Principles
Source purity. All scores are derived exclusively from manufacturer-published datasheets. We do not incorporate installer feedback, user reviews, real-world testing, or third-party benchmarks. This makes scores reproducible and resistant to manipulation — if the datasheet changes, the score changes.
No commercial relationships. Solar Analytica has no financial relationships with any manufacturer, distributor, or installer. We do not accept payment for ratings, placement, or inclusion. Any product with a publicly available English-language datasheet is eligible for rating.
Published rubric. The full scoring criteria, weights, and version history are published here. Any manufacturer, installer, or researcher can apply the same rubric and arrive at the same score from the same datasheet.
Version control. When methodology changes, we publish a new version number and re-score all products. Historical scores are archived so rating shifts can be attributed to product changes or rubric changes — not to opaque recalculation.
Product categories
Solar Analytica rates products across three categories. Each category has its own tailored rubric reflecting the distinct technical factors that matter for that product type.
Solar panels
Assessed on power output, efficiency, temperature coefficient, warranty terms, product and power warranty length, degradation guarantees, and build quality indicators including frame specification and cell technology.
Home batteries
Assessed on usable capacity, round-trip efficiency, peak and continuous power output, depth of discharge, warranty terms, chemistry type, IP rating, scalability, and inverter compatibility breadth.
Inverters
Segmented into residential, small commercial, and C&I tiers. Assessed on peak efficiency, Euro efficiency, input voltage range, MPPT configuration, warranty terms, monitoring capability, and grid compliance certification.
Scoring criteria — Home batteries
Each criterion is scored on a 0–10 scale and multiplied by its weight. Final scores are the weighted sum, normalised to 10.0.
| Criterion | What we assess | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Rated usable kWh at standard conditions | 15% |
| Round-trip efficiency | AC–AC efficiency at rated conditions | 15% |
| Peak power output | Maximum continuous discharge power | 10% |
| Depth of discharge | Rated DoD as percentage of total capacity | 8% |
| Cycle warranty | Warranted cycles or years, whichever binding | 12% |
| Capacity warranty | End-of-warranty capacity retention guarantee | 10% |
| Chemistry | Cell chemistry safety and longevity profile | 8% |
| IP rating | Ingress protection for dust and water | 5% |
| Scalability | Ability to stack or expand capacity | 5% |
| Inverter compatibility | Range of compatible hybrid inverters | 6% |
| Backup capability | Whole-home or partial backup support | 6% |
Scoring criteria — Solar panels
| Criterion | What we assess | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Panel efficiency | STC efficiency as percentage | 20% |
| Power output | Rated Wp at STC | 15% |
| Temperature coefficient | Pmax temp coefficient (lower is better) | 12% |
| Product warranty | Workmanship warranty length in years | 12% |
| Power warranty | Performance warranty length in years | 12% |
| Degradation guarantee | Year-1 and annual degradation cap | 12% |
| Cell technology | Technology generation (PERC, TOPCon, HJT, etc.) | 10% |
| Build specification | Frame alloy, glass type, junction box IP | 7% |
Rubric version history
v2.1 — June 2026
Added inverter segmentation (residential / small commercial / C&I) and introduced the Sigenergy and Growatt MAX 100K C&I inverter criteria sets. Battery rubric updated to split cycle warranty and capacity warranty into separate criteria.
v2.0 — March 2026
Full rubric redesign. Introduced weighted criteria replacing binary pass/fail flags. Battery rubric expanded from 8 to 11 criteria. All products re-scored against the new rubric.
v1.0 — October 2024
Initial rubric. Binary scoring across 8 criteria per category. Retired March 2026.
Limitations and disclosures
Solar Analytica scores reflect what manufacturers claim in their datasheets. We do not independently verify these claims through physical testing. Where datasheet values appear inconsistent or implausible, we note this in the product record but do not adjust the score unless a corrected datasheet is published.
Products are scored in the language of their English-language datasheets. Where a manufacturer publishes conflicting specifications across regional datasheets, we use the Australian market document where available, otherwise the global English-language document.
Scores reflect the product as specified at the time of rating. Solar Analytica is not responsible for changes to products that are not reflected in updated datasheets.