The tool has been billed as the world’s first independent daily spot market price assessment for solar panels. S&P Global says it was launched to promote transparency in technology pricing as solar panels become more common.
Global benchmark price assessment provider Platts, a division of S&P Global Commodity Insights, has launched an independent daily spot market price assessment for solar panels in the US, Europe and Asia.
“Modules are becoming increasingly commoditized. Transactions occur every day and involve multiple stakeholders,” said Annalisa Jeffries, Global Head, Electricity Power Pricing at S&P Global Commodity Insights. pv magazine. “The people who would benefit from this are the suppliers, utilities and project developers. In our conversations with solar market participants, they have expressed a demand for more accurate, more specifically detailed solar panel pricing information.”
According to Jeffries, daily reviews allow users to track price movements as they happen. “Prices for solar panels have been very volatile and prices have changed frequently. Therefore, daily updates are crucial,” she added. “Weekly pricing would not allow for changes to be tracked so accurately.”
The tool currently contains reviews of TOPCon solar panels. “But it will adapt to emerging technologies as they become more mainstream,” Jeffries said. “We monitor the price differences and direct prices of other PV technologies compared to TOPcon.”
It will offer daily price assessments that reflect the value of bifacial solar panels purchased for both commercial, industrial and utility-scale projects in six categories:
- Platts solar panel free on board (FOB) China 5-50 MW, which means 10-30 days FOB to Shanghai
- Platts Solar Module FOB China 50-100 MW, which means 10-30 days ahead FOB to Shanghai
- Platts solar panel delivered excise duty paid (DDP) Europe 5-50 MW, which equates to 28-70 days delivery to Rotterdam
- Platts Solar Module DDP Europe 50-100 MW, with a delivery time of 28-70 days in Rotterdam
- Platts Solar Module DDP US 5-50 MW, which means 28-60 days ahead for delivery to the US East Coast
- Platts Solar Module DDP US 50-100 MW, which means 28-60 days ahead for delivery to the US East Coast
Platts will publish the six individual solar panel prices alongside the Platts Global Solar Module Marker, a daily average of the six individual ratings, to provide a global perspective on solar panel prices.
The price ratings refer to solar panels with power ratings from 570 to 720 W and Topcon specifications and wafer sizes from 182 to 210 mm. Prices are expressed as a straight price in $/W.
“We take seriously our commitment to helping the market and industry find solutions to pricing challenges and we are pleased to answer the call and bring transparency to the solar module market, which is increasingly commoditized and increasingly important for the planning of the energy transition.” Jeffries said.
The price assessments will be available through various S&P Global products and services, including Platts Connect, Platts Market Center and the Platts Price Database.
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