P-type PERC solar modules now selling in Europe for €0.10/W to €0.115/W

Van Bellen said these prices are for a minimum purchase of one container.

“Considering the newer types, the price goes toward €0.20/W,” he said.

Van Bellen said the number of modules stockpiled in European warehouses is lower than commonly thought. He questioned the amount announced by Norwegian research firm Rystad Energy in July, when it said 80 GW of solar modules were still unsold.

 “Assuming 400 W panels, 80 GW is the equivalent of 240,000 containers,” van Bellen said. “There are now 40 tier 1 manufacturers and no one we speak to has more than a few hundred to sometimes several thousand containers. Non-tier-1 manufacturers have up to several dozen. The medium-sized distributors have fifty to one hundred containers, and the large distributors have one hundred to two hundred and fifty. If we add up all the findings and inquiries, we arrive at 50,000 to 80,000 containers.”

Van Bellen said that Search4Solar doesn't have warehouses or stocks, but it works with the stocks of manufacturers, distributors, and installers.

“This means we are kept well informed and therefore have an accurate insight into European stocks,” he said.

He said that manufacturers will likely become more careful in the future about the amounts of stock they send to Europe.

“It is difficult to predict whether there will be a similar ‘normal' stock level in 2024,” he said, noting that distributors and installers will also probably purchase more carefully. “But at times of scarcity things will go back to normal. It remains a matter of supply and demand.”

Search4Solar claims to have approximately 8,000 registered members throughout Europe.

“Search4Solar is in terms of business model comparable to Bol.com or Amazon,” said Van Bellen.