AIKO Solar Panels (Review)

AIKO Solar Panel Review (In Summary)

AIKO Solar is considered a high quality brand in the UK. 

They’re well known for utilising All-Back-Contact (ABC) technology in the majority of their panels, including the Neostar range. This helps improve efficiency in all scenarios, including low light and high temperature conditions. 

Efficiency is up there with the best (24.3% for some units) and durability is good thanks to ABC technology reducing the chance of micro cracks. This helps them to offer a strong warranty (15 years product warranty and 30-year performance warranty).

There's an AIKO solar panel for most residential properties, with the Neostar range being the most popular. 

With prices comparable to the likes of JA Solar and LONGi, expect to get a complete solar panel installation for less than £6,000. 

To get prices for your installation, use our quote tool here.

What Makes AIKO Solar Panels A Good Buy?

ABC Technology

The major unique selling point for AIKO solar panels is the use of ABC technology. AIKO uses N-type ABC cells. Put simply, electrical contacts are on the back of the cell rather than the front. 

Solar panels that use electrical contacts on the front will get slight shading from the panel’s gridlines and this reduces efficiency. ABC technology helps extract a little more efficiency from each cell, as these gridlines aren’t shaded. 

Another benefit of solar panels using ABC cells is their performance in sub-optimial conditions. 

For instance, in low light and soft shade, they'll provide better overall efficiency than a standard panel. And that's because with electrical contacts on the back of the panel rather than the front, electrical current flows more evenly so hot spots are reduced. 

For the same reason, ABC type panels will perform better in extreme temperatures. When outdoor temperature rises, a panel's efficiency drops (measured by a temperature coefficient rating). 

With a rear electrical contact and evenly distributed current, efficiency is much more consistent in warmer temperatures for panels using ABC technology.

Efficiency

Some solar panels (even from leading brands), only manage efficiency ratings of 20%. A high-end panel (such as the LONGI Hi-Mo X6) will achieve 23.2%. 

Expect this efficiency level from AIKO panels, so they're up there with the best. In fact, the likes of their Gen 3 Neostar are claimed to have up to 24.3% efficiency.

Durability

Many of AIKO's panels feature ABC technology, which is more resistant to micro cracks. These tiny cracks reduce efficiency over time. For those that use a string inverter, a crack on one panel will reduce the efficiency of all panels on the string. 

Some units are constructed using dual glass which makes them much stronger than a typical panel. 

Warranty

One of the key things you need to check before investing thousands into solar panels is the warranty. 

The warranty for the likes of the AIKO Neostar solar panel range is there or thereabouts when compared to other leading brands. 

The base product warranty is 15-years. This product warranty covers faults with your panels. 

There's also a performance warranty, which covers the efficiency of your panels during the warranty period. 

For instance, the maximum degradation rate in year 1 is 1%. Years from 2-30 are covered up to a 0.35% drop. What this should mean is that by year 30, your panels are still operating at 88.85% of their original efficiency. 

If efficiency drops below these ratings, your panels will be replaced for free.

This is comparable to the likes of LONGi. They offer a base warranty of 15-years and a performance warranty of 25-years. This is coupled with a 1.5% maximum degradation rate in year 1 and 0.4% thereafter.

LONGI panels would still be working at 88.90% of their original efficiency at year 25 (or they'll be replaced via warranty).

The Best Solar Panels in AIKO's Range

(Source)

Like most solar panel brands, AIKO has a tonne of different models available, with one suited to most residential properties, as well as a range of commercial units. 

For example, there's the Neostar 2S 460W (Gen 2), suited to those looking for maximum efficiency, peaking at 23.1% according to AIKO's data sheet. Or for those building a slightly bigger system, they offer a Neostar 465W unit which includes the same ABC technology.

There's also a newer model available (Gen 3) which offers up to 24.3% efficiency.

If durability is what you're looking for, the Aiko Neostar 3S+ 470W is a great option. It's dual glass construction makes it a lot more durable than the average solar panel. That's perfect for properties that are shadowed by trees, as a single branch could damage a panel and reduce the efficiency of the whole system. 

For those looking for a clean look, the Neo-Star 2S All-Black is where you want to be looking. These have the cleanest look of all the solar panels in the AIKO range. 

Finally, there is the AIKO Air Series. This model focuses on weight saving rather than maximum output and efficiency. It’s perfect for properties that have a roof lacking structural integrity. 

As an example, the 54 cell 445W Air only weighs 8.9kg, whereas a standard panel from the average manufacturer would likely be in the 18kg-20kg range.

Pricing

How Much Do AIKO Solar Panels Cost?

Other reviews of AIKO suggest they are expensive in comparison to leading and efficient solar panel brands. This actually isn’t the case. AIKO solar panels aren’t just considered a top-tier brand, they’re competitively priced too. 

As you can see below, you should expect to pay approximately £80-£90 per panel. This is comparable to the likes of LONGi and JA Solar. And therefore, you’ll make huge savings when using AIKO in comparison to the likes of Maxeon (typically much more expensive). 

A typical residential property is likely to need approximately 12-panels, meaning the total cost of panels only would be in the region of £960-£1,080.

How Much Do AIKO Panels Cost Including Installation?

So, your AIKO panels will cost up to £1,080, but what does that mean in terms of total installation cost?

Panels only make up a small portion of the installation cost. On top of panels you'll need to account for the likes of: 

• Labour
• Scaffolding
• Hybrid inverter (helps your system be much more efficient compared to using a string inverter)
• Mounting equipment
• Bird guard (to stop birds nesting underneath your solar panels)
• Application to network operator (so you can sell excess electricity back to the grid)
• Battery (if required)
• Optimisers (if required)

In our example below, we used our clickable solar panel quote tool. That gives a base installation price of £5,893. 

Although this package uses LONGi units - given AIKO are similar in price - you should be able to get your AIKO solar panel system installed for the same price.

What’s not included here is a solar storage battery.

They'll be times where your system is producing more electricity than you can use. For instance, on a summer's day whilst you're at work. 

You have multiple options when it comes to what to do with this excess energy: 

• Let it go to waste
• Sell it back to the grid for a small income (only to buy it back at a higher price later)
• Use a solar storage battery and store this energy for future use

Adding a storage battery to your solar panel system is advisable, even if it’s a small one. 

Typically, you should expect to pay (in addition to the £5,893 mentioned above):

• £2,745 for a small 5.3kW battery
• £3,745 for a medium 10kW battery
• £4,995 for a large 15.9kW battery

Get Solar Panel Quotes For Your Property

And that concludes our AIKO solar panel review.

Ready to get quotes on your set up? Use our tool to get free solar panel installation quotes on-screen.

Or for further reading, check out our guide to solar panel installation costs here.