Solar module prices diverge based on domestic cell supply

solar module pricing

The solar module pricing pendulum continues to swing. Back in Q2, solar module marketplace Anza reported that the AD/CVD tariff petition on Southeast Asia (SEA) module imports, and the removal of the Section 201 tariff exemption for bifacial modules, drove price increase in Q2. Cut to Anza’s Q4 Pricing Insights Report and there is now an oversupply of non-domestic modules – imported in high volumes ahead of the new AD/CVD duties – which has resulted in lower prices. Meanwhile, prices for U.S.-manufactured solar modules are diverging based on solar cell supply.  

About Anza’s Pricing Report

The data in Anza’s U.S. Distributed Generation Q4 Solar Module Pricing Insights Report represents median DG list prices from the more than 35 module vendors participating in the Anza platform, which equates to more than 95% of the U.S. module supply.

U.S solar module prices

“Modules containing U.S.-produced cells have experienced a notable 13% price increase from August to November, as buyers prioritize these options to maximize incentives under the IRA,” Anza reports.

Anza solar module pricing history

Despite this price rise, demand remains strong, “suggesting that module buyers are willing to pay a premium for domestically sourced components to qualify for valuable tax credits.”

In contrast, modules with imported cells but U.S.-based final assembly – which are not eligible for the domestic content tax credit adder – saw a 10.4% price decrease during that same time frame.

“Not all modules made in the U.S. are equally prioritized by buyers for incentive-related strategies,” Anza posits.

Module import price declines

Fully imported modules shows a smaller 5.8% price decline, with relatively stable pricing and minor fluctuations, as some buyers continue to choose these more cost-effective options.

Also interesting: Tier 1 module prices decreased by 14% between August and November, while Tier 2 remained steady – “suggesting that the recent changes in AD/CVD duties have had a more pronounced effect on Tier 1 manufacturers.”

“These trends suggest that the market is increasingly differentiating module pricing based on the origin of both cell production and final assembly, as buyers seek to balance costs with the incentive advantages of domestic content,” Anza concludes.

How Anza works

If you’re curious about Anza’s solar module marketplace, check out this episode of The Pitch:

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