A recent survey has found almost all respondents believe reliability and quality to be the most important factors in a solar panel purchase decision, rather than price.
The survey of solar installers, distributors, integrators and EPC entities entities was conducted by IHS Technology between October 2013 and January 2014.
While quality was seen as the top aspect across three major regions analyzed in the research – USA, Germany and the UK – other aspects were regarded as weightier in some regions.
“As incentive levels and internal rates of return (IRR) for all types of PV systems become lower and lower, the cost of every kWh becomes increasingly important,” says IHS; referring to Europe.
“In other markets, such as the US, incentives more commonly take the form of grants and tax breaks – meaning that there is a slightly stronger focus on upfront cost.”
Three Chinese suppliers were among the top five overall brands of preferred modules and the five top brands in terms of competitive prices were all Chinese manufacturers.
For end-consumers; choosing solar panels can be a very confusing process and basing a purchase decision on price alone is not wise says Australian solar provider Energy Matters.
Bargain-basement modules may not provide the best performance to help ensure rapid payback or offer a solid warranty. As not all panels and module manufacturers are equal, there are various other factors that should influence a purchase decision – particularly given it’s a decision that homeowners and businesses may be living with for decades.
Energy Matters says there are 4 major points that should be considered – how the panel is manufactured and the materials used; how it performs in real-world conditions rather than just a controlled environment, the warranty details and the reputation of the manufacturer.
