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Global Tier-1

TOPHiKu6 48TM

440–470 W · 48-cell · N-type TOPCon · All-black · Mono-glass

Canadian SolarReleased 2025

67/ 100

Very good

Global

The verdict. In our Global Tier-1 class, Canadian Solar TOPHiKu6 48TM leads on durability (verified).

27thof 29 in Global Tier-1Bottom quarterclass average 73.5
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The assessment

How it scores, by category

Architecture & Design64
Efficiency & Yield72
Durability (verified)77
Performance & Degradation73
Guarantee & Backbone50
Sustainability46

Market position

27thof 29 in Global Tier-1Bottom quarter
606779

Our reading

TOPHiKu6 48TM scores 67, placing 27 of 29 in the Global Tier-1 class against a class average of 73.5. Its strongest scoring dimension is durability (verified) (77), running 5.4 points above the class average on this dimension. Sustainability scores 46, the lowest pillar for this product. The class average on sustainability is 86. Underlying specifications include a module efficiency of 23.5%, TOPCon cell architecture, 25-year product warranty backed by a 30-year performance term.

The data

Power
470W
Efficiency
23.5%
Cell
TOPCon
Temp coeff
-0.29%/°C

Performance guarantee: 30-year linear output

470 Wrated411W at yr 30
80859095100Guaranteed floor 87.4%Product 25yr87.4%0yr5yr10yr15yr20yr25yr30yr
Projected outputGuaranteed floor: 87.4% at yr 30Product warranty ends yr 25

Wattage figure based on the sourced rated power (470 W) applied to the guaranteed floor; modular/format differences aside, this is the same rated-power spec shown above.

Modelled effective output, year by year

421W381W

Year 1 to year 25, at 30°C and 1000 W/m². Rated 470 W at STC.

How this is modelled

Compounds this panel’s own published first-year (1%) and annual (0.4%/yr) degradation figures against its 470 W rated (STC) output, then derates for the ambient and irradiance selected. Output is scaled roughly linearly with irradiance (1000W/m² against the 1000 W/m² STC reference). This is the dominant real-world effect at low light, whether from cloud, shading or soiling. Output is then further derated for heat, from this panel’s own NOCT (42°C) and temperature coefficient (-0.29%/°C), giving an estimated cell temperature of 58°C at that ambient and irradiance. A datasheet-derived estimate, not a field measurement or a warranty guarantee: it does not account for this panel’s own low-light efficiency response (a separate, less-consistently-published spec), or for wind and system design. See NOCT and temperature coefficient in the glossary.

Control panel

30°C
1000 W/m²
Year1510152025
Watts421 W415 W406 W398 W389 W381 W
% of rated89.7%88.2%86.4%84.6%82.8%81.0%
Before you buy

Two things to check

Local positionUse a market view to check local availability, approvals and warranty scope.

Ask the installer: Will the quote name the exact TOPHiKu6 48TM model and wattage, and who covers labour if the module warranty is used?

Verification & sources

Market context

Global benchmark. This scorecard is benchmarked globally. A global score does not imply local availability, certification, warranty coverage, or installer compatibility.

Benchmark anchor. The score is anchored to the highest published rating in this exact published US series. Scored model: CS6.2-48TM-470H · checked 2026-07-16. Evidence.

Sources & references · checked 2026-07-16

Strong evidence coverage

15 of 19 scored criteria link directly to a published source.

Values marked estimated, derived, or not found remain visible on the audit sheet and do not carry the same evidential weight as a linked source. Coverage measures direct links, not an independent guarantee that a claim is correct.

Evidence timeline

Recorded verification events for this scorecard. These are evidence checks, not historical score snapshots.

  1. Core scorecard evidence checked
  2. Series benchmark source checked
  3. AU market evidence checked
  4. US market evidence checked

Scored by Solar Analytica Research

Further reading from Signals

Stay across the benchmark.

New scorecards, score changes and market signals, published as they happen.