![\"Aiko](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/aiko-neostar-470w.jpg\")
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Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co., Ltd – or Aiko to its friends – has launched what it claims is the most powerful residential rooftop solar panel currently available in Australia.<\/p>\n
The Aiko Neostar 2P 470 Watt solar panel was very recently added to the Clean Energy Council’s approved solar modules list1<\/a><\/sup> under a slightly different company name – Zhejiang Aiko Solar Technology Co Ltd; and it’s all systems go.<\/p>\n “AIKO\u2019s newly CEC-approved Neostar 470W panel brings a powerful and efficient solution to Australian rooftops,” says the company<\/a>. “Offering more energy output in less space, this panel makes it possible for more homeowners with limited roof space to adopt solar, removing previous barriers.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n While not apples-to-apples, let’s compare some of those specs to another new panel we mentioned just a couple of days ago – the Australian-made Tindo Walara 425W<\/a>.<\/p>\n Aside from the obvious difference in power2<\/a><\/sup>, the Neostar 2P is around the same size (a tad larger), half a kilogram lighter (but the datasheet indicates \u00b13% on weight), and has a better temperature coefficient. The Neostar 2P performance warranty is five years longer, which states a final degradation figure less at year 30 than Tindo’s at year 25. But whether either company will still be around in 25\/30 years is anyone’s guess.<\/p>\n Price difference between the two isn’t clear at this stage, but Aiko solar panels are generally towards the cheaper end of the spectrum of good quality modules, and Tindo towards the pricier end.<\/p>\n One of the features of the Neostar 2P panels is what Aiko calls “Partial Shading Optimisation”. According to SQ’s resident fact-checker, Ronald Brakels<\/a>:<\/p>\n “Most panels have three bypass diodes and when one or two solar cells are shaded, it can cause all the solar cells on that string to be bypassed. This can cause the output of the panel to be reduced by one-third. But Aiko panels can bypass individual cells that are shaded. It doesn’t work perfectly and some energy is lost as heat, but it can reduce losses compared to conventional panels.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here’s a brief video demonstrating the feature. I suggest muting your speakers, but I’m a cranky old fart when it comes to music (and just about everything else):<\/p>\nAiko Neostar 2P 470W Solar Panel Specifications<\/h2>\n
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