Question – when is a ‘German’ solar panel not really a solar panel made in Germany? Answer – A little too often.
There seems to be a lot of German solar modules around at the moment, and some quite cheap. However, SunWiz Consulting stated as recently as February this year only 3% of panels imports had a true German origin.
But what of the companies with the very Germanic names, such as Ich Liebe Sonnen Pty. Ltd (note: not a real company)? Sometimes it’s just a name. Some boast of “German engineering”, since they have headquarters in Germany or have some German staff in China.
Apollo Energy, the wholesale arm of Energy Matters, has access to a wide range of market and product information. Apollo Energy says it is aware solar panels with a “German façade” are sometimes available at lower buy prices than entry level Chinese panels. Given labour costs in Germany are far higher than in China; it’s simply not possible for these to be truly “Made In Germany”.
The same can apply to “Australian” modules. There was a high profile case recently where modules were marketed as Australian solar panels – and they were actually Chinese. The ACCC pursued this and fined the company involved $150,000.
It’s a bit of a sad situation when sneaky word play means consumers must ask pointed questions about the origins of goods; but this basic due diligence is necessary when shopping for solar panels.
Solar panels made in China can offer excellent performance, reliability and value for money – two examples are Yingli Solar and Daqo – but when the origins of a module are hidden; it begs the question: what else is?
Solar panel provenance is just one of the issues purchasers need to be aware of. Energy Matters offers a free 23 page Consumer Guide To Buying Solar Power to help consumers make more informed decisions.
