Prices for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) photo voltaic panels proceed to say no. The founding father of pvXchange.com, Martin Schachinger, explains how this impacts the sale of PV modules primarily based on passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) cells.
There was little motion within the worth of photo voltaic modules within the low efficiency class this month. However, there’s a vital worth change for modules with an effectivity degree above 22%.
The costs of those modules, that are at present primarily outfitted with n-type / TOPCon cells and double glass, are extra in step with mainstream modules. There are upward outliers for some varieties with interdigitated back-contact (IBC) or heterojunction (HJT) expertise, which aren’t thought-about individually on this evaluation.
China’s manufacturing quantity for n-type cells and modules appears to have elevated, however the brand new customs scenario within the United States might have an effect. The query is, what is going to it do within the European market? Increasingly low costs imply that demand would proceed to rise if not for numerous disruptive elements.
There are extra shares of modules produced in 2023 or earlier by distributors, but in addition by the installers themselves. However, if it measures 2 sqm in dimension, they promote poorly due to their low efficiency. Building homeowners usually need to see excessive efficiency and the most recent expertise put in in new programs, making it tougher for current objects to promote.
Despite the anticipated decline in module manufacturing and import volumes, extra Asian modules nonetheless attain the European market than present demand. This causes inventories to develop, even for high-performance fashions, placing further stress on module costs.
Inventories of previous modules, which had been produced and bought at very excessive costs previously, should proceed to depreciate. However, this isn’t attainable for all gamers, which implies that there are completely different costs for modules with PERC expertise in the marketplace. In basic, the worth distinction between these classes is lowering.
Africa and Southeast Asia may be oversaturated with modules and Chinese merchandise can’t be offered within the US market. A method that has develop into widespread is to accommodate the delicate elements of the industrial enterprise – that’s, cost and supply circumstances. Instead of providing the modules at a cheaper price, strains of credit score are offered – usually with out the necessity for collateral – and free delivery is promised. However, it’s uncertain that this tactic will work in the long run. Many small firms, specifically, are on the brink and imminent cost defaults can’t be dominated out.
Some suppliers additionally flip to on-line markets, the place they attempt to rapidly promote their inventory objects to worldwide clients with out the prices of gross sales and advertising. But the aggressive stress there’s additionally nice and such items are normally offered solely at throwaway costs. The different situation is that there’s nearly no option to get to know a possible enterprise companion prematurely – it’s important to take what you may get.
Misunderstandings can come up in enterprise transactions, particularly throughout nationwide borders, and on-line platform operators are usually not all the time obtainable to supply help and recommendation. The efforts concerned in working a web-based enterprise rapidly develop into larger than shopping for or promoting inside a longtime enterprise relationship.
My desire for utilizing surplus previous modules is obvious: putting in them in bigger open-space or rooftop programs. Generally smaller codecs are usually not a nasty alternative, particularly in areas with increased wind or snow masses. Material and meeting prices enhance barely in favor of higher statistics, however simpler dealing with makes up for the shortcoming.
And there’s one other simple benefit: the modules are already in inventory and due to this fact assured to be obtainable, that means there aren’t any supply issues and thus delays within the building course of. You can even discover some unsold inverters and cable reels, after which the parts on your PV system are nearly full.
When a system has been created and related to a community, nobody is involved in whether or not the modules are of the most recent era or not. In any case, the ensuing belongings may be offered.
Image: pvXchange.com
About the writer: Martin Schachinger studied electrical engineering and has been energetic within the subject of photovoltaics and renewable power for nearly 30 years. In 2004, he based a enterprise, establishing the pvXchange.com on-line buying and selling platform. The firm shares normal parts for brand spanking new installations and discontinued photo voltaic modules and inverters.
The views and opinions expressed on this article are these of the writer, and don’t essentially replicate these held by pv journal.
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