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Thin-film

Series 7 TR1

525–550 W · CdTe thin-film · Dual-glass

First SolarReleased 2019

62/ 100

Good

Global

Glass-GlassMade in USA

The verdict. In Thin-film, First Solar Series 7 TR1 leads on performance and degradation.

Ask Watt →

The assessment

How it scores, by category

Architecture & Design76
Efficiency & Yield63
Durability (verified)56
Performance & Degradation78
Guarantee & Backbone38
Sustainability46

Our reading

Series 7 TR1 scores 62, labelled Good. It is the homepage thin-film champion and the only active scored thin-film on the live navigation. Strongest dimension is performance and degradation (78). Guarantee and backbone is 38. Published specifications: 19.7 per cent module efficiency, CdTe thin-film, dual-glass, 525-550 W, scored model FS-7550A-TR1. Official JUL 2024 US datasheet MPD-00903-07-US prints a 12-year Limited Product Warranty and a separate 30-year linear performance warranty.

Dietreich Farquharson · review.solar

The data

Power
550W
Efficiency
19.7%
Cell
CdTe thin-film
Temp coeff
-0.32%/°C
Technology architecture

CdTe thin-film module

Architecture guide

Produces DC electricity at the roof. It contains no system-level power conversion or storage.

Product role
None in the module.
Published range
525–550 W
Electrical layer
DC module output
Construction
Dual-glass
Architecture describes the product boundary. It is not a system design or an equipment-pairing decision.

Performance guarantee: 30-year linear output

550 Wrated491W at yr 30
859095100Guaranteed floor 89.3%Product 12yr89.3%0yr5yr10yr15yr20yr25yr30yr
Projected outputGuaranteed floor: 89.3% at yr 30Product warranty ends yr 12

Wattage figure based on the sourced rated power (550 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

476W441W

Year 1 to year 25, at 30°C and 1000 W/m². Rated 550 W at STC.

How this is modelled

Compounds this panel’s own published first-year (2%) and annual (0.3%/yr) degradation figures against its 550 W rated (STC) output, then derates for the ambient and irradiance selected. Output is scaled roughly linearly with irradiance (1000 W/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 (45°C) and temperature coefficient (-0.32%/°C), giving an estimated cell temperature of 61°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
Watts476 W471 W463 W456 W449 W441 W
% of rated86.6%85.6%84.2%82.9%81.6%80.3%
Before you buy
Local positionUse a market view to check local availability, approvals and warranty scope.
Ask the installerWill the quote name the exact Series 7 TR1 model and wattage, and who covers labour if the module warranty is used?

Verification & sources

Market context

Global evidencechange in the site menu

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: FS-7550A-TR1 · checked 2026-08-23. Evidence.

Sources & references · checked 2026-09-01

Strong evidence coverage

17 of 17 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.

Record revision. Series 7 TR1 high-bin sheet and public PVEL model/BOM scope rechecked 2026-08-23; exact-model Top Performer claim removed. First-market DE overlay review 2026-09-01: official German catalogues recorded; existing Australian and United States overlays and scores unchanged.

Change ledger

Product record history

5 changes to this record · 152 products changed in this update
  1. Evidence added

    DE Status

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    not_reviewed
    Cell technology tierDE market evidence
  2. Evidence added

    DE Certifications

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    Cell technology tierDE market evidence
  3. Record updated

    Source revision

    Before
    Series 7 TR1 high-bin sheet and public PVEL model/BOM scope rechecked 2026-08-23; exact-model Top Performer claim removed.
    After
    Series 7 TR1 high-bin sheet and public PVEL model/BOM scope rechecked 2026-08-23; exact-model Top Performer claim removed. First-market DE overlay review 2026-09-01: official German catalogues recorded; existing Australian and United States overlays and scores unchanged.
    Primary datasheet
  4. Evidence added

    DE Support Note

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    firstsolar.com/de/Products/Series-7 is a JavaScript shell and does not retrieve FS-7550A-TR1. A Series-7 listing without the TR1 suffix is not this scored identity. Held is not unavailable.
    Cell technology tierDE market evidence
  5. Evidence added

    DE Evidence sources

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/de/Products/Series-7; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierDE market evidence
2 changes to this record · 118 products changed in this update
  1. Record updated

    Global score

    Before
    64.2
    After
    62.4
    Primary datasheet
  2. Record updated

    Efficiency & Yield pillar score

    Before
    72.1
    After
    62.7
    Primary datasheet
36 changes to this record · 7 products changed in this update
  1. Record updated

    Encapsulation & frame construction: Evidence sources

    Before
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  2. Record updated

    US Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-Datasheet.ashx; https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/User-Guides/Series-7-TR1-User-Guide.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/User-Guides/Series-7-TR1-User-Guide.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierUS market evidence+2 in JSON record
  3. Record updated

    PID (IEC TS 62804): Evidence sources

    Before
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  4. Evidence added

    First-year degradation (%): Evidence sources

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  5. Record updated

    Ammonia resistance (IEC 62716): Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  6. Record updated

    Positive loading (MQT16, Pa): Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  7. Record updated

    Negative loading (MQT16, Pa): Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  8. Evidence added

    NOCT (C): Evidence status

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    sourced
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  9. Record updated

    Module efficiency (%): Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  10. Evidence added

    Salt mist (IEC 61701): Evidence status

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    sourced
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  11. Record updated

    Performance & Degradation pillar score

    Before
    55
    After
    78.3
    Primary datasheet
  12. Record updated

    Temp coefficient Pmax (%/C): Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  13. Evidence added

    First-year degradation (%): Evidence status

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    sourced
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  14. Record updated

    Encapsulation & frame construction: Evidence status

    Before
    derived
    After
    sourced
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  15. Evidence added

    Salt mist (IEC 61701)

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    Certified (IEC 61701), severity not published
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  16. Evidence added

    Guaranteed end-of-warranty output (%): Evidence sources

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    Primary datasheet
  17. Evidence added

    Guaranteed end-of-warranty output (%): Evidence status

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    sourced
    Primary datasheet
  18. Evidence added

    Source revision

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    Series 7 TR1 high-bin sheet and public PVEL model/BOM scope rechecked 2026-08-23; exact-model Top Performer claim removed.
    Primary datasheet
  19. Record updated

    Cell technology tier: Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  20. Record updated

    Durability (verified) pillar score

    Before
    64.7
    After
    55.6
    Primary datasheet
  21. Evidence added

    First-year degradation (%)

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    2.0
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  22. Record updated

    Annual degradation (%/yr): Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  23. Evidence added

    Performance guarantee period (yrs): Evidence sources

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    Primary datasheet
  24. Record updated

    Ranges

    Current text
    checked: 2026-08-23; market: US; max: 550; min: 525; range label: 525–550 W; source revision: Series 7 TR1 high-bin July 2024 sheet rechecked 2026-08-23; source url: https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; unit: W

    The previous text is not reproduced here: both versions run to a full research paragraph. Both are in the JSON record linked below.

    Primary datasheet
  25. Record updated

    Power tolerance (%): Evidence sources

    Before
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  26. Evidence added

    NOCT (C): Evidence sources

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  27. Evidence added

    Salt mist (IEC 61701): Evidence sources

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/en/Products/Series-7
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
  28. Record updated

    Global score

    Before
    61.8
    After
    64.2
    Primary datasheet
  29. Record updated

    Efficiency & Yield pillar score

    Before
    71.5
    After
    72.1
    Primary datasheet
  30. Record updated

    Source

    Current text
    checked: 2026-08-23; source revision: Series 7 TR1 high-bin July 2024 sheet rechecked 2026-08-23; source url: https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf

    The previous text is not reproduced here: both versions run to a full research paragraph. Both are in the JSON record linked below.

    Primary datasheet
  31. Evidence added

    Performance guarantee period (yrs): Evidence status

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    sourced
    Primary datasheet
  32. Record updated

    Verified reliability

    Before
    Top Performer (multi-year)
    After
    Brand or series independently tested; exact model not covered
    Independent energy yieldIndependent energy yield+1 in JSON record
  33. Evidence added

    Guaranteed end-of-warranty output (%)

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    89.3
    Primary datasheet
  34. Evidence added

    Performance guarantee period (yrs)

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    30
    Primary datasheet
  35. Record updated

    Verified reliability: Evidence sources

    Before
    After
    https://scorecard.pvel.com/methodology/; https://scorecard.pvel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-PVEL-PV-Module-Reliability-Scorecard-Summary.pdf; https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-7/Series-7-TR1-High-Bin-Datasheet.pdf
    Independent energy yieldIndependent energy yield+1 in JSON record
  36. Evidence added

    NOCT (C)

    Before
    Not previously recorded
    After
    45
    Cell technology tierPrimary datasheet
2 changes to this record · 65 products changed in this update
  1. Record updated

    Global score

    Before
    63.2
    After
    61.8
    Primary datasheet
  2. Record updated

    Durability (verified) pillar score

    Before
    71
    After
    64.7
    Primary datasheet
3 changes to this record · 106 products changed in this update
  1. Record updated

    Global score

    Before
    62.7
    After
    63.2
    Primary datasheet
  2. Record updated

    Durability (verified) pillar score

    Before
    71.1
    After
    71
    Primary datasheet
  3. Record updated

    Architecture & Design pillar score

    Before
    72.7
    After
    76
    Primary datasheet

This is review.solar's publication history. It does not claim the product changed on the recorded date, and it excludes compatibility, system pairing, installation suitability and relative leaderboard prose. Open the complete JSON record.

Evidence timeline

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

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

Evidence record (JSON)

Scored by Solar Analytica Research

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