Hardly anyone can deny at the moment that the brand landscape is about to change dramatically within the photovoltaic industry. In addition, the strong pressure to make distinctions in the mass market has steadily increased and new solutions, such as the storage system, enter the market. Due to the current rapidly changing conditions of the photovoltaic market, the Bonn based market research institute, EuPD Research, has currently conducted a survey of over 1,500 users of the Photovoltaikforum with a focus on services, storage solutions and the future prospects of manufacturers.
Initial results of the study are already clear: The majority of end users are aware of the plight of the solar industry and take this into account when selecting their components. In terms of survivability, their confidence lies with the companies Samsung and Sharp. It is not surprising that large and established companies are ahead in terms of confidence. It is striking, however, that the installers and end users distinguish critically between the established Chinese manufacturers.
When making a purchase decision, important factors come in to play. In particular, the monitoring system and a possible extended warranty. These services play a significant role with one-third of all customers in the purchasing process of equipment. A similarly large proportion of respondents would accept higher costs for additional services.
The willingness to pay varies greatly, however. Preliminary results show a substantial majority interest in the current issue of lithium and lead acid batteries. Based on the average willingness to pay, it is also clear that prices will have to fall even more significantly, so that today's solutions are suitable for mass production. The overall results are a summary of the study "End Customers in Focus – Revealing Needs for 2012 and beyond". For more information, please contact our press office.
http://www.eupd-research.com/en/media-center/downloads/press-releases.html
