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The average home can save more than £1,100 every year with solar panels!
The REC Alpha Pure Series RX 470W solar panels combine cutting-edge technologies and winning innovations with pleasing aesthetics. Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) is a Norwegian company created in 1996 and is one of the largest manufacturers of solar panels in Europe today.
But is the REC Alpha Pure RX Series 470W one of the best solar panels in the UK? Our review below looks at REC’s pros and cons, how it compares to other brands and how the customers we surveyed* feel about its panels.
| Panel efficiency | 22.6% |
| Power output (W) | 470W |
| Degradation first year | 2.00% |
| Degradation rate per year after first year | 0.25% |
| Product warranty | 20 years (25 years REC Pro Trust) |
| Performance warranty | 25 years |
| Weight (kg) | 22.7kg |
| Size (sqm) | 2.1sqm |
The REC Alpha Pure Series RX 470W employs an innovative gapless cell layout that increases the surface area used to generate power. REC has also introduced advanced cell technology with more wiring that improves the electrical current while reducing invasive soldering. This lowers the risk of cell damage and microcracks, improving the solar panels’ longevity.
A main feature of REC is its heterojunction cell technology. This technology offers higher temperature coefficients, boosting the energy you produce when the day is at its hottest.
The REC Alpha Pure Series RX 470W solar panel also has a seamless, stylish appearance, with thin, barely visible wires and a uniformly black surface. The glass is 3.2mm solar glass with an anti-reflective surface treatment, and the back sheet is a highly resistant black polymer. The frame is anodised aluminium, and the panels measure 1,728mm (h) x 1,205mm (w) x 30mm (d).
The REC Alpha Pure series have a premium look fit for homes and businesses. (Image credit: REC)
This is how the REC Alpha Pure RX Series 470W compares to other solar panels:
| Solar panel brand | FMB score (out of 10) | Efficiency | Power output | Product warranty | Performance warranty | Customer satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REC Alpha Pure RX Series | 7.2 | 22.6% | 470W | 20 years | 25 years | 92.10% |
| 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 | 91.90% |
| Jinko Tiger Neo 72HL4-(V) | 7.1 | 23.4% | 605W | 12 years | 30 years | 91.50% |
| Perlight PLM-435 DH8N 450W | 7.4 | 23.0% | 450W | 30 years | 30 years | 91.70% |
| Project Solar Evo Max Super Series | 8.2 | 21.18% | 480W | Lifetime | Lifetime | 94.40% |
| 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 solar panels cost between £150 and £400 per panel. However, you can typically buy solar panels in bulk rather than on a per-panel basis.
Several factors will determine the individual cost of your solar panels:
The REC Alpha Pure Series RX 470W has a superstrong 30mm frame with support bars that protect the cells and the glass from bending under heavy loads. It can support loads of up to 7,000Pa or the equivalent of 250mph winds. And because the Alpha Pure series eliminates invasive soldering, the risk of damage and microcracks is also reduced.
Overall, REC has an excellent reputation and proven track record of low failure rates (out of the 4 million solar panels REC manufactures each year, only about 400 come back with a product warranty request). The company also claims to adhere to testing standards that are 3 times more stringent than those of other manufacturers in the industry.
REC panels are generally recognised for their top performance and high reliability in extreme environmental conditions. The best solar panels need to be trustworthy and resilient, so these extra steps make REC products an excellent choice for commercial and residential rooftops worldwide.
Nearly half (46%) of the REC customers we surveyed said their solar panels had “exceeded expectations” regarding cost savings. Only the Jinko solar panels managed to beat that score.
However, only 40% of customers said they would “very much recommend” REC solar panels, giving it the worst score of all the panels we reviewed.
The REC Alpha Pure Series RX 470W is a solid solar panel, which is reflected in its FMB score of 7.2 out of 10. However, more efficient and powerful solar panels are available, including ones with better performance warranties.
But with its sleek, all-black design, strong customer satisfaction score and low 10-year degradation rate, this panel still has a lot to offer. It also has one of the better sustainability scores out of the panels we reviewed – its products are lead-free, and the provider recycles old panels.
REC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, which purchased it from China National Bluestar Group in 2021.
FMB scored REC 7.2 out of 10, putting it around the middle of the solar panels we reviewed.
REC solar panels have received the Tier 1 Bloomberg rating. This rating reflects a company’s financial stability, reliability and high quality of its product.
When we review solar panels, our final score is based on the following:
*FMB survey of 2,004 solar panel owners, June 2024.
