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Price Summary
The
period of steady retail pricing continued in May. The number
of price increases were nearly the same as price decreases
for the survey as a whole.
Since
June 2001, when this online retail price survey started,
175,407 (yes, that is one hundred and seventy five thousand
four hundred and seven!) solar module price points have
been captured in the Solarbuzz database. During that time,
new retailers are added to the survey, whereas other are
no longer operating online. Also many new solar module models
have entered the market and therefore the survey mix, while
others have been replaced.
Within
the PV industry, much talk often surrounds "factory
gate" prices. A factory gate price is the first point
of the sale from the manufacturer of the product, in this
case the solar module. So, surveying retail prices was a
new experience for Solarbuzz too. We also had to learn to
respect the differences in characteristics between these
two types of industry prices.
The
most obvious difference is that retail prices are higher
than factory gate prices, but there are other differences
too. The range of prices at the retail level tend to be
much larger than at the factory gate level and they move
around more frequently. The main reason for this is that
there are many more companies that set prices at the retail
level than at the factory gate. Also, at the factory gate,
the term of contract prices is usually longer.
The
retailers also need to reflect not only their own company
supply/demand positions, but also the local characteristics
both of the markets they serve and also the types of customers
they serve.
On
the other hand, the direction of factory gate prices in
one region or country can often be influenced by the supply/demand
position in a totally different part of the world, particularly
over the medium term. In that regard, solar is already similar
to some of its hydrocarbon cousins.
Solarbuzz
is always cross-checking the consistency of the retail prices
with factory gate movements. While they have not always
be the same on a month by month basis, over the medium term,
there has been very strong correlation between the two.
This
month, from a survey of 1,581 prices, there were 29 price
increases and 31 price decreases. This compares with the
April result where there were 15 price increases compared
to 28 price decreases.
These results left the US index unchanged at $4.81 per watt
while the European index unchange at €4.71 per watt.
Lowest Prices ($/Wp)
The
tracking of the lowest price band in the survey is measured
against the number of prices below $4.75 per watt (previously
analyzed to below $4.50 per watt).
As
of May 2008, there are currently 218 solar module prices
below $4.75 per watt (€2.99 per watt) or 13.3% of the total
sample. This compares with 208 prices below $4.75 per watt
in April. The lowest retail price for a multicrystalline
solar module is $4.17 per watt (€2.67 per watt) from a US
retailer. The lowest retail price for a monocrystalline
module is $4.28 per watt (€2.74 per watt), also from a US
retailer.
The
lowest thin film module price is at $3.68 per watt (€2.36
per watt) from a European retailer. As a general rule, it
is typical to expect thin film modules to be at a price
discount to crystalline silicon (for like module powers).
This thin film price is represented by a 60 watt module.
Note once again, that these prices are based upon the purchase
of a single solar module and prices are exclusive of sales
taxes. Information on volume discounts, factory gate and
PV system pricing is available as part of our consultancy
services.
Price Index Context
The module cost represents around 50 - 60% of the total
installed cost of a Solar Energy System. Therefore the solar
module price
is the key element in the total price of an installed solar
system. All prices are exclusive of sales taxes,
which depending on the country or region can add 8-20% to
the prices, with generally highest sales tax rates in Europe.
LEGAL
DISCLAIMER:
SOLARBUZZ DOES NOT AND CANNOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT
THE DATA IN THIS RETAIL PRICE SURVEY ARE ACCURATE OR
COMPLETE. SOLARBUZZ DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE
DATA. THE DATA ON THIS WEB PAGE ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL
PURPOSES ONLY.
YOU RELY ON THE ANALYSIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. SOLARBUZZ
SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY
DECISIONS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE DATA INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSSES OR DAMAGES RESULTED THEREFROM.
NOTHING IN THE DATA SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS AN ENDORSEMENT,
PROMOTION OR ADVERTISING OF ANY COMPANY.
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