Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W vs First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W wins this comparison by a decisive margin. It leads in efficiency (22.2% vs 19.2%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (25 vs 10 years). For most residential installations, the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W is the stronger choice.
Key Differences
- • Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W is rated at 430W while First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W is rated at 465W, a 35W difference.
- • Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W achieves 22.2% efficiency vs 19.2% for the other, a 3.0 percentage point gap.
- • Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W comes with a 25-year product warranty vs 10 years for the other.
- • Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W has a superior temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C vs -0.28%/°C, retaining more power in hot climates.
- • Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W uses HJT (Heterojunction) cells while First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uses CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) cells, representing different technology generations.
Specifications Breakdown
Module Efficiency
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W achieves 22.2% module efficiency compared to First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W's 19.2%, meaning Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W converts 3.0 percentage points more sunlight into electricity per square meter. In practical terms, the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W produces 220.2 watts per square meter of panel area while the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W produces 187.9 W/m². For rooftop installations where space is limited, this efficiency gap determines how many kilowatts you can fit on your available roof area. Over a 25-year system life, even a small efficiency advantage compounds into meaningful additional energy production.
Power Output
The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W delivers 465W per panel versus 430W for the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W, a 35W difference per module. To build an 8 kW residential system, you would need 19 Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W panels or 18 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W panels. Choosing the higher-wattage option saves 1 panel, reducing total racking hardware, wiring, and installation labor costs. Higher wattage per panel is particularly valuable for commercial-scale installations where panel count directly impacts balance-of-system costs.
Temperature Coefficient
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W has a temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C versus -0.28%/°C for the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W. On a hot summer day when cell temperature reaches 65°C (40°C above the 25°C STC baseline), the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W retains 94.8% of its rated power while the other retains 94.4%. While the numerical gap is modest, it still accumulates over decades of summer production, especially in southern latitudes with prolonged peak heat hours.
Warranty Coverage
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W is backed by a 25-year product warranty and 25-year performance guarantee, while the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W offers 10-year product and 30-year performance coverage. The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W provides 15 additional years of defect protection, covering manufacturing issues, material failures, and premature performance loss. Based on their published degradation rates (0.5% first year then 0.35%/year for Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W; 1.5% first year then 0.5%/year for First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W), after 25 years the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W should retain approximately 91.1% of original output versus 86.5% for the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W. This 4.6 percentage point gap in end-of-life output meaningfully impacts lifetime energy economics.
Physical Dimensions & Weight
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W measures 1722×1134×30mm and weighs 22.5 kg, while the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W measures 2009×1232×49mm at 34.5 kg. 1.95 m² of panel area for the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W versus 2.48 m² for the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W. The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W is 12.0 kg lighter per panel, which reduces structural load requirements on the roof and makes handling easier during installation. For a 20-panel system, that is a total weight difference of 240 kg. The more compact Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W may be easier to fit on irregularly shaped or space-limited rooftops.
Specification Comparison
| Specification | Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W | First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 430W | 465W |
| Efficiency | 22.2% | 19.2% |
| Power Density | 20.5 W/sq ft | 17.5 W/sq ft |
| Cell Type | HJT (Heterojunction) | CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) |
| Bifacial | Yes | No |
| Weight | 22.5 kg | 34.5 kg |
| Temp Coefficient | -0.26%/°C | -0.28%/°C |
| Snow Load | 5400 Pa | 5400 Pa |
| Wind Load | 2400 Pa | 4000 Pa |
| Product Warranty | 25 years | 10 years |
| Performance Warranty | 25 years | 30 years |
| Degradation (Year 1) | 0.5% | 1.5% |
| Annual Degradation | 0.35% | 0.5% |
| Country | Japan | United States |
5-Dimension Head-to-Head Analysis
1. Efficiency & Power Density
Winner: Panasonic EverVolt HK 430WThe Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W achieves 22.2% efficiency versus 19.2% — a 3.0 percentage point advantage. On a typical 30-panel residential roof, this translates to approximately 1.1 kW more total system capacity, or 5 kWh more annual production in an average US location.
2. Hot Climate Performance
Winner: Panasonic EverVolt HK 430WThe Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W has a better temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C versus -0.28%/°C. On a 45°C summer day (20°C above STC), the winner retains 94.8% of rated power versus 94.4%. The difference is modest but accumulates over 25 years of summer production.
3. Durability & Warranty
Winner: Panasonic EverVolt HK 430WPanasonic EverVolt HK 430W leads with a 25-year product warranty versus 10 years. Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W degrades more slowly at 0.35% per year versus 0.5%. After 25 years, expect 91.1% vs 86.5% of original output for Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W and First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W respectively.
4. Power Output
Winner: First Solar Series 6 Plus 465WThe First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W delivers 465W versus 430W per panel — 35W more. For an 8 kW system, you need 18 panels with the higher-wattage option versus 19 panels, saving 1 panels and the associated racking and labor costs.
5. Cell Technology
Winner: Panasonic EverVolt HK 430WThe Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W uses HJT (Heterojunction): HJT (Heterojunction) combines crystalline silicon with amorphous silicon layers, delivering the best temperature coefficient and bifacial gains, but at higher manufacturing cost. The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uses CdTe (Cadmium Telluride): CdTe (Cadmium Telluride). HJT (Heterojunction) represents a newer generation technology with a longer performance runway as manufacturing matures.
Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W
DISCONTINUED: Panasonic exited solar manufacturing in 2023. The EverVolt HK delivered 430W using HJT technology with Panasonic's renowned build quality and 25-year warranty.
Pros
- + Japanese engineering quality
- + Excellent HJT temperature coefficient
- + 25-year warranty
- + Strong brand trust
Cons
- - DISCONTINUED - no longer manufactured
- - No new units available
- - No ongoing product support
First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W
The Series 6 Plus delivers 465W using First Solar's proven CdTe thin-film technology, manufactured in the United States.
Pros
- + Proven US thin-film technology
- + Excellent temperature coefficient
- + Environmentally responsible
- + Strong bankability
Cons
- - Lower efficiency
- - Very heavy panel
- - Not suitable for residential
Choose Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W If...
- ✓ Your roof space is limited and you need maximum power per panel
- ✓ Long-term warranty protection is a top priority and you plan to stay in your home for 25+ years
- ✓ You live in a hot climate (Arizona, Texas, Florida) where heat performance matters
- ✓ You want maximum output retention over the system's 25-30 year lifespan
- ✓ You prefer newer cell technology with a longer performance improvement runway
Choose First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W If...
- ✓ You want fewer panels to reach your target system size, reducing racking and labor costs
- ✓ Large commercial and utility projects wanting proven US thin-film technology.
Our Recommendation
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W is the decisive winner in this solar panel comparison, outperforming the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W in 4 of 5 dimensions. Unless you have a specific requirement that the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W uniquely addresses, the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W is the stronger choice for virtually every installation scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W or First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W?
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W wins this comparison by a decisive margin. It leads in efficiency (22.2% vs 19.2%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (25 vs 10 years). For most residential installations, the Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W is the stronger choice.
Which panel is more efficient, Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W or First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W?
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W at 22.2% module efficiency. Higher efficiency means more watts per square foot of roof space, which is critical for space-constrained installations. The difference of 3.0 percentage points translates to approximately 35W per panel under standard test conditions.
Which has a better warranty, Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W or First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W?
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W comes with a 25-year product warranty and 25-year performance guarantee. The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W offers 10-year product and 30-year performance warranties. Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W provides 15 additional years of product coverage.
Which panel performs better in hot weather?
The Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W has a temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C and the First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W is -0.28%/°C. Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W retains more power in heat — important in states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida. A lower (less negative) temperature coefficient is better.
How many Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W vs First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W panels do I need for an 8 kW system?
For an 8 kW system: you need 19 Panasonic EverVolt HK 430W panels (430W each) or 18 First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W panels (465W each). The First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W requires fewer panels, saving on racking hardware and installation labor.
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Last updated: February 2026