpha
- Alpha Pure Black
EnergySage has reviewed the product specifications of each REC’s 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 REC solar panels and help you compare them to other manufacturers on the market.
How REC’s 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 REC’s solar panel reviews for each metric to help make your solar decision easier. We’ve also created a comparison of REC’s 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 REC solar panels will vary depending on the specific model that you choose for your system. Panels in REC’s product line have an efficiency rating of 16.5% to 21.9%.
Performance (Temperature Coefficient)
For this portion of EnergySage’s REC 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, REC’s REC360AA Black panel from the Alpha Black series has a temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C, one of the lowest in the industry. 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 0.26%. If its temperature increases all the way to 35° C (95° F), electricity production will reduce by 2.6%.
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. REC solar panels have temperature coefficients ranging from -0.37 to -0.26.
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.
REC offers a full 25-year warranty on any panel products installed by a REC Certified Solar Professional installer.
Check out our in-depth review of REC’s warranty.
How much do REC 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 REC’s solar 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 REC solar PV systems, we analyzed quotes including REC solar panels that homeowners received from installers on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace. Most REC’s solar PV systems are typically priced between $2.32 and $3.10 per watt, which makes them a strong value in the market for home solar.
This means that, for a 6 kW system, your gross cost (before you subtract any tax credits or other incentives) would be anywhere from $13,920 to $18,600. 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 REC’s solar panels would cost anywhere from $10,301 to $13,764. There are plenty of state-level solar incentives and rebates that can help you reduce upfront costs even further.
REC solar panels are becoming a popular choice for shoppers comparing solar quotes on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.
How to find the best price on REC solar panels
The best way to determine whether REC 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 REC solar panels in their quotes to EnergySage users. When registering, simply note in your profile that you’re interested in receiving quotes that include REC solar panels for your home.
