If you’ve been looking for first-rate panels to install in your next system, you have surely come across the name LG more than once. The company is known around the globe for its dominant market presence in various sectors of consumer electronics, as well as the noted quality of its products.
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But are their photovoltaic modules any good?
At TakeATumble, we did our homework and prepared this extensive LG solar panels review where we discuss the main aspects, draws, and drawbacks of their latest solar modules.
Get under a deep shade and keep reading to learn more!
LG Company Overview
LG Corporation is a multinational electronics company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with 50 offices in 48 countries, including Australia. The company was formerly known as Lucky Goldstar but was rebranded as the LG Corporation in 2002, playing on their initials with the tagline “Life’s Good“.
PROS:
- Renowned for excellence
- High efficiency
- N-Type mono cells with low degradation rates
- Lightweight and durable
- Industry-leading warranty
- Office in Australia
- Bloomberg Tier 1
CONS:
- Costly
- Only sold via dealerships
LG has been producing various electronic devices for decades – the company even ranked first in market share of LCD TVs across the world in 2013. The company also offers products in energy storage, heat pumps, air conditioning, and all manner of other electronic appliances. In 2009, the company made its first solar module under the name LG Solar, a subsidiary of LG Corporation.
LG solar panels are produced in their facilities in Gumi, South Korea and Huntsville, Alabama. At a time when the majority of the world’s photovoltaics are made in China, LG proudly assert they don’t believe in outsourcing their manufacturing.
LG Solar is a Bloomberg Tier 1 manufacturer and holds various awards for their ultra-efficient cell technology. The company takes pride in its quality, reliability, and first-class service – and, truth be told, few other solar companies can compete at the same level.
LG Solar Features in Australia
Most manufacturers produce a range of the more common P-type monocrystalline silicon cells, but LG cell technology is taking a different route. The company’s solar panels are composed of N-type cells, which offer higher efficiency and a much lower degradation rate, albeit at a higher price. Still, in order to be more competitive across various market strata, LG recently introduced Mono X Plus, a more affordable range of panels made with P-type cells.
Their latest Neon 2 modules place LG among the leaders in multi-wire cell technology, with 12 round wire busbars and a special finger design implemented in all of their Neon 2 and Neon 2 bifacial solar modules.
There are two large solar module manufacturers producing high-performance interdigitated back contact (IBC) N-type panels on the markets, LG and SunPower. LG’s cells now use 30 busbars implemented on the rear side of the cell, resulting in a slick design with no visible busbars in the front and thus no cell shading. This new cutting-edge design uses high-purity N-type doped silicon and an additional special metalizing process on the back of the cell, contributing to a very low degradation rate, low current resistance, favourable high-temperature performance, and allowing LG’s module to achieve phenomenal efficiency of 22%.
It bears repeating that LG solar panels in general have high efficiency rates, as a result of their specific choice of cell technology and all-round approach to manufacturing. Here’s a quick breakdown of the numbers.
- Mono X Plus efficiency – up to 19.8% at 370W
- Neon 2 efficiency – up to 21.4% at max 370W
- Neon R efficiency – up to 22.0% at max 380W
In addition, LG solar panels are now framed by extra-strong, double-wall aluminium frames which can bear loads twice the normal industry standards. The new frames are rated for 5,400 Pa of wind or snow pressure on the front side and 4,000 Pa on the rear side, while the industry standard is 2,400 Pa.
Finally, LG takes a double-or-nothing approach when it comes to detecting micro-cracks. LG flashes the panel both before and after lamination, inspecting the model twice to ensure that no defective cells are present in the finished solar module.
Difference Between LG Solar Panels Models
To help you get a better view of the specifications of the various LG residential solar panels as well as their commercial solar modules, we’ve gathered the key features in a single table below. Compare away!
Performance Warranties and Service
As indicated by the overview, the LG solar warranty can be up to 25 years for the panel itself and, similarly to SunPower, the company also offers a quarter-century of performance warranty covering the panel’s power output and overall yield.
The LG performance warranty receives high marks for its scope and scale. Both the Neon 2 and Neon R models are estimated to keep producing as much as 90% of their nominal yield even after 25 years of use. This type of warranty speaks of LG’s confidence in the quality, long-term performance, and low degradation rates of their products. The 25-year warranty also includes repair or replacement of the solar module in case of manufacturing defects, free of charge
LG ships their solar panel packages all over the world secured with tough plastic-moulded corner sections in order to maximize safety during transportation. Seeing as one of the main causes of micro-cracks are transport mishandles, it’s very handy that their warranty covers transportation and installation. The warranty is provided by the Australian LG subsidiary, so you won’t have to deal with an overseas company.
Compared to other industry giants, LG solar panels may be said to surpass the standard warranty terms. Winaico, a quality solar module manufacturer by any metric, offers a 15-year product warranty for most of their product line and 25 years of performance warranty. SunPower may be LG’s peers in terms of offering a 25-year product warranty, but one should keep in mind their panels do have a slightly higher degradation rate. Similarly, REC offers a 20-year product warranty which can be extended by up to 5 years in certain conditions.
LG Product Warranty
LG Performance Warranty
The vast majority of solar module installations are usually finished within the day. Compared to SunPower which may have fewer installers available, LG Solar works with over 100 installation partners, part of their Authorised Solar Dealer Network. They can provide free advice on solar power in general, examine your premises, and offer installation services for any solar system or battery. LG Solar Australia installers are accredited by the Clean Energy Council.
To maximise the support for their customers, LG Energy Australia also offers a helpline where you can reach out for any sort of inquiries.
LG Pricing
At first sight, the LG solar panel cost may seem a bit steep, but note that the price includes a full turnkey solar system, installation by certified and reputable installers, and comes with the STC rebate and GST credit. The average LG solar panels price in Australia is given below.
Do keep in mind that the price may vary depending on your exact location, the inverter brand, and the specific installer.
If you are looking to replace a defective module or add another panel or two to your setup, those numbers will be of little use. In that case, you may want to look at one of the company’s most popular and affordable modules, the LG 300 solar panel, which can be bought for $317 a piece.
As we said, LG solar panels prices are known to be somewhat higher than other manufacturers. Let’s see what that means in practice. An average 6kW system by SunPower costs around $7,660, while their 10kW systems cost an average of $13,900, only slightly more affordable than LG. Another solar manufacturer which is highly spoken of, Winaico’ prices are lower still: an average 6kW system will run you about $7,000, whereas their 10kW systems go for an average of $11,000.
As far as discounts are concerned, keep in mind that LG sells their products via various local dealerships, so you will need to keep an eye out for special deals and offers at the local level. It never hurts to contact the dealers directly and leave your contact there, just in case.
Customer Reviews
Customers have recognized the LG quality and standing, grading the company’s solar modules at 4.8 out of 5 in 916 reviews, where the vast majority of LG reviews award them a 5-star rating. This is a common rating for the top tier of solar module manufacturers available in Australia, as both REC and SunPower have the same rating from around 550 reviews.
Generally, the reviews indicate that the Australian market is filled with quality solar module manufacturers. In a packed market, price is always the primary concern, but LG’s renowned and superior features can make the difference.
LG Solar Panels Alternatives
To see how the alternatives stack up, let’s take the NeON® H as a benchmark and compare it with products by other acclaimed manufacturers.
Consisting of 120 monocrystalline N-type cells, the residential models in the NeON® H series have a maximum efficiency rate of 20.9% and power outputs of up to 385 W. They come with a 15-year product warranty and sell for an average price of about $430 per panel.
Many will immediately look for the heavyweight matchup of LG solar modules vs SunPower panels, so let’s see how these two compare first. The monocrystalline shingled cell technology of the SunPower P3 series (370-390 W) gives it a maximum efficiency rate of 19.9% and power output of up to 390 W. The panels come with their renowned 25-year Complete Confidence product warranty. The average price is a bit lower than LG, at $320 per panel.
Winaico is known for its policy of offering premium quality at significantly lower prices. Its WST-M6 series has efficiency rates between 19.54% and 20.14% and nominal power outputs between 325 W and 335 W. The series comes with a 15-year product warranty and sells for an amazing $240 per panel. This should suit your needs if you’re looking for affordable yet highly efficient options.
Hanwha Qcells, another South Korean manufacturer, is a company known mostly for its affordable products. Their Q.MAXX-G3 module outputs up to 375 W at an efficiency rate of 19.8% and has a product warranty of 15 years. The Qcells brand occupies a similar market segment as Winaico and its panels can be had for about $275.
Finally, let’s pit LG vs Panasonic solar panels from their new N340 HIT series. The VBHN340SA17 HIT+, to give its full name, is a dual-layer, bifacial cell design with heterojunction technology, achieving the company’s highest power output per unit of surface to date. The 340W module has an amazing 20.3% efficiency rate and 25 years of warranty on both the product materials and the output. All this cutting-edge technology isn’t exactly cheap, though, and at $360 per panel, is right there in LG territory.
For more information about the competing companies and their strong suits, make sure to check out our in-depth reviews of REC, SunPower, Winaico and the other solar panel makers on our website.
Is LG Worth It?
All in all, it’s really hard to find fault with LG solar panels, cell technology, and production standards. With industry-leading warranty packages, excellent efficiency rates, as well as slick and sustainable designs, LG is certainly a premium solar company. Another certainty is that premium quality comes at a premium cost, with LG pricing their product above the industry average, but this is also true for all competitors in the same quality bracket. Going solar should be seen as a serious investment and buying LG solar panels ensures you will be maximizing your yield for decades, increasing the value of your investment.
To conclude, if you’re in a position to spare the extra bucks and invest in a premium solar system, LG is definitely worth it!
1.How much does an LG cost?
LG solar modules typically cost more than the industry average price. The cost of their 6 kW solar system is $8,880, while fully installed 8 kW and 10 kW systems amount to $11,830 and $14,300, respectively.
2.Where are LG solar panels made?
LG say they don’t believe in outsourcing when it comes to production and claim they make all modules in-house, in their manufacturing facilities in South Korea and Alabama, USA.
3.Are LG solar panels any good?
LG receive largely positive feedback in their customer reviews and hold a 4.8/5 rating. The NeON 2 and the NeoNN R ranges are among the most popular modules on the market, with excellent efficiency, performance, and warranty.
4.What are the best solar panels on the market in Australia?
As of 2021, the best solar panels in Australia are LG, SunPower, and REC, according to the top-rated installers across Australia. They are followed by Qcells, Solarwatt, Hyundai, Jinko, Solaria, and Winaico.
5.How long do LG solar panels last?
LG solar panels are guaranteed to last a minimum of 25 years, which is the length of their product warranty, but the company claims their solar modules exceed the projected lifespan of 25 years.
6.What is the best LG solar panel?
More than one LG solar panel review points to the NeON® 2 range as the most popular among the 600,000 solar modules sold in Australia and New Zealand in 2020. This module is perfect for households looking for an aesthetically pleasing solar panel, as well as roofs where space is limited.
