{"id":94709,"date":"2025-09-24T12:35:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T03:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=94709"},"modified":"2025-09-24T11:39:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T02:09:18","slug":"why-rec-still-backs-australias-brutal-solar-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/why-rec-still-backs-australias-brutal-solar-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Why REC Still Backs Australia\u2019s Brutal Solar Market"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

REC solar panels on my roof.<\/p><\/div>\n

Australia increasingly loves cheap solar panels. This has led to rumours swirling around the solar industry that premium solar panel maker REC is considering giving up on the Aussie solar market and leaving it to the budget brands.<\/p>\n

I had a Zoom call with Jan Enno Bicker, the CEO of REC, to determine whether these rumours are true.<\/p>\n

His answers made two things clear:<\/p>\n

1. REC Australia isn’t going anywhere.
\n2. Premium solar still has a place in Australia – even in a cutthroat market.<\/p>\n

Is There Still Room For Premium Solar?<\/h2>\n

Australia has a reputation for being the cheapest solar market<\/a> in the developed world. That’s not a compliment. In this market, the lowest price often wins, and good gear gets undercut by junk.<\/p>\n

So it’s no surprise that some people reckon there’s no room left for companies like REC, which has built its brand on premium panels.<\/a><\/p>\n

Jan had no time for that story. His point was simple: a panel that lasts 30 years with minimal degradation will save more than the “special deal” that dies early or degrades faster.<\/p>\n

“Looking at the Australian environment where electricity prices are rising, we strongly believe that getting the maximum lifetime yield … matters much more than just the cheapest upfront deal,” Jan said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Solar

REC solar panels installed by RenewCo Solar Sydney Metro<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

What’s Next From REC<\/h2>\n

For those wondering if REC is still innovating, the answer is yes. They’ve got the Alpha series here, and a 470 W version about to land. A 500 W panel in the same footprint is already prototyped.<\/p>\n

They also have their sights on hybrid tech that mixes silicon with thin film. That’s not a press release gimmick – their lab prototypes are hitting numbers that impressed Jan. It’s still down the road, but they’re serious about being first to market.<\/p>\n

And what about cheaper REC-branded panels for Australia? Nope. REC isn’t doing a “budget” range. If you want their stuff, it’ll be premium, just like always.<\/p>\n

Support On The Ground<\/h2>\n

A premium product without support is just a sticker price. Jan was keen to stress that REC has real people on the ground in Australia.<\/p>\n

“Rather than just having an offshore call centre, we literally have [people] who know the local environment and are easy to approach for clear communication, so if there is ever a problem with one of our products, there should never be a problem with responding to that,” Jan said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Installers get training, and consumers get a direct line to REC if their installer disappears. In a rare move, REC offers a 25-year labour<\/em> warranty for systems installed by its certified partners. That costs REC real money, and I was happy to hear it after shelling out for 14kW of REC Alpha panels for the roof of my family home.<\/p>\n

Australia Still Matters<\/h2>\n

Jan reminded me that REC has been in Australia for more than 20 years. It’s one of their top three markets worldwide, and the brand is stronger here than almost anywhere else.<\/p>\n

He was blunt:<\/p>\n

“We’re not going away.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, Australia is a brutal place for solar panels. High UV, extreme temperatures, salty coastal air. Jan actually sees that as an advantage Australia is REC’s testing ground. If a panel survives here, it’ll survive anywhere.<\/p>\n

My Take<\/h2>\n

Rumours are cheap. Panels don’t have to be.<\/p>\n

REC is still here, still premium, still innovating. They’re not chasing the bargain bin end of the market, and good luck to them. It’s good to know REC backs itself with support, warranty, and long-term commitment.<\/p>\n

So if, like me,\u00a0 you’ve got REC panels on your roof, relax. They’re not about to vanish. And if you’re shopping for solar and care about what happens in year 20, premium solar is still worth consideration.<\/p>\n

For more on solar panel costs, read our detailed explainer<\/a>. To get our take on REC and read customer experiences, check out our review page.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Australia increasingly loves cheap solar panels. 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I started SolarQuotes in 2009 and the SolarQuotes blog in 2013 with the belief that it\u2019s more important to be truthful and objective than popular. My last \"real job\" was working for the CSIRO in their renewable energy division. Since 2009, I\u2019ve helped over 800,000 Aussies get quotes for solar from installers I trust. 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We Did\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Panels"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Panels","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-panels-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/installers-choice-awards-2025.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/installers-choice-awards-2025.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/installers-choice-awards-2025.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/installers-choice-awards-2025.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/installers-choice-awards-2025.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52207,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/rec-n-peak-2-mb2083\/","url_meta":{"origin":94709,"position":1},"title":"Wraps Off The REC N-Peak 2 Solar Panel Range","author":"Michael Bloch","date":"July 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"REC Group has announced the launch of the REC N-Peak 2 solar panel range, which should be available in Australia in just a few months. Originally released in 2018, the REC N-Peak combines n-type mono half-cut cells with a twin-panel design. The new REC N-Peak 2 features 120 half-cut solar\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Solar & Storage News"","block_context":{"text":"General Solar & Storage News","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-battery-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"REC N-Peak 2 solar panelss","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rec-n-peak-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rec-n-peak-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rec-n-peak-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rec-n-peak-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rec-n-peak-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":92039,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/phase-shift-premium-solar-panels-are-dead\/","url_meta":{"origin":94709,"position":2},"title":"Phase Shift: Premium Solar Panels Are Dead","author":"Finn Peacock","date":"May 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve got top-of-the-range REC Alpha panels on my roof. I'm a solar snob. Or at least, I was. Back when I installed them, premium panels still made sense - kind of. They offered higher efficiency, lower degradation, better heat performance, longer warranties, and peace of mind that the brand would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Economics Of Solar"","block_context":{"text":"Economics Of Solar","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/economics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A sun sets over a premium brand of solar panels","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/premium-solar-dead.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/premium-solar-dead.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/premium-solar-dead.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/premium-solar-dead.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/premium-solar-dead.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71071,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/rec-best-panels-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":94709,"position":3},"title":"Why REC Won Best Panels & Support: 2023 SQ Installers’ Choice Awards","author":"Kim Wainwright","date":"February 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"And the winner of SolarQuotes Installers' Choice Awards 2023 for \"Best Solar Panels\" is... drum roll... REC (Renewable Energy Corporation). Not only did they steal the number one position this year, but they were also the winner in the \"Best Support\" category. So what does it take for a company\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Panels"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Panels","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-panels-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"why REC won best solar panels and support 2023","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/why-rec-won-2023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/why-rec-won-2023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/why-rec-won-2023.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/why-rec-won-2023.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/why-rec-won-2023.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54746,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/rec-new-energy-solar-mb2189\/","url_meta":{"origin":94709,"position":4},"title":"Solar Panel Maker REC Acquired By Reliance New Energy Solar","author":"Michael Bloch","date":"October 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The pedigree of solar panel manufacturer REC just became even more interesting, with the company acquired by an India-based firm. REC was founded in Norway in 1996, but all of its solar panel production is carried out in Singapore (silicon production in Norway), and the company is owned by China\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Solar & Storage News"","block_context":{"text":"General Solar & Storage News","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-battery-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"REC and Reliance New Energy Solar","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rec-new-energy-solar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rec-new-energy-solar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rec-new-energy-solar.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rec-new-energy-solar.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rec-new-energy-solar.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":82064,"url":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/best-solar-panels-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":94709,"position":5},"title":"The Best Solar Panels In 2024: According To Aussie Installers","author":"Finn Peacock","date":"March 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fdPjVllZOis It\u2019s that time of the year again when I reveal the results of our annual Installers\u2019 Choice Awards for Best Solar Panels in 2024. With insights from installers across Australia, I asked them three crucial questions to discover which solar panels they rate as the best in the business\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Solar Panels"","block_context":{"text":"Solar Panels","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/category\/solar-panels-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/winners-2024.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/winners-2024.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/winners-2024.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/winners-2024.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94709"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94737,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94709\/revisions\/94737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}