Tier 1 Solar Module Manufacturers List – Q3 2026
BloombergNEF update and key changes in the photovoltaic market
BloombergNEF (BNEF) has published the Tier 1 solar module manufacturers list for the third quarter of 2026, one of the most widely consulted references for assessing the bankability of leading module manufacturers in the international photovoltaic market.
The Q3 2026 update includes 44 manufacturers, compared with 42 in the previous quarter, and brings their combined annual production capacity to approximately 1,049 GW.
Compared with the Q2 2026 Tier 1 list, the main developments are:
- Solar N Plus joins the list.
- Hunan Red Solar joins the list.
- SEG Solar joins the list.
- HD Hyundai Energy Solutions joins the list.
- Renew Photovoltaics leaves the list.
- ReneSola leaves the list.
- Changes in ownership and corporate names involving DAS Solar and Boviet Solar following transactions with TCL Zhonghuan and INOX North Americas.
Inclusion in this classification does not guarantee that a manufacturer’s modules are technically superior. Tier 1 primarily assesses the manufacturer’s ability to participate in photovoltaic projects financed by banks.
Download the Tier 1 list – Q3 2026
What does being a Tier 1 manufacturer mean according to BloombergNEF?
BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 classification is an indicator of bankability, not a solar module quality certification.
To qualify for the list, a manufacturer must have supplied self-produced, own-brand modules to at least six different projects financed on a non-recourse basis by six different banks within the past two years.
The projects must exceed 10 MW and sufficient public information must be available to identify their location, capacity, developer, module manufacturer and financing institutions.
BloombergNEF also excludes manufacturers that have filed for bankruptcy, entered a form of insolvency protection or experienced significant financial defaults.
Being Tier 1 therefore means that the manufacturer has demonstrated a presence in financed projects and meets BNEF’s bankability criteria.
What Tier 1 does not mean
Inclusion in the list:
- Is not a technical certification.
- Does not guarantee that one module is better than another.
- Does not directly assess module efficiency or degradation.
- Does not guarantee warranty terms.
- Does not assess after-sales service.
- Does not confirm the availability of support or stock in every market.
- Does not replace a review of the module datasheet.
In short, Tier 1 should be understood as an indicator of financial strength and participation in bankable projects, not as an absolute quality ranking.
Tier 1 Solar Module Manufacturers List – Q3 2026
Manufacturers ranked by annual production capacity
- Jinko Solar – 120,000 MW/year
- LONGi – 120,000 MW/year
- Trina Solar – 100,000 MW/year
- JA Solar – 88,000 MW/year
- Tongwei / TW Solar – 85,000 MW/year
- Canadian Solar – 61,000 MW/year
- Chint / Astronergy – 56,000 MW/year
- Risen Energy – 48,000 MW/year
- AIKO Solar – 35,500 MW/year
- TCL Zhonghuan / TZE – 35,000 MW/year
- GCL System – 29,500 MW/year
- First Solar – 24,400 MW/year
- Waaree – 22,300 MW/year
- DMEGC – 21,000 MW/year
- Solar N Plus – 20,000 MW/year
- Yingli – 19,200 MW/year
- Talesun / Taekmo – 13,000 MW/year
- Qcells / Hanwha Qcells – 11,200 MW/year
- ZNShineSolar – 10,000 MW/year
- Solarspace – 10,000 MW/year
- Hunan Red Solar – 10,000 MW/year
- Haitai Solar – 10,000 MW/year
- Vikram Solar – 9,500 MW/year
- OSDA / Austa – 8,650 MW/year
- Thornova Solar – 7,500 MW/year
- ELITE Solar – 6,500 MW/year
- SEG Solar – 6,000 MW/year
- Boviet US / INOX – 6,000 MW/year
- VSUN – 5,000 MW/year
- Sunpro Power – 5,000 MW/year
- Hanersun – 5,000 MW/year
- Tata Power Solar / TP Solar – 4,910 MW/year
- New East Solar – 4,600 MW/year
- Jolywood – 4,000 MW/year
- Sumec / Phono Solar – 4,000 MW/year
- BYD – 4,000 MW/year
- Adani / Mundra – 4,000 MW/year
- Luxen Solar – 3,000 MW/year
- Fellow Energy – 3,000 MW/year
- Horay Solar – 2,500 MW/year
- AESolar – 2,250 MW/year
- Neo Solar Power / URECO – 1,800 MW/year
- Zhonghui / Taoistic – 1,500 MW/year
- HD Hyundai Energy Solutions – 1,400 MW/year
The combined capacity declared by the manufacturers included in the update reaches 1,049,210 MW per year, equivalent to approximately 1,049 GW of production capacity.
The order above is based exclusively on declared annual capacity. BloombergNEF does not officially rank manufacturers from best to worst.
Key developments in the Q3 2026 Tier 1 list
Four manufacturers join the classification
The update adds four companies:
- Solar N Plus, with 20,000 MW/year.
- Hunan Red Solar, with 10,000 MW/year.
- SEG Solar, with 6,000 MW/year.
- HD Hyundai Energy Solutions, with 1,400 MW/year.
Solar N Plus is the new entrant with the largest production capacity and enters the top twenty when the list is ordered by annual capacity.
These additions show that project financing continues to open up to new suppliers, although the world’s largest manufacturers retain a very significant advantage in terms of industrial scale.
Renew Photovoltaics leaves the Tier 1 list
Renew Photovoltaics, which appeared in Q2 with 6,400 MW/year, is no longer included because it currently does not meet BloombergNEF’s six-bank criterion.
A company leaving the list does not necessarily mean that the quality of its modules has declined. It indicates that the manufacturer does not meet one or more of BNEF’s financial or documentary requirements for this quarter.
ReneSola is also absent from the new update
ReneSola, included in Q2 2026 with an annual capacity of 5,000 MW, is also absent from the new list.
BloombergNEF excludes companies that have certain defaults on financial obligations at the quarterly data collection point. This criterion forms part of BNEF’s solvency and bankability assessment.
Corporate changes involving TCL Zhonghuan and Boviet Solar
The update also records two relevant corporate developments.
TCL Zhonghuan has acquired a controlling stake in DAS Solar. According to the information reported by BloombergNEF, the company will operate under the TCL Solar and Sunpower brands.
In addition, Boviet Solar’s US assets and brand have been acquired by INOX North Americas, which is why the company appears under the name Boviet US / INOX.
Jinko Solar and LONGi retain the lead
Jinko Solar and LONGi continue to lead by production capacity, with 120,000 MW per year each.
They are followed by Trina Solar with 100,000 MW/year, JA Solar with 88,000 MW/year and Tongwei Solar with 85,000 MW/year.
Together, the five largest manufacturers account for 513,000 MW of annual capacity, close to 49% of the total capacity included in the list. This figure reflects the high degree of industrial concentration among the world’s largest producers.
Tier 1 manufacturers available from Vico Export Solar Energy
Several brands available in the Vico Export Solar Energy catalogue maintain prominent positions on the list.
Jinko Solar
Jinko Solar shares the lead in production capacity with 120,000 MW/year. The company has a broad international presence and offers modules for residential, commercial, industrial and utility-scale installations.
Tongwei Solar
Tongwei Solar remains among the five largest manufacturers with 85,000 MW/year. Its position is supported by a high degree of vertical integration and a major presence in solar cell and module manufacturing.
Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar has a capacity of 61,000 MW/year and retains a prominent position in commercial, industrial and utility-scale projects.
AIKO Solar
AIKO Solar remains among the top ten manufacturers with 35,500 MW/year. The brand stands out in particular for its high-efficiency modules based on ABC Back Contact technology.
DMEGC Solar
DMEGC Solar maintains an annual capacity of 21,000 MW. The company continues to strengthen its presence in Europe through N-Type modules, bifacial dual-glass solutions and product ranges for residential, commercial and industrial projects.
Why is Tier 1 relevant to installers, developers and EPCs?
The Tier 1 list is particularly relevant to large-scale projects involving banks, investment funds or other financial institutions.
Working with bankable manufacturers can help to:
- Facilitate the financing process.
- Reduce the risk perceived by banks and investors.
- Improve project bankability.
- Provide greater supply-chain traceability.
- Meet requirements established by financiers or developers.
- Support the viability of international projects.
For residential, commercial and industrial installations, however, Tier 1 status should be considered alongside other technical, commercial and logistical factors.
What else should be assessed in addition to Tier 1?
Before selecting a photovoltaic module, it is advisable to review:
- Cell technology.
- Module power and efficiency.
- Low-light performance.
- Temperature coefficient.
- Initial and annual degradation.
- Product warranty.
- Power warranty.
- Mechanical strength.
- Applicable certifications.
- Compatibility with inverters and mounting systems.
- Technical support and after-sales service.
- Actual stock availability.
- Logistics conditions.
- The manufacturer’s experience in the destination market.
A single manufacturer may offer different product ranges with different specifications, warranties and applications. Reviewing the datasheet and the specific project requirements therefore remains essential.
Tier 1 solar modules for professionals
At Vico Export Solar Energy, we work with manufacturers included in BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 list and supply photovoltaic modules for residential, commercial, industrial and utility-scale projects.
As a wholesale distributor of photovoltaic equipment, we provide installers, engineering firms, developers and EPCs with solutions from international manufacturers, available stock, professional pricing, technical support and deliveries to different markets.
The Q3 2026 Tier 1 list confirms the leadership of the largest manufacturers and the addition of new companies to financed projects. However, Tier 1 status alone does not guarantee the quality of a solar module.
An appropriate selection requires a combined assessment of technology, efficiency, warranties, manufacturer reliability, technical support and logistics conditions.
If you need advice on selecting the most suitable solar modules for your next project, contact Vico Export Solar Energy at comercial@vicoexport.com or call +34 960 07 44 87.