… what you can do today. PV and installation professionals must now act as module prices fall to new lows, despite efficiency revisions.
PV professionals and planners must take into account that the prices of the modules in August fell again and reached a new layer on the all time. Almost all technology lessons now act on or under January levels, even after the efficiency thresholds distinguished conventional and highly efficient modules were increased by 0.5 percentage points.
Nowadays, products with efficiency of less than 23% are rare, because 460 Wp has become standard for 2 m² modules. The 500 W barrier is also surpassed in this format, specially designed for roofs. Manufacturer Aiko Solar is already launching a module under 2 m² with that maximum power. Many producers have adjusted cell formats without changing module dimensions. The emerging standard in the roof sector is now a module with 48 or 96 half cells of 182 x 105 mm. It is still to be seen how long this trend will take place.
Manufacturers act quickly to end the devastating price war. The Chinese government is gradually gradually gradually gradually gradually gradually gradually gradually gradually. Attempts to stabilize prices have failed so far, but the efforts are intensifying and must be taken seriously.
Polysilicone prices rise due to deliberate production cuts in Asia. In Europe, the prices for modules are on order – which have not yet been made – higher than products in local warehouses or during transport. This suggests that, at least on site, very efficient solar modules are currently at their lowest prices and may not fall further quickly, after the motto: “Buy now, because it is not becoming cheaper.”
The current market differs greatly from earlier cycles. Weak question in the spring recently recovered in July, according to the German figures of the federal network agency, but no new tree is visible. Some investors seem to have concluded: “It won’t get better, so we’d better start our planned projects.” This is healthy advice, because political signals in Europe indicate a strong headwind for the expansion of renewable energy.
Most conservative governments reduce the support for renewable energy sources, so that climate goals are endangered or completely question them. The European Groene Deal, which was launched only a few years ago, is compromised by the international tariff policy in favor of economic interests in the short term, in particular those of the United States and its president, Donald Trump. The indignation is growing within the renewable energy sector and among future -oriented business associations in other industries.
In Germany, the Federal Minister of Economic Affairs has delivered Katherina Reiche (CDU) new gas -fired power plants, apparently to protect fuel supplies. These actions slow down the implementation of renewable energy and the development of smart grid, which may undermine profitability and capacity planning.
If the current policy persists, the photovoltaic sector becomes ahead for difficult years. Representatives of the old industry fear a repeat of the early years 2010, when a large part of the European solar industry collapsed, cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and the energy transition with a decade postponed. CDU and FDP politicians were largely faulted by the indiscriminated cuts that took place at the time.
If this situation is “Altmaier 2.0” under minister Reiche, urgent action is needed. The sector must quickly implement PV installations and energy storage systems as possible, which shows that the technologies are safe, grid-compatible and are able to support or even create schedule infrastructure. If that fails, maximum social and economic pressure is required to prevent repeated errors from the past. Opportunities to limit or turn climate change can be limited.
Prices in July 2025, including changes compared to the previous month (from August 18).
About the author: Martin Schachinger Has studied electrical engineering and has been active in the field of photovoltaic and renewable energy for almost 30 years. In 2004 he set up the online trading platform of PVXCHANGE.COM. The company has standard components in stock for new installations and solar modules and inverters that are no longer produced.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author, and do not necessarily reflect it by PV -Magazine.
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