Mitsubishi solar panels: The complete review

Mitsubishi Electric is one of the world's largest electronics and electrical equipment manufacturers, including televisions, air conditioners, and solar panels. The company was founded in 1921 and manufactured the first solar panels to power satellites in the 1970s. All of Mitsubishi's solar panels are manufactured in Japan. Although they are relatively new to the U.S. market, Mitsubishi solar panels are increasingly popular in quotes to solar shoppers comparing their options on the EnergySage Marketplace.

Mitsubishi Energy offers two series of solar panels for residential systems:

• MLE Series

• Diamond Premium Series

EnergySage has reviewed the product specifications of each Mitsubishi Energy panel series to make your solar research process easier. As the leading online marketplace for homeowners considering solar, EnergySage is uniquely positioned to evaluate the technical specifications of Mitsubishi solar panels and help you compare them to other manufacturers on the market.

There are four key metrics that you should review as you evaluate solar panel quality: efficiency, performance, warranties, and price. EnergySage has developed Mitsubishi solar panel reviews for each metric to help make your solar decision easier. We've also created a comparison of Mitsubishi panels against other leading panel manufacturers frequently featured in offers to homeowners and businesses shopping for solar on the EnergySage Marketplace.

Efficiency

"Solar panel efficiency" refers to how well a solar panel captures sunlight and converts it into useful electricity. In the same conditions, a high-efficiency solar panel will produce more electricity than a lower-efficiency panel of the same size. For this reason, a higher efficiency rating is generally preferable.

The efficiency of your Mitsubishi solar panels will vary depending on the specific model that you choose for your system. Mitsubishi's panels have efficiency ratings of 16.3% to 16.9%.

Performance (Temperature Coefficient)

Temperature coefficient indicates how well your solar panel can handle less-than-ideal conditions. Solar panels, like other electronic equipment, perform better when kept cool (ideally around 25° C/77° F). The temperature coefficient tells you how much your panel's performance will change during hot sunny summer days.

For every degree above 25° C (77° F), your solar panel's electricity production will decrease by its temperature coefficient. For example, the Mitsubishi PV-MLE275HD2 panel has a temperature coefficient of -0.44%/°C. This means that if the panel's temperature increases by one degree from 25° C (77° F) to 26° C (79° F), its electricity production will decrease by 0.44%. If its temperature increases to 35° C (95° F), electricity production will reduce by 4.4%.

Your solar panels will likely see more than a few hot and sunny days each year, so ideally, they will have the lowest temperature coefficient possible. As you can see in the graph below, Mitsubishi panels have temperature coefficients ranging from -0.45 to -0.44.

Warranties

Whether you're buying a TV, a car, or solar panels, the manufacturer should stand behind their product with a strong warranty. A solar panel's materials warranty (sometimes referred to as the product or equipment warranty) is a guarantee from the manufacturer that they will replace your panel if it fails due to manufacturing defects or environmental issues.

Mitsubishi offers a standard 10-year warranty against any defects in its solar panels.

Note: Mitsubishi hasn't been quoted enough recently on our platform for accurate, updated cost figures. The data below are from 2020.

For many homeowners, the final decision around the solar equipment they choose rests on cost. The total price you pay for a solar energy system with Mitsubishi panels will vary depending on the other equipment (such as inverters and mounts) used in the installation and the characteristics of your roof.

To identify the range of prices for Mitsubishi PV systems, we analyzed quotes, including Mitsubishi solar panels that homeowners received from installers on the EnergySage Marketplace. Most Mitsubishi PV systems are typically priced between $3.18 and $3.71 watt, which makes them a good value in the market for home solar.

Mitsubishi solar panels compared to competitors

This means that, for a 5 kW system, your gross cost (before you subtract any tax credits or other incentives) would be anywhere from $15,900 to $18,550. Additionally, most homeowners pay much less than the total gross cost. With the 30% federal tax credit for solar, which everyone is eligible for, a 5 kW system with Mitsubishi would cost anywhere from $11,130 to $12,985. Plenty of state-level solar incentives and rebates can help you reduce upfront costs even further.

Mitsubishi panels may not offer the best efficiency or performance in the solar industry, but they're still an appealing choice for shoppers comparing solar quotes on the EnergySage Marketplace. The price of a solar PV system with Mitsubishi panels is in line with the industry average, and the company is a trustworthy brand that has been manufacturing electronic equipment for nearly a hundred years.

The best way to determine whether Mitsubishi solar panels are the best for your home is to review multiple quotes with different solar equipment options before deciding. When you compare your options on the EnergySage Marketplace, you'll find the right combination of price and quality that meets your needs.

Many of our qualified, vetted solar installers offer Mitsubishi solar panels in their quotes to EnergySage users. When registering, note in your profile that you're interested in receiving quotes that include Mitsubishi panels for your home.