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12 Aug 2026

REC solar panels review

Find out more about solar panel manufacturer REC, and see the results from our test lab.

Lisa GalliersPrincipal researcher & writer

A veteran consumer advocate with over two decades of rigorous product-testing experience, Lisa leads our mattress category and joined the home energy team, helping bring clear, actionable advice to consumers.

In this article

REC solar panels reviewed
REC solar panel test results
Our solar panel tests explained
How to buy REC solar panels

REC Solar is based in Norway and produces high end solar panels using Heterojunction cell technology.

We’ve tested solar panels from REC and found out more about the company to help you work out if these are the right solar panels for your home.

You can also head to our guide to solar panel brands compared to see more of the options available.

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REC solar panels reviewed

REC reliability and warranty

Solar brand	Product warranty	Power output warranty	Max power output and efficiency
REC solar	20 years	25 years at 92%	460W at 22.1%

Notes: based on the most efficient panel we've recently tested.

REC also offers a 'labour warranty' which the brand says is unique – its REC ProTrust Warranty. This gives solar panel owners added protection should an REC panel need servicing, but only applies if you've used an REC Certified solar installer. Other T&Cs may apply.

Where are REC solar panels made?

REC solar panels are made in Singapore.

REC solar panel test results

REC Solar solar panels

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A large collection of images displayed on this page are available at https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/solar-panels/article/best-solar-panel-brands/rec-solar-panels-review-azTGJ8D0zWfq

We've tested two REC panels to see how they fare in typical UK conditions.

Our independent tests let us assess how the panels compare to their claimed performance when new, and following solar exposure. Our tests also reveal how much the panels degrade as they age.

Compare tech specs for the REC solar panels we've tested in the table - scroll down to see how each panel performed in our detailed lab tests.

Solar panel model	Max power (w)	Panel dimensions (WxLxDmm)	Panel weight	Cell technology	No. of cells per panel
REC420AA Pure-R	420w	1730x1118x31	21.5kg	Heterojunction	80
REC460AA Pure-RX	460w	1728x1205x30	22.3kg	Heterojunction	88

The UK solar panel market is fast moving and panels don’t tend to stay around too long as technology and performance are updated, which is why we currently don’t award Best Buys for specific models. Instead, we use our test results to give you an overall steer on how a particular brand compares.

Only Which? members can access our solar panel test results. Log in now to see how REC fared in the lab.

If you're not a Which? member, join Which? to get instant access to our solar panel test results and our expert verdict on the REC brand.

Solar panel	Overall score	Max power determination	Efficiency	Efficiency - initial vs nameplate	Efficiency - final vs nameplate	Efficiency - final vs initial	Power	Power - Pmpp initial vs nameplate	Power - Pmpp final vs nameplate	Power - Pmpp final vs initial	Power - Wp final vs nameplate	LeTID Degradation Test	Bifaciality Coefficient	Electroluminescence Image (Defects)	Energy production
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REC460AA Pure-RX

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The more stars the better. Max power determination - highest power the PV panel is capable of producing at the standard test conditions. Also used to calculate the efficiency of the panel using the power measurement and the surface area of the panel. Efficiency we measure the difference in efficiency between our tests at the beginning and at the end (initial and final) and the claims made on the solar panels tech sheet (nameplate). This allows us to see how much energy from the total it can actually use. Power We measure the ppmp (electrical power output of a PV module at its Maximum Power Point) Peak Power (Wp - nominal maximum power output of a PV module under Standard Test Conditions (STC) against the nameplate and our own tests. This allows us to see if the solar panel does what it claims and any degradation after testings. Efficiency We calculate the efficiency of the panel using the power measurement and the surface area of the panel, and using simulation software combines the PV panel with inverters to calculate the Energy Production performance of the system under various conditions and over time. LeTID degradation Degradation rating for PERC cells under prolonged light and high temperature exposure. Bifaciality Coefficient This is the ratio between rearside and frontside power output for bifacial panels. Electroluminescence Image (Defects) Rating for invisible defects (cracks, broken cells, inactive areas) detected in PV modules.

Visit the REC website to view the options available for your home.

Our solar panel tests explained

We started testing solar panels in 2026.

Testing solar panels is complex and takes a lot of time, not least as the testing requires plenty of hours of sunlight. We’ve teamed up with our European Consumer colleagues to test panels in a specialist facility in Spain that’s been testing solar panels for decades. We test each panel according to the standards that regulate and control these products.

We know that solar panels will perform differently in the UK than in Spain. So rather than simply using the Spanish test results as they come, where applicable we model the results to daylight conditions across a number of UK cities to see how they would perform in UK homes.

Each panel is inspected for defects before testing and installed using specific tilt angles and orientations for direct sunlight exposure that’s directly comparable across all panels we test.

Once installed we run a series of tests. These include an initial solar radiation exposure; a maximum power determination test; an outdoor exposure test and a test to check for any current leakage in wet conditions. Special images are taken to detect minute defects and cracks created during the initial test programme. We then repeat the tests to work out how much the panel's performance degrades over time and if the defects affect ongoing performance.

Find out more about how we test solar panels.

How to buy REC solar panels

As a domestic customer, you’ll need to buy solar panels through an installation company. In a 2026 survey of solar panel owners*, nearly half told us that they had used an independent solar panel installer, while 25% used a larger solar panel company for their work.

Most installers will only work with one or two brands; almost three quarters of the solar panel owners in our survey only had one brand of panel offered by their chosen installer, while 14% had a choice between two brands. It’s worth getting a few quotes from different installers so that you can compare what brands are being offered, as well as comparing the installers themselves.

Our tests and brand reviews can help you choose the best brand to go with.

Trying to compare solar panel installers? Our guide to how to choose a solar panel installer will help you ask the right questions.

*Data based on a January 2026 online Combo survey of 948 solar panel owners who had them installed in the last three years

This article uses insights from the Which? Connect panel, collected from research activities with our members. Find out how to get involved