2 1 Shi Ji Jing Ji Bao Dao·2025-12-25 05:27Core Viewpoint - Recent price increases in photovoltaic (PV) modules have been reported, driven primarily by rising upstream material costs, particularly silver paste and silicon materials [1][2][3] Group 1: Price Increases and Causes - Major PV manufacturers like Longi Green Energy and Jinko Solar have raised module prices by 0.02 to 0.05 yuan per watt due to increased costs of upstream materials [1] - Silver paste has become the largest cost component in PV modules, accounting for 17% of the total cost, followed by silicon materials at 14% and glass at 13% [3] - The price of silver has surged, with spot prices rising from 6.68 yuan per gram at the beginning of the year to 16.11 yuan per gram by December 24, marking a 141.17% increase [3] Group 2: Market Dynamics and Implications - Despite rising costs, the price increase for PV modules has lagged behind other components, with module prices increasing less than 2% this year compared to significant increases in silicon and wafer prices [4][5] - The internal rate of return (IRR) for solar power projects has been negatively impacted by declining feed-in tariffs, leading to concerns that higher module prices could deter investment [4][5] - Industry experts suggest that for manufacturers to achieve profitability, module prices need to stabilize between 0.9 to 1 yuan per watt, with current average prices around 0.698 yuan per watt [7][8] Group 3: Quality Concerns and Market Demand - The push for lower module prices has raised concerns about product quality, with the overall qualification rate of PV modules dropping from 100% in 2019 to 62.9% in 2024 [7] - The current market demand for PV modules is limited, and expectations for rapid growth in installation capacity have diminished, indicating a potential slowdown in the market [8]