Magazine Archive 2023

The fall in panel prices shows no signs of stopping. As profit margins vanish, some solar companies are being forced to engage in damage control or face worse consequences. Martin Schachinger, from the solar wholesaler pvXchange, examines the causes and impacts of the trend.

Competition with the Chinese clean technology powerhouse will be difficult but protectionism is folly, argues Gerard Reid, a co-founder and partner at Alexa Capital.

As solar module prices continue to fall, pvXchange.com founder Martin Schachinger predicts a resurgence in demand in the near term and suggests how the European market could be better protected from future volatility.

Solar installations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are expected to reach more than 260 GWdc of cumulative capacity in the 2022-30 period, driven by government utility-scale tenders, green hydrogen projects, and an increasing shift toward distributed generation (DG) and privately funded projects. S&P Global expects Saudi Arabia to lead in the deployment of new PV capacity in the region, alongside the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Israel, and Morocco.

The residential energy storage sector experienced profound change in 2022, reports Susan Taylor, analyst for S&P Global. Record high electricity prices and ongoing restrictions on Russian gas supply have dramatically changed the way consumers view their energy consumption. Installing a battery and solar allows consumers to take control of their energy bills, reduce their exposure to future volatility, and lower their environmental impact.

While p-type (positively-doped) passivated-emitter rear contact (PERC) solar cells are unlikely to disappear any time soon, n-type technology is gaining ground, with tunnel-oxide passivated-contact (TOPCon) expected to lead the charge into the new normal. S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Karl Melkonyan takes a look at the n-type runners and riders.

Factors such as net-metering rules, solar system size limits, and state electricity prices can render commercial and industrial (C&I) solar less than straightforward in the United States but the boost provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is clear, explains S&P Global’s Alex Kaplan.

The introduction of a solar mandate pilot program has driven an explosion in rooftop PV across China. S&P Global expects small-array installation figures of around 60 GW per year in the immediate future, reports principal analyst Holly Hu.

The European Union’s proposed Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) marks a departure for the bloc, writes Jason Sheridan, a senior research analyst for S&P Global. It would require approximately €15 billion ($16.3 billion) of investment across the European solar supply chain and could represent a reshaping of global PV production.

A lack of clear policy support, raw material dependency, and higher production costs are inhibiting the localization of European solar manufacturing, despite strong demand, writes Edurne Zoco, executive director for clean energy technology at S&P Global.