Both Renesola (SOL) and JA Solar (JASO) Modules are good buys and one of our top picks to buy in 2013. Both Renesola and JA Solar are Chinese companies and provide modules at cheap prices. Renesola is a vertically integrated company with complete R&D and manufacturing of polysilicon, silicon wafer and solar modules. Renesola has a global presence with sales branches established in Europe, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific regions. JA Solar sells its products to solar manufacturers worldwide, who assemble and integrate solar cells into modules.The company has two  solar cell manufacturing facilities, one located in Ningjin, Hebei Province, and the other in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province

Distinguishing Features between Renesola and JA Solar Modules

Given below are some of the distinguishing features of both the brands’ solar modules that will help the buyers to choose from.

Type of Solar Panel Producer

JA Solar sells solar panels as an OEM Solar Panel Producer which means that it sells its solar panels to companies who put their own brand names on solar panels produced by JA Solar. Renesola also sells most of its Solar Panels under an OEM Contract.

Types of Solar Modules

Both Renesola and JA Solar Modules come in Monocrystalline and multicrystalline make.

Models

The different monocrystalline solar modules from Renesola are: i) 156 black mono (250w-260w), ii) 125mono (190w-200w), iii) 156square mono (260w-270w) and iv) 156mono (250w-260w). While JA Solar offers i) SECIUM JAM5 72, ii) SECIUM JAM6 60, iii) SECIUM JAM6 72, iv) JAM(L) 72, v) JAM6 60 under monocrystalline make.

The multicrystalline solar modules from Renesola are: VIRTUS VIRTUS II series, while from JA Solar are i) MAPLE JAP6 60, ii) MAPLE JAP6 72, iii) JAP6 72 and iv) JAP6  60.

Cell Type

The cell types found in Renesola are 125×125 and 156×156, whereas in JA Solar they are  125×125, 126×126 and 156×156.
Wattage

The solar modules’ wattage for JA Solar range between 195 W – 320 W, for Renesola modules the wattage range is 190 W – 310 W.

Frame

The Renesola Solar modules have frames made of Anodized Aluminum Alloy, whereas JA Solar panels come with the traditional Aluminium frames.

Weight

Weight for Renesola modules are 16 kg, 19 kg, 29 kg whereas for JA Solar modules it is 15kg, 15.5 kg and 18.5 kg.

Load Resistance

Both come with load resistance of ~5400pa.

Power Tolerance

Both JA Solar and Renesola Modules come with a positive power tolerance of 0-+5W.

Certification

Renesola Modules confirm with PV standards such as IEC 61215:2005, IEC 61730:2004, UL 1703, whereas JA Solar Modules have IEC, CE and UL certifications.

Warranty

JA Solar come with a 10-year quality guarantee and 10 – 25-year power output guarantee. Renesola modules have a limited product warranty – 10 years repair, replacement or refund remedy and 25 years limited peak power warranty – limited remedy.