Solar panel quality: what to check before you buy

The solar market in Ethiopia has widened quickly, and with it the gap between panels that perform as printed and panels that quietly lose output after a couple of seasons. Buyers rarely have laboratory access, but a few checks catch most problems.

Certification and traceability

Ask for the test certificates for the exact model, not the manufacturer's range, and check the serial numbers on the delivered panels against the shipping documents.

Tolerance and degradation

Look at the power tolerance — a panel rated with a negative tolerance can legitimately arrive below its headline figure — and at the annual degradation rate in the warranty. A performance warranty of 25 years means little without a stated degradation curve and a party in the country to honour it.

Physical inspection on delivery

Five minutes per pallet saves arguments later:

• Frames straight and corners undamaged
• No micro-cracks visible in the cells against the light
• Junction box sealed and cables intact
• Backsheet free of bubbling or discolouration
• Glass clean, uniform and free of delamination at the edges

The installation matters as much as the panel

Shading, mounting angle, cable sizing and earthing decide what your array actually delivers. We supply panels, mounting, inverters and accessories as one specified package so these choices are made together rather than on site.