Thomas Bywater (left) receives EUPD Research’s Top Brand PV 2026 Australia. Source: AIKO Australia
Media Release
AIKO Energy has announced a series of major developments at SNEC 2026 that reinforce its long-term commitment to the Australian solar market. Highlights include multiple distribution agreements with leading Australian partners, recognition as EUPD Research’s Top Brand PV 2026 Australia, and the arrival of its groundbreaking 500W Neostar module, the first solar panel in the world to achieve 25% efficiency in a footprint under 2m².
AIKO expands Australian distribution network at SNEC 2026
At SNEC 2026 in Shanghai, the world’s largest photovoltaic trade exhibition, AIKO signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Australian distribution partners for its third and fourth-generation Neostar 54-cell module series.
The agreements will expand access to AIKO’s high-efficiency ABC (All Back Contact) solar modules across residential and commercial markets while strengthening product availability throughout Australia’s major states and territories.
The latest generation of Neostar modules builds on AIKO’s proprietary n-type ABC architecture, incorporating further advancements in copper electroplating metallisation technology.
By eliminating silver dependency, AIKO is addressing one of the solar industry’s most persistent supply chain and cost challenges while helping make high-performance solar technology more accessible for Australian households and businesses.
AIKO is the first solar manufacturer globally to achieve silver-free ABC module production at commercial scale, with gigawatts of modules already shipped worldwide.
Top brand PV 2026 Australia recognition
During SNEC 2026, AIKO was also awarded the Top Brand PV 2026 Australia designation by EUPD Research, highlighting the company’s growing reputation and market strength within Australia.
Just two years after entering the Australian market, AIKO has established a significant presence among installers and homeowners alike. The company was voted the number one Installer Choice brand on SolarQuotes in its first year and now accounts for close to 20% of active monthly solar proposals nationwide*.
This rapid growth reflects strong installer confidence and increasing consumer awareness of AIKO’s ABC technology.
World’s first 500W solar module under 2m² arrives in Australia
AIKO has also confirmed the Australian arrival of its highest-powered third-generation Infinite Series module.
First unveiled at the All Energy Conference in 2025, the Neostar 3P54 delivers 500W with positive power tolerance and 25% module efficiency within a compact 1762 x 1134 mm footprint, making it the first solar module in the world to achieve this milestone.
The performance breakthrough is enabled by innovations including Zero Gap and Invisi-Ribbon technology, which increase active light absorption and allow 93.5% of the module surface area to contribute to power generation.
The result is a substantial efficiency improvement over conventional front-contact technologies such as PERC and TOPCon, establishing a new benchmark for residential solar performance.
As Australia’s solar rebate value continues to decline over time, maximising energy generation from available roof space is becoming increasingly important.
For homeowners, higher power output means greater energy production, lower electricity bills, and stronger long-term returns. For installers, the technology enables higher system capacities on limited roof space, providing a valuable point of differentiation in an increasingly competitive market.
AIKO Triple-certified for Australia’s harshest conditions
AIKO’s 54-cell Neostar series has now achieved certification across three of Australia’s most challenging environmental conditions, adding cyclone approval to its existing hail and coastal salt mist credentials.
Cyclone testing was conducted by Albright Consulting Engineers in Darwin using Australian static wind load methodology. Both full-black and black-frame module variants were independently assessed and verified for structural integrity across wind regions C and D.
For hail resistance, AIKO holds TÜV Rheinland certification to withstand hailstones up to 40 mm in diameter, significantly exceeding the 25 mm IEC industry standard.
The company’s ABC Gen 3 modules also carry IEC 61701 Salt Mist certification at Severity Level 6, the highest available standard. Selected models have additionally achieved Method 8 certification, the most demanding testing protocol within that standard.
Built for Australian expectations
“We test our products to beyond Australian standards because this market expects more than a generic lab result,” said Thomas Bywater, Head of Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, AIKO Energy. “By testing under Australian conditions and engineering methods, we want to prove that AIKO is ready for the type of roofs, weather conditions, and performance expectations that matter here, and that we are willing to go above and beyond to give installers and homeowners the confidence to choose us.”
Gen 3 500W modules are now available throughout Australia via AIKO authorised distributors.
*OpenSolar data 2026
