In Pakistan, the price of solar panels dropped abruptly from 70,000 to 30,000 creating a lot of noise, Let unfold this complex story. This abrupt price drop is due to global competition between China and the West in solar panel manufacturing. Europe’s effort to manufacture panels locally got hit as China captured the market with low-cost products.
Pakistan took advantage of this situation and got the solar plates at a cheaper price. However, there is also a concern about the quality of these panels because the technology is changing. Breakage has increased as frames are getting thinner and materials are changing, so industry side is now more emphasized on maintaining standards rather than further price deduction.
Key Takeaways:
- The prices of solar panels in Pakistan have dropped significantly which is making it more accessible.
- However, there are doubts about the quality and standards of the cheaper panels.
- The decrease in prices is a consequence of the global competition between China and the West in solar panel manufacturing.
The Global Solar Panel Battle
China vs. The West
In the ongoing solar panel manufacturing war, China and the West are at daggers drawn. To reduce China’s dominance, America and Europe have made a plan to manufacture solar panels locally on a gigawatt scale. The plan was to sell these locally manufactured panels in the US and Europe, but it took an interesting turn.
The Conundrum in Europe
As the West started producing locally, they faced tough competition from China as they have already flooded the market with cheap solar panels. European business people were ready to make money from the solar revolution but China’s panel pricing was so competitive that it didn’t make sense for them to produce locally and eventually, Europe was left with more solar panel inventories.
The Pakistani Advantage
Unexpected Windfall
The extra stock of European solar panels and China’s desperate selling strategy proved to be in favor of Pakistan. The increased demand due to this opportunity automatically brought the prices down and solar panels became cheaper for the people of Pakistan.
The Dark Side of Cheap Solar Panels
Quality Concerns
The trend to slimmer frames and different materials has indirectly hit the solar panel’s durability. The number of breakage and cracking complaints has increased, approximately 10% of panels are having such issues. This has resulted in a huge overload of warranty claims and disputes which is making the situation more complex.
Industry Voices
While the price cut continues in the solar panel market, some voices in the industry are suggesting focusing on maintaining standards rather than going for more price reductions. It is important to balance affordability with quality to get long-term benefits and customer satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Prices are going down because Europe has a lot of stock right now, and globally China and the West are in a good price war.
Cheaper panels are expected to have durability issues, there will be more breakage and warranty claims.
Slimmer frames, 2mm glass, and half-cut photovoltaic cells are becoming standard in the market, which increases efficiency but also raises concerns about durability.