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We review the AIKO ABC Neostar 3N54 495W to see how it compares with other mid-range solar panels in the UK.
Founded in 2009, AIKO is the manufacturer of some of the most efficient and best solar panels available for residential usage, including the ABC Neostar 3N54 495W.
AIKO has also been at the forefront of solar panel innovation for the last decade, notably for inventing tubular Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) technology in 2016. This breakthrough helped significantly improve the efficiency of a panel’s solar cells.
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| Panel efficiency | 24.8% |
| Power output (W) | 495W |
| Degradation first year | 1.00% |
| Degradation rate per year after first year | 0.35% |
| Product warranty | 15 years |
| Performance warranty | 30 years |
| Weight (kg) | 21.0 kg |
| Size (sq m) | 2.0 sqm |
The AIKO ABC Neostar 3N54 495W is a monocrystalline solar panel that uses N-Type ABC solar cells. It is these N-Type cells that give AIKO its low degradation rate, as this technology is more resilient against light induced degradation (LID).
Alongside its low degradation rate, the AIKO ABC Neostar has the second lowest temperature coefficient of the panels we’ve reviewed. This means that it may be suitable for warmer climates, as the lower a panel’s temperature coefficient, the more effective it will be in hotter weather. And while that may not seem important in the UK, solar panels start to lose efficiency for every degree higher than 25°C, temperatures which are frequently crossed during the summer months.
This is how the AIKO ABC Neostar 3N54 495W compares with other solar panels:
| Solar panel brand | FMB score (out of 10) | Efficiency | Power output | Product warranty | Performance warranty | Customer satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIKO ABC Neostar 3N54 | 7.4 | 24.8% | 495W | 15 years | 30 years | 90.70% |
| JA Solar JAM72S30 LR | 6.4 | 22.1% | 585W | 12 years | 25 years | 91.50% |
| Jinko Tiger Neo 72HL4-(V) | 7.1 | 23.4% | 605W | 12 years | 30 years | 91.70% |
| Perlight PLM-435 DH8N 450W | 7.4 | 23.0% | 450W | 30 years | 30 years | 94.40% |
| Project Solar Evo Max Super Series | 8.2 | 21.18% | 480W | Lifetime | Lifetime | 91.90% |
| SunPower Maxeon 7DC | 8.9 | 24.1% | 445W | 40 years | 40 years | 91.20% |
| Suntech Ultra V Pro Mini | 7.2 | 23.2% | 515W | 15 years | 30 years | 91.70% |
| REC Alpha Pure RX Series | 7.2 | 22.6% | 470W | 20 years | 25 years | 92.10% |
According to our research, the price of AIKO solar panels can range between £80 and £120 per panel depending on the model you choose.
It’s worth noting that normally, you won’t buy solar panels individually, but as part of a whole solar panel system recommended by your chosen solar panel installer.
If you want to reduce the cost of solar panels, you should look into the various buying schemes, subscription services and solar panel grants currently available in the UK.
AIKO solar panels come with a 15-year product warranty; if anything goes wrong in that period, you can get in contact with the manufacturer, and they will arrange a suitable solution. This could be repairing your existing panels, or replacing them entirely.
If your panels get significantly soiled, you can clean them using a normal garden hose. You should always clean your solar panels during the coolest part of the day, whether that’s in the morning or at night. This is because using cold water on hot panels can cause an extreme temperature change and damage the glass.
With a score of 90.70 per cent, AIKO received the lowest customer satisfaction rating of the manufacturers we’ve reviewed*.
However, when it comes to cost savings, 45 per cent of AIKO customers we surveyed said their panels exceeded expectations – only Jinko scored higher in that regard.
The AIKO ABC Neostar 3N54 495W is our third best reviewed solar panel, behind only the SunPower Maxeon 6AC 445W and Project Solar Evo Max Super Series 480W. And it actually has both of those panels beat when it comes to efficiency and degradation. Combine this with a low temperature coefficient, and there is plenty to recommend.
However, if you’re looking for a sustainable solar panel brand, there are better options out there than AIKO. It also has a below average product warranty that doesn’t cover the expected lifespan of its panels.
AIKO, or the Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co Ltd, manufactures its solar panels in China.
AIKO is a Tier 1 Bloomberg solar panel manufacturer. This means that it is viewed as a company offering high quality solar products, while being financially stable and reliable. Only 2 per cent of solar brands have this rating.
The AIKO ABC Neostar 3N54 495W has an efficiency rating of 24.8 per cent.
When we review solar panels, our final score is based on the following:
*The FMB survey of 2,004 solar panel owners, June 2024.