Last updated: March 2026
Yingli Green Energy (also known as Yingli Solar) was once the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer by shipment volume — surpassing even Chinese rivals in 2013. An aggressive expansion strategy, heavy debt, and falling panel prices led to financial collapse. Despite the parent company’s insolvency, Yingli panels remain widely installed worldwide. This guide covers the full history, panel specifications, and current status.
Yingli Solar Company History
- 1998 — Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., Ltd. founded in Baoding, Hebei Province, China, by Miao Liansheng
- 2007 — Yingli lists on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: YGE)
- 2012–2013 — Yingli becomes the world’s largest solar panel shipper by volume — a remarkable achievement for a Chinese manufacturer
- 2012–2014 — Yingli is a major sponsor of the FIFA World Cup, including the 2014 Brazil World Cup — an unprecedented marketing spend for a solar company
- 2015–2016 — Yingli begins defaulting on debt payments. The company had accumulated approximately 15 billion RMB (~$2.1 billion USD) in debt from rapid expansion
- 2017–2019 — Yingli undergoes Chinese bankruptcy restructuring. Baoding city government becomes involved in the restructuring process.
- 2020–present — A restructured Yingli continues operating at reduced scale in China. Some panel production continues but at a fraction of peak capacity. The NYSE listing was delisted.
Yingli Solar Panel Model Specifications
Yingli Panda Monocrystalline Series
| Model | Watts | Voc | Vmp | Isc | Imp | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YL230C-30b (Panda) | 230W | 37.7V | 31.0V | 8.08A | 7.42A | 14.1% |
| YL250C-30b (Panda) | 250W | 38.5V | 31.6V | 8.55A | 7.91A | 15.3% |
| YL275D-30b (Panda) | 275W | 39.5V | 32.5V | 9.23A | 8.46A | 16.8% |
Yingli Polycrystalline Series (YL, YGE)
| Model | Watts | Voc | Vmp | Isc | Imp | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YL175P-23b | 175W | 29.5V | 23.7V | 8.14A | 7.38A | 13.5% |
| YL225P-29b | 225W | 36.5V | 29.3V | 8.30A | 7.68A | 13.8% |
| YL240P-29b | 240W | 37.0V | 29.8V | 8.77A | 8.05A | 14.7% |
| YL260P-29b | 260W | 37.7V | 30.5V | 9.28A | 8.52A | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Yingli Solar?
Yingli Solar collapsed under ~$2.1 billion in debt accumulated during its aggressive expansion phase. After becoming the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer in 2013, falling panel prices made it impossible to service the debt. The company defaulted on bonds starting in 2015, underwent Chinese bankruptcy restructuring, was delisted from NYSE, and now operates at a much reduced scale. The original publicly traded entity effectively no longer exists in its prior form.
Are Yingli solar panels still good?
Yingli panels from 2010–2016 were standard quality polycrystalline panels for their era. The Panda monocrystalline line was their premium product and represents genuinely good quality. Field performance data for Yingli panels is consistent with industry averages — about 0.5% annual degradation. The company’s financial collapse was not a product quality issue; panels installed correctly should continue to produce power for many years.
What is the Yingli YL225P specification?
The Yingli YL225P-29b is a 225W polycrystalline panel: Voc 36.5V, Vmp 29.3V, Isc 8.30A, Imp 7.68A, efficiency 13.8%. 60 cells. MC4 connectors. This was one of Yingli’s most widely distributed models in North America during 2010–2014.
