Almost 5 months down the line, and solar module prices in 2025 do not seem to move up any further following the sharp decline experienced in H2 2024. There have been slight increases in prices for high-efficiency modules, but this, explains pvXchange, is not significant enough to show a clear trend towards recovery, as yet.
As of May 15, 2025, modules with over 22.5% efficiency saw their prices go up by 3.7% since April 2025, while having gone up 12% since January this year to €0.14/W.
There was no month-on-month (MoM) change in high-efficiency full-black modules with up to 22.5% efficiency as their price continues to average at €0.145/W. Mainstream crystalline modules in a similar category saw no change either, with a price of €0.115/W.
However, low-cost modules that pvXchange counts as last of the stock, factory seconds, insolvency goods, or already used or low-output modules with limited or no warranty, saw their prices go up by 7.7% MoM to €0.07/W.
As of April 2025, most module brands continue to trade at or just below production costs, pointing to continued overcapacity challenges. The Managing Director of pvXchange, Martin Schachinger, expects prices to drop further later this year, leading to another round of consolidation.
According to TaiyangNews’ latest CW 21 PV Price Index, prices declined across all product categories for the 2nd consecutive week.
Meanwhile, Schachinger points to another concern in the industry, that of the lack of ecological value or sustainability. Carbon-neutral production processes are touted for cell and module manufacturing, but upstream and downstream processes remain carbon-intensive.
Packaging waste at sites and long-distance transport compound the unsustainability problem for the industry.
European recycling regulations, for instance Packaging Ordinance or the European Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), aim to promote reuse and shift disposal costs to polluters but often fall short. In the PV sector, enforcement is patchy and awareness remains low, points out pvXchange. Fragmented national regulations further complicate compliance, especially in cross-border trade.
Declining solar prices benefit consumers but often compromise quality and longevity. Recycling and spare parts support are being neglected, as low module prices make reuse uneconomical. Rapid product cycles and frequent design changes in terms of technological advancements further undermine long-term maintenance and compatibility. Spare parts management is not a standard in the PV industry.
Schachinger says the problem extends to inverters and energy storage devices as well, with regard to spare parts for old models, leading to the operators being stuck with incompatible equipment.
