Solar panels Townsville

Winaico solar panels

Winaico is a premium panel manufacturer designed in Germany and made in Taiwan, with a local Australian office and support team operating since 2012. Their panels are independently ranked among Australia’s top ten solar panels and carry the only complimentary insurance policy offered by any panel brand in the Australian market. We supply Winaico for customers who want the best available warranty protection and a panel built specifically for the demands of the Australian climate.

Up to 23.5%

Module efficiency

30 years

Product and performance warranty

2-year

Complimentary all-risk insurance

Top 10

Solar Choice Australia 2025

Why Winaico

A premium panel with the strongest warranty package in the Australian market

Winaico panels are not mass produced. Their sole manufacturing facility in Taiwan produces around 180MW of panels annually, a deliberately small scale that allows for quality control that larger manufacturers cannot match. Each panel is subjected to stress simulations that replicate more than 30 years of field exposure before it leaves the factory. The result is a panel that Winaico is confident enough to back with a 30-year product and performance warranty and a complimentary two-year all-risk insurance policy — a combination no other panel brand in Australia offers.

Back-contact N-type cell technology

The latest WST-BDX54-B2 series uses N-type back-contact cells with no front busbars. Like AIKO’s ABC technology, the entire front surface is free to capture light. This delivers up to 23.5% module efficiency and a clean all-black appearance with no grid lines visible on the panel face.

Bifacial glass-glass construction

Winaico panels use glass on both the front and rear rather than a plastic backsheet. Glass-glass construction is significantly more resistant to moisture ingress, UV degradation and physical damage over the long term. It is one of the reasons Winaico can offer a 30-year product warranty with confidence.

Patented drainage channels

The aluminium frame includes patented drainage holes that reduce dirt and water build-up around the panel edges. In Townsville’s wet season where heavy rainfall is routine, this is a practical feature that keeps the panels cleaner and performing better between services.

Industry-leading degradation rate

Winaico panels are warranted to retain at least 87.4% of their original output at 30 years. The industry standard is 80 to 85% at 25 years. The combination of a higher retention floor and a longer timeframe represents a genuinely better long-term output guarantee than most alternatives.

Complimentary 2-year all-risk insurance

Winaico is the only solar panel brand in Australia to include a complimentary two-year all-risk insurance policy with every installation. This covers damage from events outside the standard product warranty, including storm and cyclone damage. In Townsville, that is not a minor benefit.

Built for North Queensland

Tested for the conditions Townsville actually throws at solar panels

Cyclone rated

Winaico panels have a cyclone-rated frame and have undergone cyclone suitability testing. For Townsville homeowners this is a meaningful distinction. A panel that has been specifically tested for cyclonic wind loading gives you confidence the system will survive North Queensland’s severe weather seasons intact.

Level 6 salt mist certified

Level 6 salt mist certification is the highest available rating for resistance to salt air corrosion. Townsville’s coastal location means panels are exposed to salt-laden air year-round. Winaico’s certification at this level means the panel construction is specifically validated for this environment.

Heat tolerant

The WST-BDX54-B2 series carries a temperature coefficient of -0.26%/°C, matching the best-performing panels in the market. In Townsville’s heat, this means Winaico panels maintain more of their rated output during the hottest parts of the day.

Hail and fire tested

Winaico panels are tested for hail resistance and fire resistance, two considerations that are particularly relevant for North Queensland homes where severe storm events can produce large hail and where fire risk is a year-round concern.

Ammonia certified

Ammonia certification makes Winaico panels suitable for rural and agricultural properties where ammonia from livestock or fertiliser can degrade standard panel components over time. Relevant for properties around Townsville’s rural fringe and for off-grid agricultural installations.

Australian office since 2012

Winaico has maintained a Sydney-based Australian office since 2012. Warranty claims are handled locally, not routed through an overseas process. They also handle installation claims directly on behalf of homeowners who purchase through authorised installers like True North Solar.

Who Winaico suits

The panel for homeowners who want the best available protection on their investment

Winaico panels carry a higher upfront cost than most alternatives. That premium reflects genuinely different quality — better materials, more rigorous testing and a warranty package that no other panel brand in Australia matches. For homeowners who want to buy once and not think about their panels again for 30 years, Winaico is the right choice.

Best for: homeowners who want the strongest warranty in the market

A 30-year product and performance warranty plus a complimentary two-year all-risk insurance policy is the strongest protection package available on any panel in Australia. For homeowners who view their solar system as a long-term asset and want it fully protected, nothing else comes close.

Best for: coastal and cyclone-prone properties

Level 6 salt mist certification and cyclone-rated frames make Winaico a particularly strong choice for Townsville homes. The two-year all-risk insurance also covers storm and cyclone damage, which adds a layer of protection that a standard product warranty does not provide.

Best for: rural and agricultural properties

Ammonia certification makes Winaico one of the few panel brands suitable for properties with livestock or intensive agricultural activity. Combined with the cyclone and salt mist ratings, it is a strong choice for rural properties across North Queensland’s hinterland.

Warranty and protection

The only panel in Australia with complimentary all-risk insurance

Most panel warranties cover what goes wrong with the panel itself. Winaico goes further. Their complimentary two-year all-risk insurance policy covers damage from external events including storm and cyclone, giving Townsville homeowners a level of protection that no other panel brand provides. The insurance is extendable to five years for homeowners who want longer coverage. Warranty claims are handled locally through Winaico’s Sydney office, with True North Solar available to assist throughout the process.

30-year product warranty

Covers physical manufacturing defects for 30 years. This is five years longer than most premium panel brands offer and reflects Winaico’s confidence in the durability of their glass-glass construction.

30-year performance warranty, min 87.4% output

Guarantees at least 87.4% of original output at 30 years. The industry standard is 80 to 85% at 25 years. A higher floor and a longer timeframe means more protected generation across the full life of the system.

Complimentary 2-year all-risk insurance

Included with every Winaico installation. Covers damage from external events including storm and cyclone. Extendable to five years. No other panel brand in Australia includes this.

Federal STC rebate

Small-scale Technology Certificates

Winaico panels are eligible for Australia’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The federal government provides an upfront rebate on eligible solar installations in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates, which we apply directly to your quote so you can see your actual cost from the start.

Townsville’s high solar resource means homes here typically generate more STCs than in most other Australian cities, which increases the rebate value. The exact amount depends on system size and the current STC price, which adjusts periodically. We calculate and apply the correct figure to every quote.

Specifications

Technical specifications

Technology

N-type back-contact (WBC)

Series

WST-BDX54-B2

Output

475W to 485W

Module efficiency

Up to 23.5%

Temperature coefficient

-0.26%/°C

Construction

Bifacial glass-glass

Salt mist rating

Level 6

Product warranty

30 years

Performance warranty

30 years, min 87.4% output

Insurance

2-year all-risk included, extendable to 5

Australian office

Yes, Sydney, since 2012