Already inexpensive modules in the lower performance classes did not change noticeably. However, there was a significant price adjustment for high-efficiency modules from 22% efficiency. These modules, now predominantly glass-glass modules equipped with TOPCon cells, are increasingly converging on price with mainstream modules. There are outliers with IBC or HJT technology, but these are not yet considered separately here. Production volumes for n-type cells and modules have now been ramped up in China - but the new customs situation in the US may already be making itself felt.
For the European market, ever lower prices would suggest that demand will continue to rise, were it not for a number of disruptive factors. There are still large stocks of modules produced in 2023 or earlier with distributors and installers themselves. However, if these have the 2-square-metre dimensions commonly used for rooftop systems in Germany, they are selling increasingly poorly due to the low output classes. Building owners usually want to see a high output class and the latest technology installed in their systems. However, these have to be reordered, which makes it much more difficult to sell existing inventory.
Despite the supposed reduction in module production and import volumes, it appears that more Asian modules are still reaching the European market than are currently in demand here. This, in turn, is causing inventories to grow, even in high performance classes, and is exerting additional pressure on module prices. The stock of old modules, produced and purchased at significantly higher prices in the past, must therefore be devalued further and further. However, not all are able to do this, resulting in very different prices for modules with PERC cell technology. The price difference between the categories is therefore shrinking.
So what can be done to get rid of the supposed shelf warmers after all?
It is hardly possible to "dispose" of these older modules in markets outside Europe without accepting a massive loss in value. Africa and Southeast Asia are also likely to be oversaturated with modules, and Chinese products can hardly be sold to the US. One increasingly established strategy is a concession in the soft factors of the trade business, i.e. payment and delivery terms. Instead of offering the modules at a lower price, a credit line is granted - often without requiring collateral - and free delivery is promised. However, it is doubtful this tactic will work in the long term. Many smaller companies are on the brink of insolvency, and the possibility of default cannot be ruled out. The pressure to sell should therefore not override common sense and tempt the provider to take incalculable risks.
Some suppliers are also taking refuge in online marketplaces, where they hope to sell quickly to international customers without incurring sales and marketing costs. However, the competitive pressure there is also high and the goods can often only be sold at dumping prices.
In addition, there is hardly any opportunity to get to know the potential business partner in advance - you have to take what you get. Misunderstandings can arise in business transactions, especially across national borders, and the platform operator is not always available to provide support and advice. The effort involved in an online transaction is then quickly greater than buying or selling within an established business relationship. Everything can go smoothly, but that doesn’t mean it will.
My preference for using surplus old modules is clearly to install them in larger open-space or rooftop systems. Especially in areas with increased wind or snow loads, the smaller formats are not a bad choice. Although the material and installation costs increase slightly in favor of the better statics, the easier handling makes up for the disadvantage. And there is another undeniable advantage: the modules are already in stock and therefore guaranteed to be available - there can be no delivery problems and therefore no delays in the construction process. A few unsold inverters and cable reels may also be found, and then the components for your own photovoltaic system are almost complete.
Once the system has been installed and connected to the grid, nobody will care whether the modules belong to the very latest generation or not. The resulting asset can then be marketed better than the 400 W PERC module in the current market situation. This can also be done via an online brokerage portal if you are not yet properly set up for project sales.
Overview of price points broken down by technology in May 2024 including changes over the previous month (as of 20 May 2024):
