【环球网财经综合报道】据路透社消息，行业专家表示，太阳能电池板生产商正加大力度，寻求用铜等替代品来替代白银，因为过去一年银价上涨了 130%，令本就因产能过剩而承压的利润空间进一步受到挤压。 "白银是导致太阳能电池板制造成本上升的最大因素。"JK可再生能源高级商业太阳能顾问Derek Schnee补充表示，过去12个月太阳能电池板成本已上涨7%— 15%。 "在美国，每450瓦组件的银浆成本已从2025年初的约5.22美元增至约17.65美元。"可再生能源公司Cherry Street Energy首席技术官Ben Damiani表示。 以白银每吨250万美元的价格计算，太阳能制造商正加速转向铜等替代品，铜的最新交易价为每吨12823美元。 "预计今年行业将出现更广泛的转变，领先制造商将转向纯铜金属化工艺和银铜混合浆料。"Rystad Energy太阳能供应链研究副总裁Marius Mordal Bakke表 示，由于铜价约为白银价格的0.5%，这种转换带来的进一步降本潜力巨大。 Cherry Street Energy的Damiani估计，以全球每年500吉瓦的太阳能产量计算，从白银转向铜基金属化工艺可为该 ...

Core Viewpoint - Recent increases in silicon and silver prices are intensifying profit pressures on photovoltaic (PV) cell and module companies, with a long-term tight balance expected in silver supply and demand due to a persistent supply gap since 2019 [1] Group 1: Industry Challenges - The rising costs of silver necessitate that PV cell and module companies urgently reduce silver consumption [1] - Copper is identified as the most suitable alternative material to silver, although challenges such as copper oxidation and diffusion need to be addressed [1] Group 2: Technological Developments - The PCB, MLCC, and semiconductor industries have accumulated valuable experience that can be referenced by the photovoltaic sector [1] - Progress is being made with silver-coated copper and electroplated copper solutions in the photovoltaic industry, while pure copper paste remains the ultimate goal, albeit with several unresolved issues [1] Group 3: Market Projections - It is projected that by 2026-2027, the penetration rates for silver-coated copper and copper paste will reach 17.7% and 43%, respectively, leading to production volumes of 813 tons and 2,188 tons for these materials [1] - This shift is expected to provide significant performance elasticity for paste and metal powder companies [1]

Core Viewpoint - The surge in silver prices is exacerbating the financial struggles of solar panel manufacturers, who are facing intensified competition and ongoing losses. The industry is implementing a dual strategy to cope with rising costs: increasing product prices and accelerating the transition to cheaper materials like copper to replace silver [1][4]. Group 1: Industry Challenges - Solar panel manufacturers are experiencing significant cost pressures due to soaring silver prices, which have tripled over the past year, reaching over $93 per ounce [1][4]. - The use of silver in solar cells now accounts for 29% of the total component cost, a sharp increase from 3.4% in 2023 and 14% last year [1]. - Major solar companies, including Trina Solar, have warned of expected net losses through 2025, indicating that the industry downturn has not yet reached its lowest point despite efforts to curb overcapacity and price wars [4]. Group 2: Price Adjustments and Market Response - In response to rising silver prices, Chinese component manufacturers have raised prices to over 0.8 yuan per watt, reflecting a 1.4% to 3.8% increase from the previous week, resulting in typical 500-watt component prices around 400 yuan ($57) [4]. - The silver market is experiencing a record streak, with prices around $91 per ounce, potentially marking the longest consecutive monthly increase since records began in 1950 [4]. Group 3: Material Substitution Efforts - Manufacturers are actively working to reduce silver paste usage in solar cells to lower costs, with projections indicating an average usage of 8.96 milligrams per watt by 2025, down from 11.2 milligrams in 2024 [5]. - Longi Green Energy has announced plans to begin replacing silver with cheaper metals in their solar cells [5]. - The solar industry accounted for approximately 17% of total silver demand last year, a significant increase from a decade ago, but a slowdown in consumption could threaten the long-term price increase of silver [5][6].

Group 1 - The surge in silver prices is putting additional pressure on solar panel manufacturers, who are already struggling to end over two years of losses in a highly competitive industry [1] - Spot silver prices recently reached a historical high of over $93 per ounce, causing the silver content in solar panels to rise to 29% of total costs, up from 3.4% in 2023 and 14% last year [1] - Manufacturers are responding by raising prices and accelerating plans to replace silver with cheaper materials like copper [1] Group 2 - Major solar companies have warned of expected net losses again in 2025, indicating that despite a year of self-discipline and government-led efforts to curb overcapacity, the industry's downturn has not yet bottomed out [2] - The average silver usage per watt in solar panels is projected to decrease from 11.2 mg in 2024 to 8.96 mg in 2025 as manufacturers strive to reduce costs [2] - Companies like Longi Green Energy, Jinko Solar, and Shanghai Aiko Solar are beginning to replace silver with cheaper metals in their panels [2] Group 3 - Limited replacement efforts and a slowdown in global solar panel installations may lead to a 17% reduction in silver usage in the industry this year, with a projected demand of around 6,000 tons in 2025 [3] - The solar industry accounted for approximately 17% of total silver demand last year, more than double its share a decade ago, which poses a risk to the sustainability of the current surge in silver prices [3] - Strong investment demand is expected to keep silver prices stable in the short term, but reduced industrial consumption of silver is anticipated in the future [3]