If you’ve been shopping for solar and someone told you to “just look for Tier-1 panels,” you’ve been given half an answer.
The term has a legitimate purpose, but it wasn’t designed for homeowners, and it doesn’t tell you what you actually need to know. This article explains what Tier-1 really means, who it’s for, and how PSW Energy’s own qualification process goes considerably further to determine what ends up on your roof.
Contents
The two most recognised Tier-1 module manufacturer lists are the BloombergNEF Tier 1 PV Module Maker List and the PV ModuleTech Bankability Ratings Quarterly Report. Both were designed primarily for financiers and developers assessing large-scale or utility-scale solar projects, where a manufacturer’s financial stability affects whether a bank will fund a project.
BloombergNEF themselves have been explicit about this. Their subscriber application now includes the following statement:
“We strongly recommend that module purchasers and banks do not use this list as a measure of quality, but instead consult a technical due diligence firm…”
In other words: Tier-1 status is a bankability snapshot for a specific quarter. It is not a product quality endorsement. It is not permanent. And it was never intended to guide a residential buyer choosing between Jinko and LONGi.
BNEF Statement
“We strongly recommend that module purchasers and banks do not use this list as a measure of quality, but instead consult a technical due diligence firm such as Edif ERA (formerly OST Energy), Wood PIc, PVEL, RETC LLC, Black &Veatch, TUV, E3, ATA Renewables, STS Certified, Clean Energy Associates (now part of Intertek), Pl Berlin, Pbuyer, Enertis, Oravia or Leidos Engineering. These would usually consider what factory the module comes from, as well as the brand, and give an informed opinion on whether the modules will perform as expected.”
PSW qualification
PSW Energy’s Product Qualification Assessment considers bankability tiering reports as one input among many, not the answer in itself. Our assessment draws on:
- Internationally recognised bankability reports (BloombergNEF, PV ModuleTech)
- Third-party technical due diligence verifications
- Manufacturer financial stability and Australian market presence
- Warranty terms and the real-world probability of a claim being honoured
- Module-level performance data and technology trajectory (TOPCon, N-type, bifacial)
- Installer feedback and post-installation performance from our own portfolio
PSW holds ISO 9001, 45001, and 14001; our processes are independently audited, not self-declared. The result: List A below represents brands that have passed PSW’s full criteria, not just a quarterly bankability screen.
Tier-1 solar module manufacturer list
The manufacturers below are compiled from publicly available bankability sources and updated against PSW Energy’s internal product qualification criteria. This list should be used as a research reference only, not as a substitute for a manufacturer’s current bankability report. For the most current data, BloombergNEF and PV ModuleTech both publish quarterly updates (subscription required).
List A
These brands pass PSW’s product quality standards, ethical sourcing and localised (Australia) bankability criteria.
| Brand | Notes |
|---|---|
Aiko | N-type ABC technology, strong efficiency credentials |
Canadian Solar | Consistent bankability across BNEF and PV ModuleTech |
Jinko | Global shipment leader, TOPCon N-type range |
LONGi | Hi-MO series, strong Australian market support |
Risen Energy | Consistent performer, competitive in mid-range |
Trina Solar | Vertex series, strong commercial track record |
Tindo Solar | Australian made, high build quality |
List B
The following brands appear in various Tier-1 labelling sources in 2026, by order of MW shipped. Their presence here is a reference only and does not represent PSW product qualification.
| Brand (1 - 10) | Brand (11 - 20) | Brand (21 - 30) | Brand (31 - 40) |
|---|---|---|---|
Jinko | First Solar | OSDA | New East Solar |
LONGi | Waaree | Sunova | Phono |
Trina | DMEGC | Renew | BYD |
JA Solar | TCL/Maxeon | Boviet | Adani |
TW Solar | Yingli | VSun | Luxen |
Canadian Solar | Talesun | Sunpro | Fellow Energy |
Astronergy | QCells | Hannersun | Horay Solar |
Risen | ZNShine | ET Solar | AE Solar |
AIKO | SolarSpace | ReneSola | Neo Solar |
GCL System | Haitai | TATA Power | Zhonghui |
Myths & facts: Tier 1 solar panels
For the purpose of internet indexing of common user search terms, we’ve used the term Tier-1 solar panels. Although technically incorrect, the aim of the article is to educate module purchasers that Tier-1 qualification is only a fraction of the considered bankability criteria towards determining selected project feasability.
1. There is no such thing as a Tier-1 solar panel
TRUE: Only module manufacturers are Tier-1 rated, not individual products. The panel on your roof has no Tier-1 designation; only the company that made it is listed for a specific quarter.
2. Manufacturers not on a Tier-1 list are inferior
FALSE: Some of the most technically innovative manufacturers globally, Tindo, Winaico, Solarwatt, and others either don’t participate in or don’t need bankability report recognition. Innovation and Tier-1 listing are entirely separate things.
3. Tier-1 is a quality measure
FALSE: It is a financial stability and volume metric. A Tier-1 manufacturer producing a poorly performing module remains Tier-1.
4. Tier-1 status is permanent
FALSE: Qualification applies to a nominated quarter. A manufacturer can appear on the list in Q1 and drop off in Q2.
5. Advertisers promoting "Tier-1 solar panels" without itemisation should be treated with scepticism
TRUE: The phrase is technically meaningless as applied to panels. It’s frequently used to create a sense of quality assurance that the original reporting framework never intended to provide.
6. Bankability reports have legitimate uses
TRUE: For large-scale project developers and financiers, quarterly bankability data from BloombergNEF or PV ModuleTech is genuinely useful. For residential buyers, it is a partial input at best.
7. PSW's Tier-1 list is a quality guarantee
FALSE: and we’d say the same of anyone’s. What PSW’s List A does represent is the output of a more comprehensive assessment process. The distinction matters.
Perth homeowners and businesses
If you’re installing solar in Perth or regional Western Australia, the relevant questions aren’t “is it Tier-1?” but rather:
- Does this manufacturer have credible Australian warranty support?
- Has the installer verified long-term performance data for this product?
- Is the installer accountable enough to stand behind that product over a 10–25 year warranty period?
PSW Energy has been answering those questions since our founding. Our five consecutive years as a Tesla Premium Certified Installer, Sigenergy Gold Installer status, and ISO triple certification reflect the qualifications we apply to both our products and our own operations. If you’d like to know specifically which panels we’d recommend for your property, roof orientation, and usage profile, that’s exactly what our quoting process is designed to answer.
