Silfab Solar is a solar panel company based in North America that has rocked the industry for over ten years. In the short time they’ve been in the market, they have established a reputation for prioritizing integrity, delivering efficient products, and offering a robust Silfab warranty package.
Silfab’s state-of-the-art technology isn’t the only great thing about Silfab Solar panels and manufacturing facilities. Silfab Solar is a “home” company with locations in both Canada and Washington State. When you buy from Silfab, rest assured that your product is locally made and designed for the American market.
However, with so many solar companies, it’s easy to feel swamped when researching. So, in this blog post, we will dig deeper into what Silfab offers, check out Silfab solar panel prices, and provide accurate pros and cons. In our Silfab solar panels review, you can see how they stack up against the competition and decide if they’re the right pick for your home.
What Are Silfab Solar Panels?
Being a North American product, Silfab Solar panels are engineered to perform reliably in the North American climate.
Silfab Solar panels stand out due to their unique approach. With manufacturing sites in Bellingham and Burlington, Washington, they ensure quality by overseeing the production process locally.
Silfab offers two distinct panel technologies for residential use: Silfab Prime and Silfab Elite. Let’s find out the difference between these two types of Silfab Solar panels.
Silfab Prime vs. Elite:
| Silfab Prime | Silfab Elite |
| Company’s core offer | More efficient Silfab Solar panels |
| High-quality and high-performing solar panels | Sleek and aesthetic solar panels with advanced back-contact technology to minimize conductive losses |
| Cost-effective solar panels | Enhanced efficiency |
| Two solar panel types: SIL-300 HC: Power rating of 300 watts and an efficiency rating of 20.2%SIL-400 HC+: Power rating of 400 watts and an efficiency rating of 20.2% | Two solar panel types:SIL-380 BK: Power rating of 380 watts and an efficiency rating of 21.4%SIL-410 BG: Power rating of 410 watts and an efficiency rating of 21.4% |
Source: SolarReviews
Silfab Solar Panels Technology
Silfab has introduced a few small tweaks in the photovoltaic (PV) panel scene, but most of the tech they use in their panels nowadays is standard across different companies. In the next sections, we’ll discuss the details of the technology Silfab incorporates into its products.
Half-Cut Solar Cells
This is a widely adopted technology in tier-one panels used by most solar panel manufacturers. Half-cut solar cells are smaller than the standard ones, allowing more cells to be accommodated in a single panel. As a result, the increased cell count enhances the energy production capabilities of Silfab panels.
Additionally, panels with half-cut cells often have two independently functioning halves, enhancing power generation in areas with partial shading.
9-Busbar Technology
Busbars play a crucial role in Silfab Solar panels by conducting electricity across the solar cells. In general, the more busbars there are, the lower the resistance inside the cell. It leads to increased power production and conversion into usable electricity. The estimate for the increase in power production in a 9-busbar panel over a 5-busbar panel is around 25%.
Silfab Solar panels incorporate 9-busbar (9BB) technology. However, this technology is not unique to Silfab and is commonly employed by most tier-one manufacturers, including direct competitors like REC and QCells.
PERC Cells
The acronym stands for passivated emitter and rear contact cells. Monocrystalline cells with such a technology represent some of the most advanced solar cells used by tier-one panel manufacturers.
PERC cells offer two key advantages over conventional cells:
- Firstly, they can capture solar energy that would otherwise escape through the back of the panel, enhancing overall energy production.
- The placement of contacts on the back sheet of the panels minimizes the amount of energy blocked at the front. As a result, solar PV installers can save time and reduce costs when using the PERC standard, as fewer panels are needed to achieve the same solar power output.
While this technology doesn’t necessarily distinguish Silfab panels from their competitors, it positions the company as one of the top players in the nation’s solar industry.
Silfab Solar Panels Price
Silfab Solar panels for sale cost between $0.69 and $0.79 per watt before installation. Specifically for residential use, a single Silfab Prime module may cost around $278, while the more upscale Elite model has a slightly higher price of $315. However, actual Silfab solar panel prices can fluctuate based on your system’s size and the required panels.
Considering the features and high quality provided, Silfab Solar panels offer good value for such an investment. Regarding total installed system expenses, homeowners can anticipate costs ranging from $2.75 to $3.25 per watt of installed system capacity. Consequently, an average 6-kilowatt (kW) system might amount to approximately $15,000 to $20,000.
A few other aspects are influencing Silfab Solar panels price:
- The installer
- The number of panels
- Additional components (inverters and batteries)
However, residential users can take advantage of incentives such as the federal solar tax credit that substantially reduces the overall cost of their solar system.
Peculiarities of the Silfab Warranty
Many solar panel manufacturers provide an equipment warranty that covers defects and related damages, along with a performance warranty ensuring a minimum production level. Silfab offers both options, and its production warranty stands out as one of the longest in the industry.
Silfab’s warranty on equipment is standard: it includes a 25-year performance guarantee (a typical duration in the American market) and covers common defects. It works if you choose an authorized installer. However, the efficiency warranty extends to 30 years, surpassing the industry standard of 20 years by about 50%.
While Silfab’s efficient warranty duration is impressive, it’s crucial to consider the guaranteed performance at the end of the warranty goes downhill. In this aspect, Silfab solar panel warranty falls below average. They guarantee that their panels will only lose 2.9% of their initial efficiency in the first year, surpassing competitors who promise no more than 2.5% and industry leader Trina, which guarantees just 1%.
| Silfab workmanship warranty | Silfab power warranty | Silfab efficiency loss with time |
| 25 years | 30 years | 2.9 % |
In a nutshell, Silfab solar panels boast a lifespan of 25 to 35 years. Not only does the Silfab warranty offer excellent longevity, but it also allows for substantial net savings on electric bills over time.
Source: Fort Mill Sun
Silfab Solar Panels Installation
Installing Silfab PV modules on your roof follows the standard procedure used by top manufacturers. Due to Silfab’s widespread popularity, numerous installation companies offer their services. Once you’ve chosen a local installer that works with Silfab panels, here’s a quick overview of the installation process from start to finish.
Step 1: Requesting a Consultation
Your first step will be to contact local installers and request estimates for your Silfab Solar panels. Most installers will reply within a few days to hear additional information.
Step 2: Consultation on Silfab Solar Panels and Rooftop Inspection
Next, your installer will likely request a copy of your most recent electric bill and schedule an inspection. You’ll need to be home for the inspection, which often requires interior access. However, the major part of the assessment process will occur on your roof.
Step 3: Contract Approval
After the inspection, you’ll get a formal solar quote for the whole system. This covers all the details you need, including the Silfab solar panel price, anticipated power output, and the expected installation timeline. Furthermore, it should outline any extra tasks your installer must handle, such as obtaining permits, incentives, and managing interconnection.
Step 4: Obtaining Permits and Planning
After you’ve signed the agreement, your solar installer will initiate the permit application process for installing Silfab Solar panels. Then, they will order the Silfab panels intended for your roof.
Step 5: Process Of Silfab Solar Panels Installation
Moving to another stage of mounting Silfab panels, you need to have the permits greenlit and the equipment delivered. Next, the installation team will coordinate with you to set an installation day. This usually takes a full day, and your presence is necessary throughout the process to grant access to your breaker box.
Source: Silfab Solar
Step 6: Preliminary Inspections
Once the implementation is completed, your installer will schedule a few necessary inspections to close out your permits and get your system interconnected and activated.
Step 7: Silfab Panels Upkeep
Finally, once the system runs, your installer may help you set up a solar monitoring application. This allows you to track your energy production, home consumption, and overall system health.
It’s important to note that Silfab does not have a monitoring app. Instead, you can access monitoring software through other products you’ve installed. For example, the Enphase and Tesla apps, which accompany Enphase inverters and Powerwalls, are compatible with Silfab Solar panels.
Silfab vs. Other Solar Panel Manufacturers
This is a paramount thing to discuss in our Silfab solar panels review. The company leads a list of top solar panels for residential use in the United States. These panels boast an efficiency rating above the average and impressive performance specifications. Thus, they focus on notable energy savings for users over time.
However, in Silfab solar reviews, it’s stated that panels experience slightly faster degradation compared to similar-tier modules from their competitors. As a result, to save on bills, some people opt for other suitable solar panels with similar initial efficiency ratings. Additionally, in higher temperatures, Silfab panels lose more efficiency than most competing panels, making them less suitable for hot climates.
Source: Silfab Solar
Despite several downsides, Silfab panels demonstrate excellent durability, have strong warranty coverage, and show superior wind and snow load resistance. Silfab panels have proven to be most resistant to extreme weather like hurricanes and tropical storms. These panels have a wind load resistance of 5,400 Pa, nearly double that of most competitors offering 3,000 Pa. Not only do Silfab panels withstand heavy winds, but they also reduce the risk of panel damage.
Read Silfab solar panel reviews before deciding which type of solar panels to purchase. Watch this video comparison between two manufacturers to learn a few other facts about Silfab Solar Inc.
Financing Incentives & Options
While Silfab Solar Inc. does not offer any specific programs to help finance its products, there are many federal and state-level loans, rebates, and various financial incentives for potential clients. There are several options we recommend applying for:
| Financing plan | Summary |
| Cash purchases | The simplest way here is. It ensures the maximum long-term value of your solar energy system. Thus, you reduce loan fees and interest, change to a quicker payback period, and become eligible for the Federal Solar Tax Credit. As a rule, residential clients who purchase their solar panels outright will ultimately see the highest ROI. |
| State-level programs | Depending on your state, there are particular financial incentives available to help you purchase Silfab Solar panels at a lower price. You should check whether your state offers net metering, sales tax exemptions, property tax exemptions, and rebate programs for potential customers. |
| Home solar loan | If you need a loan to finance the purchase of a solar energy system, several private banks and companies can help service your financing needs. |
Pros and Cons
Let’s briefly outline the points discussed in our Silfab Solar panels review:
Pros:
- High-efficiency, monocrystalline solar panels
- 25-year Silfab warranty
- 30-year power production guarantee
- Solar panels made exclusively in North America
Cons:
- Not the highest efficiency ratings
- Silfab Solar Inc. provides no installation services
Silfab Solar Reviews From Actual Customers
Check what other people say about Silfab Solar panels:
“Yeah, Silfab is fine. They aren’t the top of the top next generation, but they are good. They are American and Canadian-made, so that’s a huge plus. If you’re getting a good price, I’d be happy with Silfab. I used to sell them to my customers and never had any issues.”
“They are a decent panel at a reasonable price. But, they have a high-temperature coefficient, and from my own experience, they do not perform well in heat. My neighbor bought all of mine (21x380s), and I replaced with RECs, and objectively, the RECs perform much better all around, but you pay for it.”
“I have 370’s on my FL roof, and they perform excellently. Get about 2kwh per panel each day.”
Are Silfab Solar Panels Good for Your Home?
Certainly, we’d be confident in installing Silfab Solar panels on our roofs, especially if we resided in an area prone to frequent strong winds.
Silfab panels have efficiency ratings above the norm, guaranteeing huge long-term energy bill savings. They also have commendable overall performance specifications. Notably, their exceptional wind load resistance stands out. While Silfab panels are slightly pricier than the average, their costs align with high-efficiency competitors.
Silfab Solar Inc. has built a strong reputation by offering high-quality, sleek, and powerful solar panels. The company produces some of the best solar modules in the North American market and offers leading warranties. Nevertheless, whatever manufacturer you pick, we suggest obtaining multiple quotes for your system to compare prices and functionality.
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Jed Hilton, our Founder and CEO, has over a decade of experience in the solar industry. His innovative leadership and expertise in solar technologies guide our company's vision and strategy.
