Photovoltaic Overcapacity is Causing European Households to Use it As Garden Fences

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global solar panel supply will reach a staggering 1,100 gigawatts by the end of this year, nearly three times current demand estimates. Such a huge overcapacity has caused the price of solar panels to fall to about 11 cents/watt, a drop of more than 90% from the price of more than $1/watt in 2011-2012. Such price changes are undoubtedly a direct consequence of the severe overcapacity experienced by the global photovoltaic market over the past few years.

In Europe, falling prices for solar panels have led some households to use these photovoltaic products in innovative ways. For example, one family shared on social media that they erected solar panels as garden fences, which captured less sunlight and electricity but saved expensive installation costs.

Facing the huge challenges in the European solar manufacturing industry, major solar panel manufacturers are in trouble. Since November last year, when the Norwegian REC Group's polysilicon plant closed down, and Swiss company Meyer Burger Technology decided to close its factory in Germany, cracks in the European solar industry have become increasingly apparent. Against this background, the European Solar Manufacturing Council issued an urgent warning in February this year, calling for support to avoid further production shutdowns.

However, with the intensification of market competition and the instability of the supply chain, the European solar energy industry is facing more severe tests. How to re-adjust strategies on a global scale to adapt to the new market structure has become one of the issues that the industry needs to solve urgently.

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