Solar Photovoltaic Panel Hoarding

Are Chinese-manufactured solar panels piling up in European warehouses?

Solar panels. (Reference image from Wallpaper Flare.) A recent report by business intelligence firm Rystad Energy reveals that Chinese-manufactured solar photovoltaic panels are piling up in European warehouses, with approximately 40 gigawatts-direct current (GWdc) of capacity in storage – the same amount installed across the continent in 2022.

Are solar panels 'hoarding' a crime?

“Hoarding is strictly prohibited,” it said. The ministry’s notice follows a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) last month that said “the world needs more diverse solar panel supply chains”.

Are European solar panels unused in European warehouses?

And, it turns out, Europe also stockpiled Chinese solar panels. Some €7 billion ($7.8 billion) worth of solar panels—or 40 gigawatts direct current (GWdc) of capacity—are currently sitting unused in European warehouses, according to new research by Rystad Energy, a Norway-headquartered consultancy.

Could Chinese solar panels be a threat to European manufacturers?

Stockpiling Chinese solar panels is one way to plug the shortfall in Europe’s own manufacturing capacities. But the flood of cheap Chinese imports could threaten European manufacturers.

Will European solar panels keep up with the growth of imported solar panels?

These goals include a target for 30 GWdc of European manufacturing along the entire value chain by 2025 and 40% of installed solar PV being manufactured within the continent by 2030. Despite these ambitious goals, between 2019 and 2022, locally-made modules could not keep pace with the growth of imported panels.

How many solar panels are unused in Europe?

Some €7 billion ($7.8 billion) worth of solar panels—or 40 gigawatts direct current (GWdc) of capacity—are currently sitting unused in European warehouses, according to new research by Rystad Energy, a Norway-headquartered consultancy. And the stockpile is forecast to grow even larger this year, hitting 100 GWdc in storage by the end of 2023.