The market for solar panels - Germany

1.1 Scope of the study

Solar collectors are an important component of renewable energy sources and are used to convert solar radiation into heat. Solar collectors convert solar radiation into heat and transfer it to a heat transfer medium. The solar heat obtained can be used for various purposes, such as water heating, heating support or swimming pool heating. There are different types of solar collectors, depending on their use in solar thermal applications, including:

• Flat plate collector
• Vacuum tube collector
• Absorber
• Storage collector
• Air collector
• ..

Solar collectors are part of a thermal solar system, and therefore of photovoltaic systems. These systems are experiencing steady growth in Germany and are gaining popularity among individuals and businesses. Between 2016 and 2020, the industry was able to generate annual revenue growth of 6.96% per year (CAGR) [German Federal Statistical Office].

Globally, this industry is benefiting from society's shift in thinking towards environmentally friendly methods of energy generation, with annual production increasing 9.7 times between 2010 and 2021. Globally, the photovoltaic market has grown rapidly with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% between 2011 and 2021. Asia, particularly China, dominates the production of c-Si PV modules, accounting for 94% of total production, while Europe and the US/Canada contribute only 1% and 3%, respectively.

Europe contributed to nearly 22% of total cumulative PV installations in 2021, while China accounted for 37% . Si wafer-based PV technology accounted for more than 95% of total production in 2021, with monocrystalline technology accounting for about 84% of total c-Si production. The market has shifted from subsidy-driven to competitive pricing models such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)[Frauenhofer Institut].