JA Solar Panels Review

JA Solar makes high-efficiency, budget-friendly solar panels and has become a major global presence in the industry.

In this review, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the company and its solar panels, including the product range, model specifications, costs, and warranties. This will help you decide whether JA solar panels could be the best choice for your home. 

Company Profile

Established in 2005, JA Solar Holdings is based in Shanghai, China. Its 30,000-strong workforce designs and manufactures award-winning residential and commercial solar panels and related products on a large scale. The company has 12 factories located around South East Asia.

With a track record of solid financial performance and profitability, JA Solar has expanded its reach globally over the years. Its products can now be found in more than 160 countries and regions, making them one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers, with well-established sales and service networks worldwide.

From this prominent position in the global solar market, JA Solar meets diverse customer requirements. It does this with an extensive range of solar panels for homes and businesses and industrial and utility-scale solar energy systems.

JA Solar commits to ongoing technological innovation. The company invests a large slice of its revenue into research and development. It’s recognised for its work in advancing solar cell technology and producing efficient and reliable solar products. State-of-the-art robotics oversee panel production, which cuts out human error.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BloombergNEF), which provides insights into the renewable energy sector, classifies JA Solar as a Tier 1 manufacturer. This means the company is financially strong and unlikely to run into economic difficulties, as other solar panel manufacturers have done in the past. In other words, they’re likely to be around for the lifespan of the solar panel warranties they offer, giving customers the reassurances they seek.

JA Solar consistently appears in the Global Top 500 New Energy Enterprises and the Fortune China 500.

JA Residential Solar Panels Quick Summary

• Main solar panel range – DeepBlue series.
• Solar panel power output ratings – 330W to 555W.
• Panel efficiency – high: 21 percent to 24.8 percent.
• Cell technology – P-type PERC and N-type TOPCon.
• Price bracket – low-medium.
• Product warranty – 12 years.
• Power output warranty – 25 years.
• Service and support – very good.

JA Solar Panels Overview

Although regarded as a budget brand, JA solar panels are widely recognised as quality, high-performance products with impressive efficiency ratings. In 2024, a leading US solar review platform ranked the company’s solar panels in the number three spot. 

JA solar panels are perfect for households on a budget who want to get the benefits of switching to solar. The panels offer good value for money, including sturdy design and excellent efficiency. They come with fairly decent warranties, although the product warranty is shorter than industry standard.

Price per watt is generally lower than that of solar panels from many other manufacturers. And performance specifications and efficiency ratings are better than the average achieved by other affordable brands. This can result in significant cost savings by reducing dependence on mains electricity.

In a recent survey of more than 1,500 JA Solar customers, 91-93 percent reported that when it came to power output, savings, and maintenance, their expectations were met or exceeded.

On the downside, JA solar panels are less powerful than those produced by some larger solar companies, which may also offer longer warranties. 

Advanced Solar Cell Technology

JA Solar focuses on production of powerful monocrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) cells with PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) technology. Consisting of high-purity, half-cut single silicon crystals, these solar cells are far more efficient than cheaper polycrystalline solar panels, which need more roof space.

PERC technology improves solar panel efficiency by optimising the rear surface of panels in order to reduce solar energy loss. PERC solar panels have an extra layer to absorb more daylight and produce more electricity.

Combining half-cut cells with PERC technology makes JA solar panels highly efficient. When solar cells are split in half, if one section is shaded or malfunctions the other continues to produce energy. 

N-Type Solar Cells

JA Solar also makes N-type solar cells, a newer technology offering greater efficiency. These solar panels are more expensive and not as widely available. However, when combined with N-type technology, JA’s monocrystalline solar cells are at the top of the efficiency scale for mid-range solar panels.

Solar Panel Efficiency and Power Output

A solar panel efficiency rating of more than 20 percent is considered very good. JA solar panels achieve efficiency levels up to nearly 25 percent, making them some of the most efficient panels available.

Power output of most home solar panels in the UK is 250W to 400W. JA solar panels are either at the higher end of this range or exceed it.

For example, JAM60S20/MR solar panels offer 21 per cent efficiency with a peak power output of 390W, at a lower price than similar solar panels from many other manufacturers.

And JAM72S30/MR solar panels for larger homes are more powerful than many other residential solar panels, with impressive figures of 21.5 percent efficiency and 555W maximum power output. The JAM72S30/LR is an even higher-performance module, with 585W output and efficiency of up to 22.1 percent.

DeepBlue JA Solar Panels

JA Solar currently manufactures two lines of solar panels under the DeepBlue brand.

• DeepBlue 3.0 – larger solar panels for homes and businesses.
• DeepBlue 3.0 Light – compact residential solar panels up to 415W.
• DeepBlue 3.0 Pro – solar panels up to 605W.
• DeepBlue 4.0 X – with N-type technology
• DeepBlue Pro – with Bycium+ technology.

JA Solar launched its DeepBlue solar panels in 2020, with the DeepBlue 3.0 series of P-type PERC panels. The DeepBlue 3.0 line was followed in 2022 by the next-generation N-type DeepBlue 4.0 X, with enhanced efficiency and performance. DeepBlue 4.0 Pro followed in 2023.

The DeepBlue range offers householders a wide range of solar options, with panel efficiency ratings of 21 percent-plus.  The DeepBlue 3.0 product line is the more affordable option. 

DeepBlue 3.0

DeepBlue 3.0 solar panels are designed for householders looking for high power output rather than trying to minimise costs. These solar panels can result in greater energy savings over the life of the system.

DeepBlue 3.0 Light

DeepBlue 3.0 Light solar panels have the lowest wattages of the DeepBlue range, from around 380W to 415W. 

DeepBlue 3.0 Pro

The DeepBlue 3.0 Pro series is the highest-performing in the DeepBlue 3.0 range. These solar panels have the highest efficiencies and the largest wattages.

DeepBlue 4.0 Solar Panels

The DeepBlue 4.0 line of solar panels boasts higher efficiency levels than the DeepBlue 3.0 series and comes with a longer production warranty. DeepBlue 4.0 X uses N-type solar cell technology while the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro is based on Bycium+ cell technology.

Bycium+ solar cell technology provides outstanding power generation. Compared with P-type modules, Bycium+ offers better temperature coefficient, reduced degrading, and higher bifacial generation gain.

JA Solar Panel Specifications

54-CELL MBB HALF-CELL MODULE (JAM54S30/MR)

60-CELL MBB HALF-CELL MODULE (JAM60S10/MR)

60-CELL MBB HALF-CELL MODULE (JAM60S20/MR)

72-CELL MBB HALF-CELL MODULE (JAM72S10/MR)

72-CELL MBB HALF-CELL MODULE (JAM72S20/MR)

72-CELL MBB HALF-CELL MODULE (JAM72S30/MR)

JA Solar Panel Costs

JA solar panel pricing is competitive with many other manufacturers offering similar products. In many cases, JA solar panels cost less than others for the same power output. A JA 585W solar panel, for instance, costs around £90 – £40 less than solar panels with similar output from other manufacturers.

Here are some other examples.

• JA 365W solar panel – £60.

• Q Cells 350W solar panel – £120.
• REC 365W solar panel – £85.

• JA 400W solar panel – £60.

• JA 405W solar panel – £60.

• Longi 405W solar panel – £70.
• Perlight Delta 415W solar panel – £90.
• REC 405W solar panel – £90.

• JA 495W solar panel – £85.

• Trina 505W solar panel – £90.
• Longi 500W solar panel – £80.

• JA 540W solar panel – £85.

• Sharp 540W solar panel – £100.

The actual price you’ll pay for JA solar panels is difficult to determine. Several factors can affect pricing, such as labour charges for installation and the cost of shipping the panels to the installation location. 

That said, the base cost per watt of JA solar panels is lower than the average.  Factories in China generally produce more affordable products than manufacturers in other parts of the world. Labour costs are low and China is known for its ability to streamline large-scale production. This results in lower prices for customers.

JA Solar Panel Warranties

JA solar panels typically come with a 12-year product replacement warranty and a 25-year power output warranty. 

The 12-year equipment warranty is shorter than that offered by some solar panel manufacturers. But the product warranty is in line with industry standards. The power warranty guarantees that after 25 years your solar panels will still be generating more than 84.8 percent of original power output.

JA Solar Panels FAQs

How good are JA solar panels?

JA Solar has pioneered advances in solar panel technology that significantly improve panel efficiency. The company has a strong reputation for robust investment in solar cell research and production and has extensive manufacturing experience, backed by a track record of reliable products. 

The company picked up two major 2023 Golden Leopard Awards. It won the technical excellence accolade in the enterprise category, and its DeepBlue 4.0 X line took the Golden Module Award.

Since 2017, leading independent energy experts have ranked JA Solar in the top 20 of manufacturers with high-performing solar products. Clean Energy Reviews gives JA Solar four out of five stars for service and support. Solar Reviews gives the manufacturer 4.5 stars. At Effective Home, we tend to agree.

What is customer feedback like on JA solar panels?

On the whole, customer feedback on JA solar panels is positive. The vast majority are happy with power output and cost savings. With the high efficiency levels of JA solar panels, this is what you’d expect. 

Customers also say they’ve received value for money. However, the relatively short product warranty has given rise to concerns about reliability and durability.

How do I get JA solar panels installed?

JA Solar manufactures solar panels; it doesn’t install them. You’ll need to find a solar panel installer that works with JA solar panels. Not all of them do this, but we do.

Does JA Solar make batteries?

Yes. JA Energy Storage System products offer a range of residential solar batteries. Designed to work with JA solar panels, these batteries maximise the advantages of solar power.

Final Thoughts on JA Solar Panels

While JA solar panels have a fairly basic design and aren’t premium modules, they’re reliable and affordable.

A good choice for householders keeping a close eye on their budget, these solar panels offer decent performance and value for money. They’re durable, wind-resistant and tolerate shade, and come with warranties of at least 12 years.

Solar panel efficiency levels in general average 15 percent to 20 percent. With at least 21 per cent efficiency, JA solar panels are among the best in their price bracket. And the DeepBlue 4.0X boasts an efficiency rate of 24.8 percent. 

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