Is TOPCon better than mono PERC for Gujarat?

For most Gujarat rooftops, yes, by a small margin. TOPCon panels typically have a better temperature coefficient, around -0.30% per °C against about -0.35% for PERC, so they lose less output on hot afternoons. They also tend to degrade a little slower in the first years. The difference over a year is usually a few percent, not a large jump, so a well-installed PERC system still performs well.

Are bifacial solar panels worth it on a home rooftop?

Only if the rear side can see reflected light. On a raised structure over a white or light-coloured terrace, a bifacial panel can add a few percent to yearly output. Mounted flush on a dark roof or over a cluttered terrace, the rear side gains very little. Bifacial panels are usually glass-glass and heavier, so the structure must be designed for them.

Which solar panels qualify for PM Surya Ghar subsidy?

Panels must be on the government's ALMM list and made with domestic cells, known as DCR panels. The technology does not matter for eligibility. A DCR TOPCon panel and a DCR mono PERC panel both qualify if the model is listed. Imported or non-listed panels do not qualify, however good they are. Ask your installer for the exact model and check it before signing.

What wattage solar panel is best for a home in Gujarat?

Most rooftop panels sold in Gujarat in 2026 are between 540 W and 600 W. Higher wattage panels are the same rough size, so they fit more capacity on a small terrace. Our calculator sizes systems using 550 W panels. A 3.3 kWp home system is six 550 W panels, which covers a bill of about ₹3,370 a month at ₹8 per unit.

Do solar panels produce less in summer heat?

Yes, per unit of sunlight. Panels are rated at 25°C cell temperature, and on a Gujarat roof in May cells can run 60°C or hotter. At that temperature a PERC panel typically loses around 12 to 14 percent of its rated power. Summer still gives the highest monthly generation because the sun is strong and skies are clear, but heat trims the peak.

TOPCon vs Mono PERC Solar Panels, Best Choice in Gujarat 2026

For most rooftops in Gujarat in 2026, an n-type TOPCon panel of 540 W to 600 W is the sensible default. It typically loses less power in heat than mono PERC, around -0.30% per °C against about -0.35%, and prices between the two have come close. Mono PERC still works well, bifacial only pays on a raised structure over a light roof, and for subsidy the panel must be ALMM-listed with domestic cells whatever the technology.

The four panel types in plain terms

All four are monocrystalline silicon. They differ in how the cell is built, which changes efficiency, heat behaviour and how the panel ages.

Mono PERC

PERC stands for Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell. A layer on the back of the cell reflects light that passed through back into the silicon, so it gets a second chance to make power. PERC was the standard rooftop panel in India for years. A large share of the rooftops installed in Gujarat in recent years use it. It is proven, widely available and well understood by every installer.

TOPCon

TOPCon stands for Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact. It is usually built on n-type silicon, while most PERC is p-type. The practical results are slightly higher efficiency, a better temperature coefficient, and very little of the light-induced degradation that p-type cells show in their first months. TOPCon has become the mainstream choice for new panels, and many manufacturers have moved their lines over to it.

Bifacial

Bifacial is not a cell type on its own. It describes a panel that collects light on both faces, usually with glass on front and back. Both PERC and TOPCon cells can be made bifacial. The rear side only helps if light reaches it, which depends on the roof surface and the height of the structure.

HJT

HJT, or heterojunction, layers thin amorphous silicon on an n-type wafer. It typically has the best temperature coefficient of the four and good efficiency. It is less common on Indian rooftops and usually costs more, so we mention it for completeness. Most homes will be choosing between PERC and TOPCon.

Side by side

The figures below are typical ranges. Every model differs, so check the datasheet for the exact panel in your quote.

	Mono PERC	TOPCon	Bifacial (PERC or TOPCon)	HJT
Cell base	Usually p-type	Usually n-type	Either	n-type
Typical module efficiency	Around 21%	Around 22 to 23%	Same as its cell type	Around 22 to 23% or higher
Typical temperature coefficient	About -0.35%/°C	About -0.30%/°C	Same as its cell type	About -0.25%/°C
Early light-induced loss	Present	Very low	Same as its cell type	Very low
Common rooftop wattage	540 to 555 W	560 to 600 W	540 to 600 W	Less common
Weight	Standard	Standard	Heavier if glass-glass	Standard or glass-glass
Availability in Gujarat	Wide, declining	Wide, growing	Wide	Limited

Why the temperature coefficient matters in Bharuch

Panels are rated at a cell temperature of 25°C. A panel on a Bharuch terrace in May, with air at 40°C and strong sun, often runs at 60 to 70°C. For every degree above 25°C, output drops by the temperature coefficient.

Take a 550 W panel at a cell temperature of 65°C, which is 40 degrees above the rating point. Using typical coefficients, the loss at that moment works out like this.

Technology	Typical coefficient	Loss at 65°C	550 W panel produces about
Mono PERC	-0.35%/°C	14%	473 W
TOPCon	-0.30%/°C	12%	484 W
HJT	-0.25%/°C	10%	495 W

That gap only applies during the hottest hours. Mornings, winter and cloudy monsoon days run cooler, so over a full year the advantage of TOPCon over PERC is smaller, typically a few percent in a hot climate like ours. As a rough illustration, 2 percent more output on a 3.3 kWp system making 421 units a month is about 8 extra units, or roughly ₹67 a month at ₹8 per unit. Real, but modest.

Installation affects heat as much as panel choice. A raised structure with an air gap under the panels runs cooler than panels laid close to a hot slab. Dust also traps heat, which is one more reason to keep panels clean. Our cleaning and maintenance guide for Bharuch covers the local dust, soot and monsoon routine.

Bifacial solar panels in Gujarat, raised structures and light roofs

The rear side of a bifacial panel lives on reflected light. How much it gets depends on what is underneath and how much space there is between the panel and the roof.

On a raised structure over a white-painted or light-coloured terrace, the rear side can add a few percent to yearly output. Over a dark, dusty or cluttered terrace, or with the panel close to the slab, the gain is small. Water tanks, parapet walls and structure rails also shade the rear side.

Many homes in Bharuch want an elevated structure anyway, to keep the terrace usable and clear the water tank. If you are already going raised and your terrace is light-coloured, a bifacial panel is worth considering. If the structure is low or the roof is dark, a standard single-sided panel is usually the better value. Bifacial panels are often glass-glass and heavier, so the structure and anchoring should be designed for the extra weight and for monsoon wind.

DCR and ALMM decide the subsidy, not the technology

For the PM Surya Ghar subsidy of up to ₹78,000, panels must be on the government’s ALMM list and made with domestic cells. These are called DCR panels. The rule applies to PERC, TOPCon and bifacial alike. A DCR TOPCon panel and a DCR PERC panel both qualify if the model is listed. An imported panel does not, whatever its specifications.

DCR panels usually cost more per watt than non-DCR panels of the same technology. For homes the subsidy more than covers that difference. Shops and factories get no central subsidy, so they can choose non-DCR panels if the price suits them. Our PM Surya Ghar subsidy guide for Bharuch walks through the filing, and for the regional picture see our South Gujarat rooftop solar guide.

Panel wattage and what it means on your roof

Most rooftop panels sold in Gujarat today are between 540 W and 600 W. They share a similar size, roughly 2.3 m by 1.1 m, so a higher wattage panel fits more capacity on the same terrace. Our calculator sizes systems with 550 W panels and prices them at about ₹50,000 per kWp before subsidy, as a quote-level average.

Here is what six panels give you at different wattages, using the calculator model of 4.2 units per kWp per day in Bharuch.

Panel wattage	Six panels	Units per month	Cost at ₹50,000/kWp	Subsidy	You pay
540 W	3.24 kWp	414	₹1,62,000	₹78,000	₹84,000
550 W	3.3 kWp	421	₹1,65,000	₹78,000	₹87,000
580 W	3.48 kWp	445	₹1,74,000	₹78,000	₹96,000
600 W	3.6 kWp	460	₹1,80,000	₹78,000	₹1,02,000

The model uses one average rate per kWp. Real quotes vary a little with the panel technology, brand and structure height. On a small terrace where six panels is the limit, higher wattage panels are the easiest way to get more units. Our guide to what size solar system your home needs matches system size to your bill, and our solar panel price guide breaks down the cost.

The brands we stock

We stock panels from UTL, Waaree and Adani. Each brand’s range changes as lines move between technologies, so we name the exact model, its technology, wattage, temperature coefficient and DCR status in the written quote, with the datasheet attached. Compare that datasheet against any other quote you hold, line by line. Our checklist for choosing a solar installer in Bharuch lists what else should be on the quote.

Which solar panel is best in Gujarat in 2026

For a home on the PM Surya Ghar scheme, choose a DCR TOPCon panel in the 550 W to 600 W range if it is available at a similar price to PERC. Choose bifacial only with a raised structure over a light roof. Do not pay much extra for technology alone, because installation quality, structure, cabling and cleaning affect your yearly units more than the gap between PERC and TOPCon.

Talk to us

Send us your DGVCL bill and a photo of your terrace on WhatsApp at 98241 95027, and we will quote with the panel model, technology and datasheet named. You can check sizes and savings first on the calculator, or visit the shop at Mehfuz Complex, opp. Patel Welfare Hospital, Bharuch, Monday to Saturday, 09:30 to 20:00.