Illustration · 156 half-cut cells

Solar panelQcells

Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 455

Name: Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 455
Brand: Qcells

156 half-cut cells, bifacial. Power classes 440–475 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · Jun 11, 2021UL 61730Bifacial

Power class

Power (STC)455 WCEC nameplate
Efficiency≈21.2%calculated from area
%/°C Pmax−0.357CEC listing test
PTC / STC92.9%PTC 422 W (CEC)

Power classes

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · 8 models

Model	Pmax	Voc, V	Isc, A	Vmp, V	Imp, A	Efficiency	PTC	CEC listed
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 440	440 W	52.65	10.46	44.18	9.96	≈20.5%	408 W	Jun 11, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 445	445 W	53.15	10.54	44.82	10.04	≈20.7%	413 W	Jun 11, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 450	450 W	53.15	10.54	44.82	10.04	≈20.9%	418 W	Jun 11, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 455	455 W	53.41	10.58	45.13	10.08	≈21.2%	422 W	Jun 11, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 460	460 W	53.66	10.63	45.44	10.12	≈21.4%	427 W	Jun 11, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 465	465 W	53.91	10.67	45.75	10.16	≈21.6%	432 W	Jun 11, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 470	470 W	54.17	10.71	46.06	10.20	≈21.9%	437 W	Jun 11, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 475	475 W	54.42	10.75	46.36	10.24	≈22.1%	442 W	Jun 11, 2021

≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 2.15 m².

CEC note: Formerly listed under Hanwha Q CELLS

Heat & cold behaviour

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

	CEC listing test
Pmax coefficient γ	−0.357 %/°C
Voc coefficient β	−0.269 %/°C
Isc coefficient α	+0.027 %/°C
Operating cell temperature	NOCT 46.1 °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
440 W	323 W	40.61 V × 7.95 A	84.6 W	96%
445 W	330.3 W	41.2 V × 8.02 A	86.5 W	97%
450 W	330.3 W	41.2 V × 8.02 A	86.5 W	96%
455 W	333.9 W	41.48 V × 8.05 A	87.5 W	96%
460 W	337.5 W	41.76 V × 8.08 A	88.4 W	96%
465 W	341.2 W	42.05 V × 8.11 A	89.4 W	96%
470 W	344.9 W	42.33 V × 8.15 A	90.3 W	96%
475 W	348.5 W	42.61 V × 8.18 A	91.3 W	96%

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

PVEL Scorecards

Qcells named Top Performer, 2016–2026

2023, 2026

RETC Overall Highest Achiever

Qcells, manufacturer level

This exact series is not listed in published PVEL Top Performer tables. Results below are for the manufacturer.

RETC PV Module Index — Qcells

Year	Recognition
2023	Overall Highest Achiever; High Achievement in Performance (Module efficiency, Pan file performance); High Achievement in Reliability (Damp heat test, Pid resistance, Thermal cycle test)
2024	High Achievement in Performance
2025	Performance High Achiever
2026	Overall Highest Achiever; High achievement in performance; High achievement in reliability; Performance discipline high achiever (Conversion efficiency, Iam, Letid, Lid, PTC-to-STC, Temperature coefficient); Quality discipline high achiever (BOM verification); Reliability discipline high achiever (Sdml, Tc, Uvid, Budt, Damp heat, Hdt, Pid)

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

56.7 V

Voc when cold

per panel

36.6 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	2–10
Solis (Ginlong) S6-EH1P10K-H-US	600 V	80–520 V	datasheet	3–10
Solis (Ginlong) Solis-1P7.6K-4G-US	600 V	100–500 V	datasheet	3–10
Qcells Q.VOLT H7.6SX	498 V	234–498 V	CEC test window	7–8

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	56.7 / 36.6 V	⚠ Works; below MPPT at peak heat	1.2
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L	265–570 W	60 V	28–45 V	56.7 / 36.6 V	✓ Within range	0.58
Enphase IQ8M-72-2-US	260–460 W	60 V	30–45 V	56.7 / 36.6 V	✓ Within range	1.4
Enphase IQ8A-72-2-US	295–500 W	60 V	32–45 V	56.7 / 36.6 V	✓ Within range	1.3

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	763	11,439	6.08
Palmdale	1,835	835	12,524	6.69
Chula Vista	1,696	772	11,575	6.11
Huntington Beach	1,643	748	11,213	5.89
Riverside	1,696	772	11,575	6.21
Santa Clarita	1,724	784	11,766	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 455 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)
Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 455	455 W	≈21.2%	−0.357	53.41	10.58	brand 11×	—
Hyundai Energy Solutions HiN-T450NF(BK)	450 W	≈23.2%	−0.298	39.2	14.53	brand 5× (2017–2025)	37
REC Group REC455AA Pure-RX	455 W	≈22.5%	−0.248	65.6	8.84	brand 9× (2016–2025)	33
Aptos Solar DNA-120-MF10-455W	455 W	≈21%	−0.363	41.5	13.93	—	22

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 Qcells

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

ManufacturerQcells
Listed in CEC asHanwha Qcells (Qidong) Co. Ltd., Qcells North America
Parent companyHanwha
Websiteq-cells.com
PVEL Top Performer (manufacturer)11 Scorecards (2016–2026)
RETC PV Module Index2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Current panel series in CEC list81

Other series by SoCal permits

Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ · 221Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10.C+ · 124Q.TRON BLK M-G2+ · 40Q.TRON BLK M-G2.H+ · 33Q.TRON BLK M-G2.C+ · 24Q.TRON M-G2+ · 20

Questions & answers

How efficient is the Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G9.3/BFG 455?

Calculated from the panel area (2.15 m²): about 21.2% for the 455 W class. 455 W over 2.15 m² equals about 212 W per square meter.

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

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 763 kWh per year per 455 W panel in Los Angeles and about 835 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.357 %/°C, at a 77 °C cell temperature (hottest modeled hour in Palmdale) output is about 18.5% 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 2–10 panels per string (Voc at 2 °C = 56.7 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 36.6 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 56.7 V vs max input 60 V; Vmp when hot 36.6 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?

This exact series is not in published PVEL Top Performer tables; Qcells was named a Top Performer in 11 Scorecards (2016–2026). RETC named Qcells Overall Highest Achiever in 2023, 2026.

Sources

California Energy Commission — Solar Equipment Lists, PV Module List, Inverter List (snapshot Oct 7, 2026).
Hyundai Energy Solutions — datasheet [US] NF(BK)(HiN) Series (N TOPCon Bifacial) 435~445W.
Aptos Solar — datasheet Legacy Products.
Kiwa PVEL — PV Module Reliability Scorecard, Top Performer lists 2016–2026.
RETC — PV Module Index reports 2023–2026.
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).