Michael's Lightway Panels Review & Verdict
Michael Bloch covers the latest developments in home electrification for SolarQuotes.
I'm not sure when China's Lightway Green New Energy stopped supplying panels here, but the firm did get a bit of traction in Australia in the early 2010's before it disappeared from our market - and then entirely around 2022.
Lightway Panels: Pros & Cons
- Company no longer operating
About Lightway
Lightway Green New Energy was established in 2008 in China as a subsidiary of Longjitaihe, a conglomerate of a diversified enterprises operating in technology, commercial and real estate markets.
Lightway's headquarters was located in Hebei, China and at one point the company claimed to have 1,600 staff globally. Before it disappeared entirely sometime in 2022, the firm had built up a manufacturing capacity of 1GW.
A fully vertically integrated manufacturer, each step of Lightway Green New Energy's manufacturing process was managed in-house, from materials procurement to final production.
Lightway Solar Panels In Australia
The firm produced both mono and polycrystalline solar panels. But it appears only Lightway polycrystalline panels were available in Australia, with a power ranging from 175W to 315W. These were considered budget panels at the time and didn't have any particularly outstanding aspects.
Modules in the larger capacities measured 1970 × 990 × 50mm and weighed 23 kilograms. They offered conversion efficiencies up to 15.89%, and a temperature coefficient of Pmax of -0.4204 %/? - not terrible for then, but poor by today's standards.
Warranty Details
Lightway offered a 10-year warranty on materials and workmanship, plus a 25-year performance warranty allowing 3% degradation rate the first year and 0.68% yearly linear degradation thereafter. At the end of year 25, output was guaranteed at a minimum 80% of nameplate capacity.
Given the company has disappeared, if you have a warranty claim your best hope is to contact your installer as that company is liable for warranty issues. Aside from that, you could try contacting the Australian importer; but unfortunately we don't know who that was.
If you're looking to install a rooftop PV system in 2025, here's how to choose the best solar panels for your circumstances.
Lightway has no solar panels in our database
Filter by:
Lightway Reviews (19)
Show Most Relevant reviews from All time
- 5 star 3
- 4 star 12
- 3 star 3
- 2 star 0
- 1 star 1
View Timeline
07 March 2018
11 September 2012
14 September 2012
12 September 2012
12 September 2012