Why are Fusion 2 panels so highly rated? What makes them better than the mass produced garbage you've already been quoted for?
Launched in 2010, Renewable Engineering Australia (REA) are an Australian company specialising in the design and production of domestic solar panels.
Their Fusion 2 panels attracted attention for their feature-led design and premium positioning.
However, we no longer offer REA solar panels at Heatable.
Instead, the panel we now recommend and install is the LONGi Hi-MO X10 485W - a more current option from one of the world’s best-known solar manufacturers, with HPBC 2.0 cell technology, strong published efficiency and solid long-term performance credentials.
LONGi’s official Hi-MO X10 materials position the range around power generation performance, reliability and customer value, while the 475–490W datasheet lists the 485W model at 23.8% efficiency, 21.6kg, and a -0.260%/°C temperature coefficient of Pmax.
That said, if you’re researching the REA Fusion 2 specifically, this review will help explain how it compares with other available solar panels - and why many homeowners may now be better off considering newer alternatives.
Let’s find out…
Editor’s note: This article reviews the REA Fusion 2 for research purposes, but Heatable no longer offers REA panels. If you’re comparing current options, we’d recommend looking at the LONGi Hi-MO X10 485W, which is the panel we now offer. LONGi’s official materials describe the Hi-MO X10 range as using HPBC 2.0 technology and the 485W model’s datasheet lists a 15-year product warranty and 30-year linear power warranty.
PS We offer MCS-certified solar panel installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and arrange your free design.
How do we review solar panels?
We analyse solar panels based on their most important metrics, including:
Overall likely performance of the panels in the UK.
Whether the warranty is insurance-backed vs. a standard manufacturer warranty.
Price of the solar panels.
The reputation & reviews of the solar panel brands.
The warranty period offered with the solar panels.
The performance warranty e.g. will remain 85% efficient for 25 years or your money back.
The efficiency of the solar panels.
Ease of installation.
Aftercare and customer support.
Power output.
Heat resistance.
Eco-friendliness.
Weight of the solar panels.
Other key features - bifacial design, double glazed etc.
REA Solar Panels Review
Main features of the REA Fusion 2 Solar Panels:
Power output: 400-480 watts
Efficiency: 22-24%
Warranty period: 25 years
Performance warranty: 85% after 25 years
Heat resistance: 0.27% per ° C
Cost per panel: £400 to £420
Weight: 22.8kg
REA Fusion 2 Energy Solar Panels Review
If you are researching solar panels that were designed to stand out from the crowd, the REA Fusion 2 is certainly an interesting product.
That said, it is no longer a panel we offer, and for most homeowners comparing current options, we’d suggest looking closely at newer alternatives such as the LONGi Hi-MO X10 485W instead.
Aesthetic Black Design
The REA Fusion Solar Panels are made from high-efficiency N-type M10 Topcon solar cells and offer a seamless, sleek design that is available in two popular colours - black or silver.
Visually, that makes them appealing. But in today’s market, aesthetics alone won’t usually be the deciding factor. Buyers are more likely to focus on overall manufacturer credibility, real-world value, current support and long-term confidence.
That is one reason why many homeowners may find a panel like the LONGi Hi-MO X10 485W more compelling today.
LONGi is a globally established manufacturer, and its published Hi-MO X10 485W specifications include 23.8% efficiency, 485W output, and an 88.85% guaranteed power output at year 30.
Bi-Facial (Double-Sided Design)
Each panel is bifacial (double-sided) providing even more power than single-sided panels, which are double-glazed for maximum longevity. They are also micro-inverter-optimised to work together with micro-inverters from Enphase.
This unique combination of technologies made the REA Fusion 2 stand out on paper, especially for buyers attracted by more unusual system architecture.
Still, the solar market moves quickly. A distinctive spec sheet does not automatically make a panel the strongest overall choice today.
Many buyers will now place more weight on proven manufacturer scale, mainstream availability and broader long-term confidence.
Superior Microinverter Optimised Design
As mentioned, each panel works together with its own Enphase microinverter that locally converts the DC power generated by the panel into AC power that can be used in your home immediately - AC is what household appliances and circuits use and it is also much safer than a DC current.
That setup gave the REA proposition a different feel from a more standard panel-and-inverter combination. But it also made the product more niche than many mainstream alternatives.
For many homeowners, a more conventional route built around a widely recognised manufacturer may now feel like the safer bet.
LONGi’s official Hi-MO X10 positioning focuses less on niche sales angles and more on efficiency, reliability and value, which is generally where most buyers should keep their attention.
🎥 Prefer video? Check out our review of the REA Fusion 2 solar panels in the video below:
Generate Power Even in Low Light
It also means the panels will start generating electricity in low light (requiring just 22 volts) – compare this to typical panels that utilise a string inverter that requires at least 200 volts to even begin energy generation.
The microinverter design also means that each panel is able to work at its full capacity and maximise the performance of each solar panel independently.
Contrast this to a solar panel system that uses a traditional string inverter - if one panel’s performance is impacted by shade or dirt, multiple other panels’ performance will also drop, which is a significant disadvantage.
Those are fair points in principle, but buyers should be careful about leaning too heavily on a single design concept when comparing whole solar systems. In practice, overall system design, roof layout, shading profile and product support all matter.
Still, learning about solar? Check out our guides on how many solar panels you need and how solar car charging works.
A Safer Solar Panel System
As mentioned, the micro-inverter (AC)-optimised design makes this solar system safer too - each panel is earthed and can be protected by an RCD board (fuse box), so is much safer than traditional DC systems.
Its AC-optimised design also means it will continue to work in the event of a power cut. This is not the case with DC systems - their inverters and batteries require grid power to operate.
The high-efficiency crystalline double-sided design gives these panels a much larger solar surface area and so unlike many leading competitors that only have a single side, these panels can generate electricity on both sides - increasing their max power output by 10%.
The double-glazed design means they are not susceptible to delamination, which is a common issue in inferior panels that over time causes the solar panel components to start detaching from each other.
Each panel’s performance can also be monitored via a user-friendly application, allowing you to see how the weather is impacting performance or detect whether something may be wrong with one of the panels quickly and conveniently.
Those features helped REA carve out a more specialist positioning. But today, many homeowners will be better served by focusing on what matters most: strong output, strong efficiency, dependable long-term performance and confidence in the manufacturer behind the panel.
That is where newer alternatives such as the LONGi Hi-MO X10 485W are likely to look more attractive to current buyers. LONGi’s published data for the 485W model includes <1% first-year degradation, 0.35% annual degradation from years 2–30, and 88.85% output at year 30.
Explore a Solar Case Study: Check out an insightful Q&A session featured in one of our detailed case studies on domestic solar panels. Hear directly from a Heatable customer in the UK and gain valuable perspectives on their experience here.
The image above shows a 23-panel solar installation, carried out by the MCS-certified solar team at Heatable, featuring the REA Fusion2 solar panels.
REA Solar Panels Warranty Period
The REA panels come with a 25-year warranty, which unlike many panels was positioned as being backed by an insurance company and not the manufacturer themselves.
That is certainly unusual.
However, when assessing any solar panel warranty, homeowners should look beyond the headline promise and also consider the manufacturer’s scale, long-term market presence and ease of support. In practice, many buyers may feel more comfortable choosing a panel from a larger, more globally established brand.
That’s one reason why a newer alternative such as the LONGi Hi-MO X10 485W may appeal more to today’s buyer. LONGi’s official datasheet for the 485W model lists a 15-year product warranty and 30-year linear power warranty, with 88.85% of original output retained at year 30.
Pros:
Low-light-optimised solar panels - perfect for the UK
AC optimised for maximum safety
Bi-facial - both sides generate power
25-year insurance company-backed product & performance warranty
24-hour monitoring of each solar panel
Cons:
More costly than other options on the market
No longer offered by Heatable
We have also reviewed the best solar panels and covered how long solar panels last in the UK.
REA Solar Panels Comparison
How do the REA Fusion 2 solar panels compare to other solar panels out there?
In the table below, you can compare the panels with popular rivals:
Model: | REA Fusion Energy | Sunpower Maxeon 3 | Project Solar Evolution Elite 400 | LG Neon RJinko | Solar Tiger Neo | Project Solar Evolution Ultramax | Panasonic HIT N340W | Q.Peak Duo Sharp | Sunsnap ND-F2Q235 |
Our Rating: | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 |
Efficiency | 22- 24% | 20.9-22.6% | 22% | 8% to 22.3% | 26% | n/a | Up to 19.4% | 20.6% | 14% |
Power | 400-480 watts | 370-400 watts | 395-415 watts | 350-440 watts | 550-575 watts | 345 watts | 245 watts | 385 watts | 235 watts |
Product Warranty | 25 years | 40 years | Lifetime | 25 years | 12 years | Lifetime | 25 years | 12 years | 25 years |
Insurance Backed Warranty? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Performance Warranty | 85% after 25 years | 88.2% after 40 years | 85% after 20 years | 80% after 25 years | 87.4% after 30 years | 85% after 25 years | 88.2% after 40 years | 86% after 25 years | 85.2% after 25 years |
Heat Resistance | 0.27% per °C | 0.27% per °C | 0.38% per °C | 0.38% per °C | 0.35% per °C | 0.38% per °C | 0.27% per °C | 0.25% per °C | 0.27% per °C |
Weight | 22.8kg | 21.2kg | 20.8kg | 22kg | 28kg | 20.8kg | 21.2kg | 19.1kg | 21.2kg |
Bifacial? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Double Glazed? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Microinverter (AC) Optimised? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Table data: last updated March 2026.
How much do the REA solar panels cost?
At present REA only offers one solar panel in the UK – its Fusion 2 panel module.
This is an N-type bifacial solar panel i.e. it features a double-sided design and so can generate energy from both faces of the panel.
The N-type feature means that the individual cells are not impacted by light-induced degradation (LID).
The Fusion 2 offers efficiency as high as 23.9%, a power output of 420W and retails for around £500 per panel, making it a premium-priced panel.
That premium pricing is worth keeping in mind. While the feature set may have appealed to some buyers, price always needs to be judged alongside brand track record, current support and the strength of available alternatives.
In today’s market, many homeowners may find that newer premium panels from larger manufacturers represent a more convincing overall proposition.
PS Did you know that solar panels can be installed on garage roofs and that smart meters are recommended for use with domestic solar arrays.
Does REA offer solar batteries?
REA does not currently offer a solar battery solution, but the good news is that they currently have one in development and it is expected to be launched later this year.
If you are researching solar panel companies, you may find our resources valuable. Check out our comprehensive comparison of the best solar panel companies in the UK, learn about the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) process, and explore our detailed solar panel guide and solar advice section for expert insights and recommendations.
What do we recommend instead of REA Fusion 2?
While the REA Fusion 2 remains an interesting panel to research, it is no longer one we offer.
The panel we now recommend is the LONGi Hi-MO X10 485W. LONGi describes the Hi-MO X10 range as using HPBC 2.0 technology focused on power generation performance, reliability and value. The official 485W datasheet lists 23.8% efficiency, 485W output, 21.6kg weight, -0.260%/°C temperature coefficient of Pmax, and a 30-year linear power warranty to 88.85% output.
In simple terms, if you’re choosing what to install today rather than researching older options, the LONGi Hi-MO X10 is the panel we’d point you toward.
Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:
When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:
To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation.
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