Last updated: March 2026
Sanyo’s HIT solar panels represent one of the most significant technological innovations in photovoltaic history. The Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer (HIT) technology Sanyo pioneered in the 1990s became the foundation for today’s highest-efficiency residential solar panels — and millions of HIT panels remain installed and producing electricity worldwide today. This guide covers Sanyo’s solar history, how HIT technology works, complete model specifications, and the Sanyo-to-Panasonic transition.
Sanyo Solar Company History
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. was founded in 1947 in Osaka, Japan by Toshio Iue, a brother-in-law of Konosuke Matsushita (founder of Panasonic). Sanyo became one of Japan’s major consumer electronics companies.
- 1947 — Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. founded in Osaka, Japan
- 1976 — Sanyo’s solar division formed; begins solar research
- 1979 — Sanyo starts development of thin-film amorphous silicon solar panels
- 1992 — Sanyo develops the HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin layer) solar cell concept — a breakthrough combining amorphous and crystalline silicon
- 1997 — Commercial production of HIT solar cells and panels begins
- 1999 — Sanyo’s HIT cells achieve world record efficiency for commercial silicon solar cells
- 2009 — Panasonic acquires a 50.2% controlling stake in Sanyo Electric
- 2011 — Sanyo becomes a wholly-owned Panasonic subsidiary
- 2012 — Panasonic begins transitioning the solar business from “Sanyo” to “Panasonic” branding. Panels transition from Sanyo HIT to Panasonic HIT, then eventually to Panasonic EverVolt.
- 2021 — Panasonic announces exit from solar panel manufacturing; partners with HIT Co. (a Panasonic-backed venture) to continue panel production. Subsequently, Panasonic sold its solar manufacturing assets.
- 2022–2023 — The HIT panel technology continues through various licensing arrangements. The technology now underlies products from multiple manufacturers including Panasonic’s OEM partners.
What Is HIT Technology? How It Works
HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin layer) is a solar cell architecture that combines two fundamentally different silicon technologies into a single cell. This is what makes it special:
The HIT Cell Structure
A standard monocrystalline solar cell uses a single type of silicon — crystalline silicon with a p-n junction. A HIT cell has a more complex sandwich structure:
- Center layer: N-type monocrystalline silicon wafer (the main photovoltaic absorber)
- Surrounding thin layers: Intrinsic (undoped) amorphous silicon, just a few nanometers thick, deposited on both sides of the crystalline wafer
- Outer layers: P-type amorphous silicon on one side, N-type amorphous silicon on the other, forming the p-n junction in the amorphous region
- TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) layers: On both outer surfaces for current collection
- Silver paste grid lines: For external electrical connection
Why HIT Outperforms Standard Mono Panels
The intrinsic amorphous silicon layers act as a passivation coating on the crystalline silicon surface. Silicon surfaces are full of unsatisfied chemical bonds (“dangling bonds”) that trap electrons and reduce efficiency. The amorphous layers passivate these surface states, dramatically reducing recombination losses.
The result: higher efficiency AND better temperature performance. Crystalline silicon cells lose efficiency as they heat up (about -0.35% to -0.45%/°C). HIT cells lose only -0.258%/°C — a significant advantage in hot climates.
| Property | Sanyo/Panasonic HIT | Standard Monocrystalline PERC | Polycrystalline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 19–22% | 20–22% | 15–17% |
| Temp coefficient (Pmax) | -0.258%/°C | -0.35 to -0.40%/°C | -0.40 to -0.45%/°C |
| Low-light performance | Excellent | Good | Moderate |
| Bifacial option | Yes (some models) | Yes (some models) | Less common |
| Annual degradation | ~0.26%/year | ~0.45%/year | ~0.50%/year |
| Manufacturing complexity | High (low-temp process) | Moderate | Lower |
Sanyo HIT Solar Panel Model Specifications
These are the main Sanyo HIT models sold in North America and Europe. Find your model number on the back of your panel.
| Model | Watts | Voc | Vmp | Isc | Imp | Efficiency | Temp Coeff (Pmax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIP-180BA19 | 180W | 50.0V | 39.8V | 4.78A | 4.52A | 16.3% | -0.317%/°C |
| HIP-190BA19 | 190W | 50.4V | 40.2V | 5.04A | 4.72A | 17.2% | -0.317%/°C |
| HIP-195BA19 | 195W | 50.7V | 40.5V | 5.14A | 4.82A | 17.6% | -0.258%/°C |
| HIP-200BA19 | 200W | 51.0V | 40.7V | 5.27A | 4.91A | 18.1% | -0.258%/°C |
| HIP-205BCHE5 | 205W | 48.8V | 39.7V | 5.73A | 5.17A | 17.2% | -0.258%/°C |
| HIP-210BCHE5 | 210W | 49.3V | 40.0V | 5.73A | 5.25A | 17.6% | -0.258%/°C |
| HIP-215NKHE5 | 215W | 50.6V | 40.8V | 5.74A | 5.27A | 18.0% | -0.258%/°C |
| HIP-220BCHE5 | 220W | 49.9V | 40.4V | 5.94A | 5.45A | 18.4% | -0.258%/°C |
Note: Sanyo HIT panels have notably higher Voc (48–51V) compared to standard 60-cell mono panels (~37–38V). This affects string sizing calculations significantly — you need fewer panels per string. Always recalculate string voltage when replacing or adding HIT panels.
Sanyo to Panasonic: What Changed, What Didn’t
When Panasonic took over Sanyo’s solar business, the core HIT technology was preserved — it became Panasonic’s competitive advantage. Here’s what changed:
- Branding: “Sanyo HIT” became “Panasonic HIT” starting around 2012–2013, then eventually “Panasonic EverVolt” for the US market
- Efficiency improvements: Panasonic continued improving HIT efficiency year over year. By 2020, Panasonic EverVolt HK Black panels reached 21.6% efficiency — significantly better than early Sanyo HIT models at 16–18%
- Manufacturing: Panasonic initially maintained HIT production in Japan; later moved some production to Malaysia
- Design: Panel format evolved from 72-cell high-voltage designs common in Sanyo era to 96-cell and other configurations
Adding New Panels to an Existing Sanyo HIT System
If you want to expand a Sanyo HIT system, you face a compatibility challenge: HIT panels have unique electrical characteristics (high Voc, high Vmp relative to standard panels) that make mixing with standard panels difficult in a string system.
Best options:
- Find used Sanyo HIT panels of the same or very similar model on eBay or salvage markets. This is the cleanest solution for a string system.
- Use power optimizers (SolarEdge or Tigo) on both old and new panels to eliminate mismatch, then add any modern panel to the string.
- Add a second independent string using new panels on a different MPPT input on your existing inverter (if it has multiple MPPT inputs and the inverter is large enough).
- Use Panasonic EverVolt HK panels — these are the direct technological descendants of Sanyo HIT with similar (though not identical) electrical characteristics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Sanyo solar panels?
Panasonic acquired Sanyo Electric in 2009–2011 and absorbed the solar business. Sanyo HIT panels continued to be manufactured under Panasonic branding from approximately 2012 onward. Panasonic later announced it would exit solar panel manufacturing in 2021, selling its manufacturing assets. The HIT technology continues through licensing and successor products, but the “Sanyo” brand name in solar no longer exists. Panasonic EverVolt is the direct descendant product line.
Is Sanyo solar now Panasonic?
Yes. Sanyo’s solar business was fully absorbed into Panasonic by 2012. Panels that were branded “Sanyo HIT” in production up to approximately 2012–2013 were replaced by “Panasonic HIT” and later “Panasonic EverVolt” branding. The underlying HIT technology remained the same across the transition.
Are Sanyo HIT panels still good in 2026?
Yes — Sanyo HIT panels are among the best-aging panels from their era. The HIT architecture’s superior temperature coefficient means they have degraded less per year than standard mono or poly panels from the same period. A Sanyo HIT-195 installed in 2008 should still produce approximately 170–175W today (degradation of roughly 10–15% after 18 years). That’s better aging than most crystalline silicon panels of that era.
What is the Sanyo HIP-195BA19 specification?
The Sanyo HIP-195BA19 is a 195-watt HIT solar panel. Specifications: Voc 50.7V, Vmp 40.5V, Isc 5.14A, Imp 4.82A, efficiency 17.6%, temperature coefficient of Pmax -0.258%/°C. This is a 72-cell panel with unusually high voltage compared to standard 60-cell panels. Dimensions approximately 1580 × 798 × 46mm, weight ~16 kg. This was one of the most widely sold HIT models in North America during 2007–2012.
What panels replaced Sanyo HIT?
The direct technological successor is the Panasonic EverVolt series (particularly the EverVolt HK Black). For a technology-comparable alternative from a different manufacturer, look at REC Alpha (heterojunction technology), Longi Hi-MO X6 (HJT), or Jinko Tiger Neo (TOPCon) — all modern panels using similar surface passivation concepts to HIT. Current efficiency leaders reach 22%+, significantly above original Sanyo HIT models.
