Solar module prices remained largely stable in Europe in July, with improved availability across most segments, while back-contact modules continued to face supply constraints.
For the second time this year, solar module prices across the various technology classes have not increased across the board compared with the previous month. Price movements for full-black and low-cost modules were negligible, while changes in other segments were also marginal. Availability across most power classes has improved significantly again. The only exception is back-contact modules with efficiencies above 24%, where demand continues to exceed supply, resulting in shortages in the higher power categories. However, as this technology still represents only a small share of the overall market, price developments in this segment have little impact on the overall index.
The niche status of back-contact cells and modules is unlikely to last much longer. Nearly all major Asian manufacturers are developing the technology and preparing to launch corresponding products on the European market in the coming months. This trend was evident at this year’s Intersolar trade fair in Munich in June, where almost every leading manufacturer presented a mass-production module based on back-contact cells. Interest in these products is particularly strong in the residential rooftop segment, as they combine high efficiency with an almost entirely black appearance.
