Winaico solar panels reviews

Founded in 2008, Winaico is a Taiwanese solar panel manufacturer that produces modules boasting a 25 year product and performance warranty in Australia.

The company has had a physical local presence here since 2012 - a very handy thing for tech support and warranty issues. Winaico's Australian office is in Sydney. 

Manufacturing Capacity

Winaico has previously advised their manufacturing capacity is 200 MW annually, but that was a couple of years ago. Current production capacity doesn't appear to be noted on the global Winaico web site.

Manufacturing Locations

Winaico manufactures solar panels in the city of Hsinchu in north-west Taiwan and also in its Chinese facilities.

While the company has manufacturing capacity in Taiwan, it seems most of the panels for the Australian market are either being produced in China or the components used in Taiwanese production come from China.

It's certainly not uncommon for panel manufacturers outside of China to use components from that country; it's just that Winaico chooses to acknowledge this. 

Winaico Performs Well At Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre

The Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre, or DKASC to its friends, has installed a range of solar panels from different manufacturers so their performance under harsh central Australian conditions can be tested.

Winaico has previous stated of all the panels, theirs have deteriorated the least. And if you go to the DKASC web site and compare the Winaico solar panels to other panels installed in a fixed position at around the same time (2012), this certainly appears to be true.

Winaico Also Performs Wonderfully With Taiwanese VPC Tests

Voluntary Production Certification (VPC) tests are strenuous and designed to demonstrate that a panel can perform well in simulated harsh environments. The tests include damp heat, PID, thermal cycling, salt mist, and performance attenuation. Winaico put out a press release about their performance in VPC testing back in 2019 here.

Winaico’s Solar Panel Specs And Product Warranties

The most powerful Winaico monofacial panels currently available in Australia for residential purposes are the WST-MGX-P3; available in capacities up to 415W. 

The WST-MGX-P3 Gemini combines half cell, multi-busbar and reflective wire designs to maximise efficiency and reduce internal resistance. 

You can find more specifications and approximate retail pricing for the WST-MGX-P3 Gemini and other Winaico modules on SQ's solar panel comparison table.

Corrosion Resistance

All Winaico solar panels are IEC 61701 certified, level 6, and are suited to installation in areas close to the sea. You can see the full certification here.

Temperature Coefficient

Winaico's current stable of product offerings have a temperature coefficient of -0.35%/°C. This figure is how much their efficiency drops by for each degree increase in module temperature over 25 degrees, and is comparable to most other good quality panels available today.

LeTID Certification

Winaico has certified all of its panels to be LeTID resistant. You can read all about what LeTID is here. Suffice it to say - it's something you want to avoid. The full certification document is here.

Warranty Claim Procedure For Orphaned Customers

If you have an issue with your Winaico panels and your original installer has gone out of business, Winaico become responsible for handling warranty claims. Their contact number is 02 8091 2771 - and they have advised they have a network of installers that can handle the process from start to finish. Labor costs are covered under warranty - $120 for the first panel, and $60 for each panel afterwards.

My Recommendation

Winaico produces quality panels and I would have no problem installing them on my roof. Their performance at the Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre, as well as with Taiwanese VPC testing, suggests they will do well under Australian conditions over the long term and their 25 year product warranty is impressive.

Find out how Australians with these panels are faring in the reviews below - and if you're an owner of these modules, add your own Winaico solar panels review.