Rising solar cell and module costs pressure developers
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Rising solar cell and module costs pressure developers

The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules has risen by more than 40% in the last 18 months to $27-28 cents per watt, owing to an increase in polysilicon pricing. This is primarily driven by disruptions in operations across the value chain of solar module manufacturing in China and a jump in the cost of polysilicon, a critical material for module producers. The surging cell and module prices have been contributing to the cost constraints that solar power manufacturers are encountering, even as supply chain concerns continue to alleviate.

While bid rates have climbed from Rs 1.99 per unit in December 2020 to Rs 2.2-2.5 per unit, the extent of the increase has remained lower than what has been projected is necessary to counteract the increase in module prices. The risk of moderation in returns is substantial for projects totalling 4.4 GW awarded in the last 18 months with rates less than Rs. 2.2 per unit.

The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules has risen by more than 40% in the last 18 months to $27-28 cents per watt, owing to an increase in polysilicon pricing. This is primarily driven by disruptions in operations across the value chain of solar module manufacturing in China and a jump in the cost of polysilicon, a critical material for module producers. The surging cell and module prices have been contributing to the cost constraints that solar power manufacturers are encountering, even as supply chain concerns continue to alleviate. While bid rates have climbed from Rs 1.99 per unit in December 2020 to Rs 2.2-2.5 per unit, the extent of the increase has remained lower than what has been projected is necessary to counteract the increase in module prices. The risk of moderation in returns is substantial for projects totalling 4.4 GW awarded in the last 18 months with rates less than Rs. 2.2 per unit.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code