Aiko have taken the Australian residential solar market by storm.
From almost zero to the hottest product, in a matter of a few months since early 2024.

Sigenergy are doing something very similar with their inverter and battery combos.
To be blunt, I can easily see why Sigenergy are doing so well, but Aiko? ...not quite so much.

There are two special features of Aiko panels...
(1) Over 1% higher efficiency than normal panels where the 475W Aiko is 23.8% efficient, compared to 22.5% for most other panels.
(2) All back contact design to reduce losses if the panel is partially shaded.

From my own experience with Aiko panels I can add...
(3) Very solid build quality. The installation teams and I agreed they felt/looked superior than average.
(4) We did our highly sophisticated self-cleaning test (hosed down a panel) and the water beaded really well.

Shading advantages of Aiko...is this total BS?
The theory is that with the Interdigitated Back Contact design a single shaded solar cell inside the panel can be bypassed.
That's compared to bypassing an entire string of cells simply because one or two cells are shaded.
This feature has been available with SunPower Maxeon panels for many years but at a far higher price than Aiko.

We have a recent quite tree-shaded installation in the Perth hills with Aiko Neostar 2P 470W panels.
Power production so far, in Summer, has been better than expected.
Not scientifically tested, just anecdotal comparison with outputs from similar shaded installs that had 'regular' panels.

This is what we were told by our Aiko wholesaler about Aiko's ability to handle shade.
They said the original Aiko panels they stocked had only very minor partial shading advantages.
They were referring to the 1S and 2S models.
They said to wait for the 2P models to come into stock as Aiko had significantly improved the shade performance.
400% better shade handling performance with the new 2P panels over the older 1S and 2S models.

So we waited...and installed the 2P panels on the afore-mentioned shaded house in the hills.

I watched Mark from MC Electrical's original YouTube video before it was taken down.
Based on the date of that video he must have been using the earlier 1S / 2S panels as the 2Ps weren't out then.
His test on those Gen 1 Aiko panels showed a very minor advantage in partial shade. Very minor.
Which is pretty much what Aiko, via their wholesaler said.
The $64,000 question is whether the 2P panels are significantly better in shade.
Aiko please send Mark a 475W 2P panel so he can run his tests again !!

I've seen Aiko's trade show demos and frankly, I am more than a bit sceptical of them.
I've watched their video shade tests too... still sceptical.
Aiko on YouTube.

"The test is contrived" is what comes to my mind. Shade placement was bound to knock out the rival panel.

It would be in Aiko's interest to post a more genuine test, under independent scrutiny, than what they have shown so far.
10kW of Aiko 2P 475W panels sells for about $4,100 before deducting STCs (subsidy).
10kW of a 'regular' JinKo Neo N 475W panels sell for $3,200.
That's just under $43 a panel more expensive with the Aiko's.
Yes 23.8% efficiency for Aiko is better than 22% for JinKo but it's not worth $43 a panel for efficiency alone.
Superior performance by say, at least 10-15%, in shade would certainly be worth it.

The all-black Aiko 2S is available as 455W.
Datasheet here.

The black-framed Aiko 2P is available as 470W and 475W.
470W datasheet here.
475W datasheet here.

Those who have read my worries about selling 'unique' panels may be surprised that I'm not shying away from Aiko.
I am not a fan of panels that have totally unique electrical characteristics like Sunpower Maxeon, REC Alpha.
There's no certainty those brands will survive in the long term and if they disappear like electrically unique LG panels did , and we get a panel failure....
...what can I replace the faulty panel with? Answer, nothing.

The Aiko panels however, whilst using 'abc technology' actually have very normal electrical characteristics.
So if the worst happened in years to come, we can swap it out with pretty much anything.
It's possible that Aiko's remarkable immediate success may mean we start seeing a lot more of this 'abc tech'.
No such thing as patents, apparently, in Chinese solar.

Is the extra cost for Aiko's worth it?
The 'all back contact' technology isn't new.
Sunpower Maxeon panels have had that for years.
But a Sunpower Maxeon panel typically costs several hundred dollars more per panel.

What Aiko have done is to bring the technology at a price point where many people can at least consider it.
Let's say you were buying a 10kW three phase inverter and 13kW of panels.
You can expect to pay about $700 more for Aiko 475W panels over 440W JinKo/Risen/LonGi/Canadian 'normal' panels.

They may work a bit better in shade.
They are well-built and their self-cleaning coating appears excellent.
Aiko are a long established, respected cell manufacturer.
They are over 1% more 'efficient' than normal panels which means a little less roof space needed.
Any one or all of these might be enough for some people to pay the 'extra'.
As always, especially with panels, I sit on the fence and leave that decision to you.

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This review was written by Andrew MacKeith, Solar4Ever service manager since 2011.
Solar4Ever is located in Morley (Perth), WA 6062