You might have come across ads that claim a solar battery or an inverter or solar panels to be “Tier 1”. So, here’s the thing- only solar panels can be regarded as Tier 1. If a retailer is claiming a battery or inverter to be Tier 1, it is most likely a false claim or they themselves are not aware of the fact.
The term “Tier 1” is not directly associated with the quality of a brand of solar panels. This is a quarterly ranking by independent industry analyst- Bloomberg New Energy Finance. It is to evaluate the manufacturer’s financial stability. If a manufacturer has supplied its products to at least 6 large-scale projects that are bank financed in the last 2 years, it is rated as a “Tier 1” company.
Tier 1 has become a huge marketing technique to sell solar panels. Many companies falsely claim to be Tier 1 too. In fact, some even rank themselves Tier 2 and Tier 3. Just so you know there is no Tier 2 and Tier 3 so, do not fall for these sales gimmicks.
Surely a brand being Tier 1 does give some reassurance, having been a part of large projects and having that financial backing. But there are other brands you can look at that are out of this bracket. Most Tier 1 companies are based in China and Germany. So, while buying your components you can maybe avoid these due to physical absence in Australia in case of warranty claims and other support.
It so happens that many retailers advertise their batteries as Tier 1. Now, this could actually be an honest mistake due to a lack of awareness. But with research, it turns out this is actually a marketing or sales stunt. This term has been misused in so many ways that some in the industry don’t even mention it anymore.
A false claim can be an indicator of many other questionable practices. Therefore, thorough research into these claims is a wise thing to do.
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