Average selling price (ASP) for solar modules slips in Europe
8 Feb 2007
source: DigiTimes report
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20070208VL200.html
After seeing the the average selling price (ASP) of solar modules stay flat for three consecutive months, the ASP showed signs of weakening in Europe with a slight drop reported, according to figures posted by Solarbuzz. Industry players generally believe ASPs should remain strong or even report slight growth since there is no more inventory pressure at the moment.
Solarbuzz noted that the results in February is a continuation of the steady pricing environment in the US but that does not mean the market is static. Instead, the flattish price indicates that the number of price increases was being broadly matched by the number of decreases. For Europe, the recent price trend is the largest decline for solar modules with a power of 125 watts-and-above since June 2003.
Despite the ASP showing signs of weakening in Europe, Solarbuzz noted that the ASP has remained relatively unchanged on a monthly basis. The research firm also noted that the European survey size is considerably smaller than the US, so it does not carry the same market spread as the latter.
As of February 2007, there are currently 192 solar module prices below US$4.75/W (€3.66/W) or 11.3% of the total sample. This compares with 173 prices below US$4.75 per watt in January. The lowest retail price for a multicrystalline solar module is US$3.88/W (€2.99/W) from a US retailer and the lowest retail price for a monocrystalline module is US$4.20/W (€3.23/W), also from a US-based retailer, Solarbuzz detailed. For the thin film module segment, Solarbuzz records that the lowest price is at US$3.64/W (€2.80/W) per watt from a German retailer.
E-ton Solar Tech indicated that the company observed a warming up of demand for solar cells, especially from the US region. The company noted that not only demand is driven from the “million solar roofs initiative” (or solar roofs bill; SB1) in California, but is also spread across the region.
E-ton said demand is also warming up in Europe. The solar cell maker said its customers include major solar module vendors in Germany and that these customers are started ramping up their orders again, indicating that the German market should step out from its trough.