Who is JinkoSolar? Size, history, Tier 1 and warranty claims

JinkoSolar is one of the two largest solar panel makers in the world, it has been in business for twenty years, and it runs an Australian office that handles warranty claims here. That is the short answer. The longer one is worth knowing, because the size of a manufacturer and the way it handles a claim are two different things.

How big is Jinko?

Jinko reported that it had shipped more than 420 gigawatts of solar modules worldwide by the end of June 2026, and that more than 250 gigawatts of that was its Tiger Neo series. Trade reporting on the second quarter 2026 Tier 1 list put Jinko's annual production capacity at 120 gigawatts, level with LONGi at the top of the industry.

To put that in household terms, 420 gigawatts is the output rating of more than 40 million ten kilowatt home systems. Jinko itself says one in every seven modules installed around the world is one of its own.

A short history

• 2006: Jinko began operations in Jiangxi province in China, according to its filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
• 2010: the company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the code JKS.
• 2022: its main operating subsidiary, Jiangxi Jinko, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's STAR Market.
• 2026: Jinko marked twenty years in business and unveiled its Tiger Neo 5.0 panels.

Being publicly listed in two markets means Jinko publishes audited accounts. For a homeowner, that is useful because a 25 or 30 year warranty is only as good as the company's chance of still being around to honour it.

What Tier 1 means, and what it does not

"Tier 1" is used in solar sales as if it were a quality badge. It is not. The term comes from a list published by BloombergNEF, a research firm, and it measures bankability: whether banks have been willing to lend money, without recourse, to large solar projects built with that manufacturer's own-brand panels made in its own factories. Trade reporting on the second quarter 2026 list names Jinko as Tier 1.

That tells you something useful. Banks lend against projects they expect to perform, so a maker on the list has a track record with lenders and is likely to be financially solid.

Here is what Tier 1 does not tell you:

• Whether the particular model on your quote is a good one.
• How long its product warranty runs in Australia.
• How well your system is designed and installed.
• How smoothly the manufacturer handles a claim from a homeowner.

So treat Tier 1 as a sensible first filter and then look at the specific panel and the Australian warranty document.

Jinko in Australia

Jinko's Australian warranty documents name its local company as Jinko Solar Australia Holdings Co. Pty Ltd, with a customer care address at Level 2, 152 Marsden Street, Parramatta NSW 2150, and a phone line on 1300 326 182. Its Australian website, jinkosolar.com.au, has a warranty and technical enquiry form, and Jinko says its after sales team replies within three working days.

The warranty that applies to your panels is the Australian and New Zealand version, and the cover depends on the model. In Jinko's August 2026 Australian warranty, the rooftop Tiger Neo 48QL6 panels carry a 25-year product warranty, while other models in the same document carry 12 or 15 years. Check the exact model code on your paperwork.

How a claim works

Jinko's Australian warranty sets out the process. In short:

1. Tell Jinko promptly. The warranty asks for notice no later than 30 days after you become aware of the problem.
2. Send the evidence. That means your details, a description of the fault, photos or test reports, the serial numbers and model of the affected panels, proof of purchase, the warranty start date and where the panels were installed.
3. Assessment. Jinko reviews the claim and can ask for panels to be tested by an independent laboratory such as TÜV Rheinland or TÜV SÜD. Do not send panels back without Jinko's written agreement.
4. Remedy. If the claim is accepted, Jinko chooses to repair, replace, refund the remaining value, or supply extra panels to make up lost output.

Two details are worth knowing before you ever need them:

• The warranty starts on the earlier of the delivery date or 180 days after the panel's manufacture date, which is coded into the serial number.
• Jinko's warranty says the costs of taking panels off the roof and refitting them fall to the customer. That makes your installer's own workmanship cover and support part of the real value of a system.

The warranty also states that its benefits are in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law, which a manufacturer's terms cannot take away.

Practical tips

• Keep your invoice and the installer's paperwork with the model code and serial numbers in one place.
• Note the date the system was switched on.
• If something looks wrong, call your installer first. They can test the system and lodge the claim with the right evidence.

If you have questions about the panels on a quote, or about a system you already own, talk to us. We are based in New Gisborne and happy to explain what the paperwork means.