Illustration · 144 half-cut cells

Solar panelCanadian Solar

Canadian Solar CS6W-530MB

Name: Canadian Solar CS6W-530MB
Brand: Canadian Solar

144 half-cut cells, bifacial. Power classes 510–555 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · Jul 21, 2023UL 61730Bifacial

Power class

Power (STC)530 WCEC nameplate
Efficiency≈20.9%calculated from area
%/°C Pmax−0.321CEC listing test
PTC / STC94.1%PTC 499 W (CEC)

Power classes

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · 10 models

Model	Pmax	Voc, V	Isc, A	Vmp, V	Imp, A	Efficiency	PTC	CEC listed
CS6W-510MB	510 W	48.00	13.60	40.10	12.72	≈20.2%	480 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-515MB	515 W	48.20	13.65	40.30	12.78	≈20.4%	484 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-520MB	520 W	48.40	13.70	40.50	12.84	≈20.6%	489 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-525MB	525 W	48.60	13.75	40.70	12.90	≈20.8%	494 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-530MB	530 W	48.80	13.80	40.90	12.96	≈20.9%	499 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-535MB	535 W	49.00	13.85	41.10	13.02	≈21.1%	504 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-540MB	540 W	49.20	13.90	41.30	13.08	≈21.3%	508 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-545MB	545 W	49.40	13.95	41.50	13.14	≈21.5%	513 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-550MB	550 W	49.60	14.00	41.70	13.20	≈21.7%	518 W	Jul 21, 2023
CS6W-555MB	555 W	49.80	14.05	41.90	13.25	≈21.9%	523 W	Jul 21, 2023

≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 2.53 m².

Heat & cold behaviour

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation

	CEC listing test
Pmax coefficient γ	−0.321 %/°C
Voc coefficient β	−0.257 %/°C
Isc coefficient α	+0.068 %/°C
Operating cell temperature	NOCT 44.4 °C

Vmp coefficient ≈ γ − α (CEC); used only for the hot-roof voltage estimate.

Away from lab conditions — CEC listing test points

Class	Pmax at NOCT	Vmp × Imp at NOCT	Pmax at 200 W/m²	Low-light efficiency vs STC
510 W	380.2 W	38.24 V × 9.94 A	99.4 W	97%
515 W	383.9 W	38.43 V × 9.99 A	100.4 W	97%
520 W	387.6 W	38.62 V × 10.04 A	101.3 W	97%
525 W	391.4 W	38.82 V × 10.08 A	102.3 W	97%
530 W	395.1 W	39.01 V × 10.13 A	103.3 W	97%
535 W	398.9 W	39.2 V × 10.18 A	104.3 W	97%
540 W	402.7 W	39.39 V × 10.22 A	105.3 W	97%
545 W	406.5 W	39.58 V × 10.27 A	106.3 W	97%
550 W	410.3 W	39.77 V × 10.32 A	107.3 W	98%
555 W	413.8 W	39.96 V × 10.36 A	108.2 W	97%

Pmax = Vmp × Imp from the CEC listing; low-light efficiency = Pmax at 200 W/m² ÷ (20% of STC Pmax).

Independent reliability testing

Kiwa PVEL Scorecard · RETC PV Module Index

2024

PVEL Top Performer

closely related product name

Tests passed as Top Performer

LID+LETID

PVEL Scorecards

Canadian Solar named Top Performer, 2020–2026

RETC PV Module Index

Canadian Solar, 2025

PVEL Top Performer tests

Year	Product	Tests
2024	CS6W-xxxMB-AG (closely related product name)	LID+LETID

Tested bill of materials

PVEL-tested factoryChina,Thailand
Cell technology (tested BOM)p-type PERC
Module design (tested BOM)bifacial - glass//glass
Power class range tested530-575W

Details describe the tested sample, not every module of the series.

RETC PV Module Index — Canadian Solar

Year	Recognition
2025	Reliability High Achiever

Inverter compatibility & string sizing

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · NLR PVWatts v8 · inverter datasheets · NLR SAM inverter library · CEC Grid Support Inverter List (Oct 7, 2026)

CityColdest air, °CHottest cell, °CString inverter

51.7 V

Voc when cold

per panel

33.1 V

Vmp when hot

per panel

Max panels / string

max DC 600 V

Min panels / string

MPPT from 60 V

Defaults come from NLR TMY weather (coldest hour, hottest modeled cell). Code calculations (NEC 690.7) use the ASHRAE extreme annual minimum, which is usually colder — enter it above. β is the CEC-measured coefficient; NEC 690.7 calculations use the datasheet value.

String inverters most named in SoCal permits

Inverter	Max DC input	MPPT	Window source	Panels per string
Tesla 1538000-xx-y	600 V	60–480 V	datasheet	2–11
Solis (Ginlong) S6-EH1P10K-H-US	600 V	80–520 V	datasheet	3–11
Solis (Ginlong) Solis-1P7.6K-4G-US	600 V	100–500 V	datasheet	4–11
Qcells Q.VOLT H7.6SX	498 V	234–498 V	CEC test window	8–9

Microinverters (one per panel)

Microinverter	Recommended module power	Max DC input	MPPT	Voc cold / Vmp hot	Check	DC/AC
Enphase IQ8X-80-M-US	320–540 W	79.5 V	43–60 V	51.7 / 33.1 V	✗ Not a match: module voltage below MPPT range	1.39
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L	265–570 W	60 V	28–45 V	51.7 / 33.1 V	✓ Within range	0.68

Voltage check against the microinverter datasheets — confirm the pairing on the manufacturer’s module compatibility list. Rows appear only when the panel’s power is inside the microinverter’s recommended module power range.

SolarEdge and other optimizer-based systems size strings by the optimizer rules — use the manufacturer’s designer. Reference inverters: most named in SoCal permits since Oct 2024.

Expected production in Southern California

NLR PVWatts v8 · Cali-Graf calculation

PanelsCity for chartSystem size

City	kWh / kW / yr	kWh / panel / yr	kWh / system / yr	Sun, kWh/m²/day
Los Angeles	1,676	888	11,548	6.08
Palmdale	1,835	973	12,643	6.69
Chula Vista	1,696	899	11,685	6.11
Huntington Beach	1,643	871	11,320	5.89
Riverside	1,696	899	11,685	6.21
Santa Clarita	1,724	914	11,878	6.28

Estimate for comparison, not a quote: shading, roof orientation and local losses change real output. Roof mount, 20° tilt, south, 14% system losses.

Compare with similar 530 W panels

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · datasheets · Kiwa PVEL Scorecard · building permits

Panel	Pmax	Efficiency	γ Pmax (CEC)	Voc, V	Isc, A	PVEL (product / brand)	SoCal permits (series)
Canadian Solar CS6W-530MB	530 W	≈20.9%	−0.321	48.8	13.8	brand 5×	—
SEG Solar SEG-525-BTD-BG	525 W	≈26.9%	−0.290	41.1	16.2	product 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026	8
JA Solar JAM72D30-530/MB	530 W	≈21%	−0.330	49.3	13.72	product 2023, 2024	3
LONGi LR5-72HBD-530M	530 W	≥20.7%	−0.323	49.2	13.71	product 2026	1

Same fields from the same sources for every row; ≈ efficiency is calculated from the listed area. Comparable series: other brands, same product group, power range covering this class.

About Canadian Solar

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Kiwa PVEL Scorecard · RETC PV Module Index · building permits

ManufacturerCanadian Solar
Listed in CEC asCSI Energy Storage Co., Ltd., CSI Solar Co., Ltd., Canadian Solar
Websitecanadiansolar.com
PVEL Top Performer (manufacturer)5 Scorecards (2020–2026)
RETC PV Module Index2025
Current panel series in CEC list38

Other series by SoCal permits

CS6R-xxxMS-HL · 46CS3N-xxxMS · 46CS6.1-54TM-xxxH · 9CS1Y-xxxMS · 6CS3W-xxxMS · 6CS3W-xxxMB-AG · 5

Questions & answers

How efficient is the Canadian Solar CS6W-530MB?

Calculated from the panel area (2.53 m²): about 20.9% for the 530 W class. 530 W over 2.53 m² equals about 209 W per square meter.

How much energy does one panel produce in Los Angeles or Palmdale?

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 888 kWh per year per 530 W panel in Los Angeles and about 973 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.321 %/°C, at a 77 °C cell temperature (hottest modeled hour in Palmdale) output is about 16.6% below the STC rating.

How many panels fit on one string?

With the Tesla 1538000-xx-y (max DC 600 V, MPPT from 60 V, datasheet) in Los Angeles the calculator gives 2–11 panels per string (Voc at 2 °C = 51.7 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 33.1 V). Final design must follow the inverter manual and NEC 690.7.

Does it work with APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L microinverters?

Voltage check against the APsystems (Alt Power System) datasheet: Voc when cold 51.7 V vs max input 60 V; Vmp when hot 33.1 V vs MPPT low 28 V; recommended module power 265–570 W. Confirm on the microinverter maker’s compatibility list.

Is it bifacial?

Yes. Rear gain depends on mounting height and ground reflectance.

Has this panel been reliability-tested?

CS6W-xxxMB-AG was a PVEL Top Performer in 2024 (LID+LETID) — a closely related product name.

Sources

California Energy Commission — Solar Equipment Lists, PV Module List, Inverter List (snapshot Oct 7, 2026).
SEG Solar — manufacturer datasheet “XXXTFHTPMBSDPN YUKON/Series )BMG$FMM/5ZQF501$PO”.
LONGi — manufacturer datasheet “LR5-72HBD Suitable for distributed projects Advanced module technology delivers superior”.
Kiwa PVEL — PV Module Reliability Scorecard, Top Performer lists 2020–2026.
RETC — PV Module Index report.
NLR (formerly NREL) — System Advisor Model CEC module and inverter libraries (version 2026.7.3).
NLR (formerly NREL) — PVWatts v8, NSRDB PSM v3 typical-year weather for Los Angeles, Palmdale, Chula Vista, Huntington Beach, Riverside, Santa Clarita.
Inverter datasheets — APsystems (Alt Power System), Enphase, Solis (Ginlong), Tesla (manufacturer documents).
Building permits — Southern California permit portals. Equipment matched from permit descriptions.
Cali-Graf calculations — formulas and inputs are shown next to each calculated value (efficiency from area, temperature-corrected voltages, string sizing, energy estimates).