It’s possible that you’ve heard of Aptos Solar Technology (the Company) if you’re looking for home solar panels. This U. S. based, a few years old, is a manufacturer of solar panels, and as its merchandise gains recognition, its market share increases.

For more information, see our detailed review of Aptos solar panels below.

About The Company

In 2019, co-founders Alex Kim and Thanh “Frank” Pham of the venerable Texas business Mission Solar founded Aptos Solar Technology. Prior to securing manufacturing of its own products in 2021, Aptos initially designed solar panels for other businesses.

The business is headquartered in Silicon Valley and has administrative and operational offices in Santa Clara and Irvine, California; a sales office in San Antonio, Texas; and manufacturing and quality control facilities in the Vietnamese province of Bac Ninh.

Products And Technology

The number of cells in the two main solar module lines that Aptos currently offers allows for differentiation. All-black monofacial and bifacial solar panels are available in the DNA-120 and DNA-144 product lines, respectively. Additionally, the DNA-144 line also has a higher-efficiency silver frame version.

The monofacial 120-cell Aptos panels are the most frequently used in residential solar installations, but the monofacial 144-cell Aptos panels can also be effective for rooftops. The bifacial versions work best when installed in large ground-mounted installations, carports, and on commercial rooftops.

DNA Technology Developed By Aptos

The “DNA” in the Aptos product names refers to the company’s patented “Dual Nano Absorber” solar cell technology, which involves adding ultra-thin “passivated” layers to PERC solar cells that have been cut in half.

Although Aptos claims they enable “uniform light absorption,” it’s unclear what impact these passivation layers have on performance. That’s not to say that Aptos’s technology isn’t good, though. Their half-cut PERC cells are essentially equal to those utilized by the majority of other Tier 1 solar manufacturers. In any case, Aptos claims its manufacturing partner in Vietnam is listed by Bloomberg New Energy Finance as a Tier 1 manufacturer, despite the fact that Aptos itself isn’t.

DNA-120 Series

 

 

The Aptos DNA-120 series panels have two builds—mono and bifacial—and one color—black—and are specifically designed for the residential market. The bifacial modules are ideal for use in solar pergolas or ground-mount installations, while the monofacial modules are suitable for typical rooftop installations.

These panels, which employ Aptos’ DNA technology, include 120 solar cells that have been cut in half, as suggested by their name. The panels can produce 360, 365, or 370 watts (W) under Standard Test Conditions based on slight variations in the efficiency of the cells used.

 

DNA-144 Series

 

The DNA 144 series has all-black mono- and bifacial versions, just like the DNA-120, but they also come in a slightly more effective silver frame style with a white back sheet. By virtue of allowing for greater heat dissipation—heat reduces solar cell output—silver and white materials increase efficiency. Although all-black solar modules have a more appealing appearance, they sacrifice about 10 W of output.

While the silver frame version of the DNA-144 series can output 440, 445, or 450 W under Standard Test Conditions, the DNA-144 series is available in 430, 435, and 440 W output varieties.

SunPower U-Series

SunPower uses Aptos solar panels in some of its U-Series products. The U-Series allows SunPower’s installers to achieve a lower price point than SunPower is typically known for. It is essentially the company’s “budget” line. The Maxeon panels SunPower has long used are the most efficient and expensive ones available, which is not to say that Aptos panels are inferior.

SunPower made all of its solar panels for the U.S. on its own for many years. S. until 2020, when its manufacturing division will be spun off as Maxeon. Maxeon solar panels are no longer exclusively sold by SunPower in the nation as of January 2023, though it continues to offer the Maxeon 6 (marketed under the M Series white label). As a result, SunPower requires more modules than Maxeon can supply, leading to the creation of the U-Series.

The Aptos Warranty

The product warranty for Aptos DNA solar panels is 15 years, and the peak power warranty is 25 years. The latter guarantees that the panels will generate at least 98 percent of their peak power rating in the first year and lose no more than 0 point 54 percent of that capacity over each of the following 24 years.

The former covers failures resulting from poor materials and workmanship. Accordingly, after 25 years, the DNA panels must produce at least 85 point 1 percent of their rated output. A 15-year product warranty and a 25-year peak power warranty are included with each Aptos DNA solar panel.

The latter guarantees that the panels will produce at least 98 percent of their peak power rating in the first year and lose no more than 0 point 54 percent of their ability to generate power over each of the following 24 years.

The former covers failures resulting from poor materials and workmanship. Accordingly, after 25 years, the DNA panels must produce at least 85 point 1 percent of their rated output.

Additionally, the business provides extended warranty terms, extending the power production warranty to 30 years and raising the coverage for materials and workmanship to 25 years, with at least 82 point 4 percent of the rated peak output still being usable after that time. For a slight increase in the total installed cost, your solar installer will offer the warranty extension.

Although many of the top solar panel producers offer 25- or even 30-year product and performance warranties, Aptos’ standard warranty is roughly comparable to that of the other mid-tier players in the industry. The 40-year non-SunPower panel warranty from Maxeon is the best in the business. Although Aptos’s extended warranty doesn’t yet have pricing information, we hope that eventually it will become the norm.

 

How reliable are Aptos solar panels?

They certainly are. You can rely on them to deliver if they are effective enough for SunPower. Furthermore, having a position at SunPower means they have a supply agreement that is locked in, which means they will sell all of the units they can for the foreseeable future.

The solar modules from Aptos should last as long as the company claims because they are made with tried-and-true contemporary technology. We are pleased with Aptos’ growth over the past few years since its founding and are glad that the company founders have prior experience in the sector.

It will be interesting to see if Aptos can endure long enough to reveal its financial performance and go public. A business like this that guarantees a steady supply of modules for the U.S. solar market is necessary given the challenges the sector has faced with supply chain shortages. S. The market can be extremely profitable.

Overall, Aptos solar panels are a great choice for anyone who wants to harness the power of the sun to generate clean, renewable energy. With their high efficiency, durability, and environmental friendliness, these panels offer an excellent way to reduce energy costs, increase energy independence, and protect the planet.