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The flexibility and compact size of Panasonic solar panels make them one of the best options for urban homes in the UK market.
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Panasonic is renowned for its reliability in solar technology, having sold and installed over 3 million solar panels in Europe alone, making its modules some of the best solar panels on the market. Panasonic’s HIT panels are energy-efficient and long-lasting, with the HIT N 245W model boasting 19.1 per cent efficiency. While this is not the highest we’ve reviewed, it is still above average for residential solar panels, which typically falls around 18 per cent.
The panels feature a sleek black design with almost invisible bus bars – the silver lines across the panel surface that carry the electrical current. This design gives the Panasonic HIT N a modern appearance that blends well with darker roof tiles, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home while providing reliable solar energy.
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Panasonic’s HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin Layer) solar cells are extremely efficient. The modules are made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer, which is in turn surrounded by ultra-thin silicon layers. These hybrid panels are unique to Panasonic: highly reflective materials are installed on the roof, which mirrors sunlight that is absorbed by the back of the panel.
Highlights: The Panasonic HIT N 245W can be orientated in either landscape or portrait, and is light and compact, making it perfect for urban homeowners.
The panel has a frame designed for optimal water drainage, preventing the buildup of water stains and soil that could affect energy generation.
Modules feature a screw-free coated frame, enhancing durability and reducing the risk of damage when being attached to the mounting rails.
Key benefit: The Panasonic HIT N 245W is extremely compact (160cm x 80cm) making it suitable for roof types of all shapes and sizes.
Service: Panasonic’s TripleGuard warranty covers the standalone panels for performance, output, parts, labour and shipping.
Warranty: All standalone panels in the HIT series are guaranteed for 25 years, and Panasonic says its HIT panels will retain at least 90.76 per cent of original output after 25 years.
Cost: From £250.
Panasonic has been making excellent solar panels for years, with research and development going back to the 1970s. The advantages of the Panasonic HIT N 245W include:
Some of the disadvantages of the Panasonic HIT N 245W include:
Panasonic solar panels on a slanted roof
Panasonic HIT solar panels are made using state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques. HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin Layer) solar cells are produced by surrounding a thin, monocrystalline silicon wafer with multiple high-quality ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers.
The Panasonic HIT N 245W is a short panel, and as it is smaller, it is perfect for complex or smaller roofs. HIT solar panels are able to maintain up to 18 per cent higher efficiency than conventional crystalline solar cells, which means they require fewer modules to achieve the energy performance required. Drain lines channel water away from the solar panels. Each panel weighs only 15kg and offers 19.4 per cent module efficiency. The temperature coefficient of the Panasonic HIT N 245W is -0.258 per cent, which is one of the lowest on the market. This means it performs well in temperatures above 25℃.
The Panasonic HIT N 245W can be integrated with its EverVolt 2.0 battery storage systems which will store excess energy produced during the day for use at night, or during periods of poor weather.
This table is an overview of how the Panasonic HIT N 245W compares to some of the other solar panels on the market.
| Solar panel brand | Efficiency | Solar panel output | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic HIT N 245W | 19.40% | 245W | 25 years |
| JA Solar JAM60S20 | 19.5% – 21% | 390W | 12 years |
| Sunsnap ND-F2Q235 | 14.4% | 325W | 25 years |
| SunPower Maxeon 3 | 22.80% | 400W | 40 years |
Comparison sites often stack Panasonic solar panels against SunPower’s range. Between the two, SunPower is a lot more energy-efficient, with up to 22.7 per cent efficiency. SunPower was also the first to produce a 400-watt residential solar panel. The temperature coefficient is slightly less optimal than that of Panasonic (-0.29 per cent/degree C), but it is pricier to install.
However, because of its high yields, it’s a better option for large homes and large roofs. SunPower’s Maxeon 3 (its flagship brand) comes with a whopping 40-year warranty, compared to Panasonic’s 25-year guarantee.
Another option to consider is Sharp’s Sunsnap ND-F2Q235. It has a maximum output of 235W and comes with a 25-year warranty. Sharp has a long-standing history in the UK, trading for nearly 110 years. However, the main reason the Sunsnap ND-F2Q235 has sold so well is because of its design. It comes with a rail-free, low-profile mounting system that places the solar panels flush with the roof, allowing them to blend in. It’s slightly more expensive than the Panasonic, at £300 per panel, however, and far less energy efficient.
Homeowners that want to stay in the Panasonic range should consider the Panasonic HIT N 295W option. It’s slightly smaller but packs a more powerful 295W punch. The shape is slightly more square, which makes it less flexible than the 245W.
The Panasonic HIT N 245W solar panel has a lower output but good guarantees and real durability (Image credit: Panasonic)
The Panasonic HIT N 245W isn’t a cheap option at £250 per panel. A 6kW solar energy system can cost up to £12,500, depending on the size of the roof, equipment components, battery storage banks, and permitting and installation costs. For the purposes of this comparison, we’ve kept to the cost per panel, excluding extras and labour:
Name | Output | Cost per panel |
|---|---|---|
| Panasonic HIT N 245W | 245W | From £250 |
| SunPower Maxeon 3 | 400W | From £350 |
| Sharp Sunsnap ND-F2Q235 | 235W | From £300 |
Panasonic HIT N 245W solar panels are extremely low-maintenance thanks to their unique water drainage system that prevents water from pooling on the surface, attracting dirt and dust.
However, the solar panels can be cleaned with an ordinary garden hose or using a soft sponge and water if absolutely necessary.
Solar panels take energy from the sun and convert it into electricity for your use. As such, you can’t generate energy at night. The way around this is to invest in a battery storage system to store any unused energy throughout the day, for use at night.
Even on the cloudiest of days, solar panels still generate electricity. Granted, their output won’t be as high as on days when the sun’s shining. The general rule is that if it’s light enough to see outside, it’s light enough for panels to produce energy.
To maximise your return on investment, it’s essential to utilise your generated electricity fully. Adding a battery allows you to store excess power for later use, reducing waste and increasing savings. However, batteries are costly, ranging from £1,200 to £6,000 based on capacity and composition. Higher capacity batteries decrease reliance on energy suppliers and maintain efficiency for about 15 years before capacity diminishes.
Solar panels have a lifespan of around 30 years – about twice that of a storage battery. After 30 or so years, their efficiency decreases, meaning that they produce less electricity. Most modern panels will still generate 85-90% of their output potential after 25-30 years, and have warranties guaranteeing at least 80% performance for the life of the warranty – usually about 25 years.
If looked after, solar panels can still perform well for more than 40 years before they need replacing.
For a typical domestic property requiring a 4 kW system, you’ll need 16 300 W-rated solar panels. These will occupy around 30m² of roof space. A more powerful solar system could require more panels taking up a larger roof area, or panels with a higher output.
If you have a powerful and efficient solar panel system and plenty of sun, it is possible to just rely on solar energy for your family’s electrical needs. But there are many variables to take into consideration, such as whether you’ve invested in a battery to store excess energy, and you may be wise to expect some of your electricity to be taken from the national grid.
This depends on your budget, geographic location, and roof size. We would recommend the Panasonic HIT N 245W as one of the best all-round options, as well as the SunPower Maxeon 3, which has fantastic efficiency, and LG NeON H BiFacial, which has great output.
Panasonic HIT N 245W solar panels provide fair yields, good energy efficiency and flexibility. They are built to last, with minimal degradation and leaving it performing nearly as well as they did even after 25 years. In addition, these solar panels are lightweight and easy to install, and their slender propositions allow them to match the module efficiency of much larger panels. Maintenance is fairly hands-off, and it has the ability to handle rain showers and heavy snow loads with ease. It also remains highly efficient in warmer climates. So, what’s not to like?
The downside of the Panasonic HIT N 245W is that it’s expensive for large homes. Because of its lower output, you’ll require more panels than a high-performance option like the SunPower Maxeon 3.
We can recommend Panasonic HIT N 245W for homes with complicated roof structures or small urban homes with limited space.
When compiling this review, we analysed several hundred customer and formal industry reviews in the UK and other territories. We used a scoring system based on the most important determining factors consumers take into account when purchasing solar panels and evaluating Panasonic HIT N 245W solar panels against the score sheet, giving the solar panels a rating out of 100 points.
During our research, the total score was compiled as follows:
Each solar panel or company received a total score out of 100.
