REC Solar Panels

‍About REC

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REC - which stands for Renewable Energy Corporation - is a premium solar panel manufacturer.

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Originally founded in Norway in 1996 and still listed on the stock exchange there, REC’s operational HQ (and manufacturing) is now a little closer to us in Singapore.

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As at February 2024 REC has market capitalisation in Norway of nearly AUD$1bn, and is majority owned by a large conglomerate that is financially stable.

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Are REC Solar Panels High Quality?

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REC is considered globally to be one of the highest quality solar panel brands in the market, with many independent certifications and accolades to prove it.

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REC doesn't seem to be interested in servicing the cheap and cheerful end of the solar panel market, unlike many other solar panel brands that exist in a ‘race to the bottom’ on pricing.

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Instead, REC focuses solely on premium residential and commercial solar panel applications. They’ve also created an installer certification program (ProTrust) to further boost consumer confidence when purchasing a solar system.

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Is REC a Well Supported Solar Panel Brand in Australia?

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REC is definitely well supported in Australia, with the manufacturer’s head office for sales and support located in Melbourne and their product proudly stocked in a number of major solar distributors around the country.

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Given REC’s dominance at the premium end of the market, we believe that they will have a presence in Australia for many years to come, giving peace of mind to any customer who is considering their solar panels.

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About REC Twinpeak 5 Solar Panels

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REC TwinPeak 5 is the latest generation of solar panel from REC featuring p-type monocrystalline cells. As at February 2024, it sits as the value solar panel option in REC’s range below the Alpha and Alpha Pure-R models.

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The REC TwinPeak 5 is currently available in a 400W power class with an all-black (often referred to as silhouette) appearance.

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If your budget is limited, we’d recommend REC TwinPeak 5 solar panels as a better value alternative to the Alpha Pure-R model. You’ll still get an outstanding warranty and a high quality product from arguably the most trusted solar panel brand in the world.

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Pros and Cons of REC Twinpeak 5 Solar Panels

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Pros - Why We Recommend REC Twinpeak 5 Solar Panels

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All black appearance looks great, especially on darker roofs with black rail
Better individual panel performance when partly shaded thanks to REC’s unique twin design
Super strong frame with extra support bars - this helps the panel withstand extreme weather loadings
Long product warranty: 20+5 ie. 25 year total when installed by us
Long performance warranty: <0.5%/year performance degradation - 86% power at 25 years
Made in Singapore

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Cons - Why You Might Consider Options Other Than REC Twinpeak 5 Solar Panels

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400W power class means that more solar panels are required for same system size
REC Alpha Pure-R has lower performance degradation per year (-0.25%)
REC Alpha Pure-R has better panel efficiency (+1.5%)

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Available REC Twinpeak 5 Solar Panel Sizes

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The REC TwinPeak5 is currently only available in a 400W power class.

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Power [power of each panel - multiply by number of panels for total system size]

400W

Efficiency [panel’s ability to turn light into electricity]

up to 20.3%

Temp coefficient [ % of power output lost as temperature rises above 25℃]

-0.34

Tested windload [ability to withstand high winds]

+7000Pa (front)

-4000Pa (rear)

Dimensions LxWxD [the bigger panels are, the less you may be able to fit]

1899 x 1040 x 30mm (1.97m2)

Weight [heavier panels increase installation cost and structural loading]

21.6kg

Product warranty [covers faults with the product assembly/manufacturing]

25 years

Performance warranty [at least 98% of nominal power in first year, then <=0.5%/year degradation]

25 years

Manufactured in

Singapore

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About REC Alpha Pure-R Solar Panels

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REC Alpha Pure-R solar panels are the Rolls-Royce model of the already premium Alpha range of solar panels, sitting above the Alpha and the TwinPeak 5 models. They’re arguably the best solar panel you can buy on the market today.

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As at February 2024, REC Alpha Pure-R solar panels are available in a 420W power class. Like the TwinPeak 5, the Alpha Pure-R is a fully black solar panel, which looks particularly sleek with darker coloured roofs.

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‍Arguably the best feature of the Alpha Pure-R is its performance warranty, which guarantees only 0.25% degradation from years 3 to 25. This means that 25 years after installation (yep, a quarter of a century) your REC Alpha Pure-R panels will still be performing at 92% of their original rating. Simply unbeatable!

The Alpha Pure R is a very sleek looking panel!

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Pros and Cons of REC Alpha Pure-R Solar Panels

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Pros - Why We Recommend REC Alpha Pure-R Solar Panels

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Supreme performance when part shaded thanks to REC splitting each panel into four sections
Unique heterojunction cell technology, meaning more power from a smaller installation
Lead free - much better for the environment in manufacturing and at end-of-life
The all-black look goes well with dark roofs, especially matched with black rail
Really, really strong with extra support bars to withstand loading in extreme weather
Long product warranty: 20+5 ie. 25 year total when installed by us
Long performance warranty: <0.25%/year performance degradation - 92% power at 25 years
Made in Singapore

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