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Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Robert Maier Robert Maier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: June 2024 WZ SP26.02DE Spotlight Report

Revenue

€1.2bn

2024

€1.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xm

Employees

3,348

Businesses

22

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany industry analysis

In the last five years, the energy transition and subsidies for the expansion of renewable energies have led to sales growth in solar module production. Since 2019, the turnover of solar module manufacturers has grown by an average of 18.7% per year. In 2024, however, industry turnover is only expected to increase by 1% to 1.2 billion euros, as the German government has made cuts to the Climate and Transformation Fund, which supports the solar industry, as part of the amendments to the budget plan. This has prompted major solar module manufacturers such as Meyer Burger to consider closing a plant in Germany and relocating production to the USA. This has led to great uncertainty in the German solar industry and is likely to dampen the industry's sales growth in the current year.The strongest competition for the German solar industry are solar modules imported from China, which are sold at lower prices than the industry players' products. The rise in the effective exchange rate has further intensified the competitive pressure from imports. By contrast, the steady rise in environmental awareness in recent years has had a positive impact on demand for solar modules and solar collectors. Increasing environmental awareness has led to greater acceptance of renewable energies and thus also of solar energy. The increase in electricity consumption since 2021 is an indicator of the growing demand for energy, which is to be covered exclusively by renewable energy sources such as solar energy in the future.By 2029, industry turnover is expected to increase by an average of 4.1% per year to 1.5 billion euros. The energy transition and the increase in expansion targets for solar energy are likely to continue to drive demand for solar modules and solar collectors. Further players are therefore expected to enter the market in the coming years.

Trends and Insights

  • Foreign competitors and political uncertainties harbour risks. Asian, primarily Chinese, manufacturers of solar modules are exerting price pressure on domestic producers. In addition, uncertainties regarding government support for the industry are raising concerns and increasing the risk of relocations abroad.
  • Technological progress is changing the industry's production focus. Non-bifacial monocrystalline modules account for the largest share of sales, but demand for solar modules with greater efficiency is increasing. As a result, the revenue share of bifacial monocrystalline solar modules is likely to increase in the future.
  • Solar module production is dominated by a small number of companies. The production of solar modules and the research and development work in this area require specialised knowledge. Due to the prevailing shortage of skilled labour and strong competition from abroad, there are only a few companies in this sector.

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  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 18.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Quality and environmental protection are important factors in the production process

  • Thanks to the population's growing environmental awareness and the German government's increase in the expansion targets for renewable energies, the industry has recorded strong sales growth over the past five years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The installed photovoltaic capacity is set to increase significantly by 2030 thanks to changes to the EEG

  • The expansion targets for photovoltaic systems were raised as part of the solar package adopted by the cabinet in August 2023, which is part of the draft bill to amend the EEG.

Biggest companies in the Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Non-bifacial monocrystalline solar modules, Solar collectors and Bifacial monocrystalline solar modules. Non-bifacial monocrystalline solar modules is the largest segment of the Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

German manufacturers are focussing on non-bifacial monocrystalline modules

  • Solar modules made from monocrystalline solar cells are manufactured from a single silicon crystal, which is more complex and expensive than polycrystalline modules. Non-bifacial modules only process solar radiation on one side. The more complex manufacturing process of monocrystalline solar modules leads to a higher efficiency.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The solar module and solar collector manufacturing industry encompasses the development and production of technologies that convert solar energy into electricity (solar modules) or thermal energy (solar collectors). However, the production of solar cells, a main component of solar modules, is not included. The installation of solar systems is also not included in the sector activities.

What's included in this industry?

Production of solar modulesProduction of solar collectors

Companies

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Related Terms

BIFACIAL SOLAR MODULESMONOCRYSTALLINE SOLAR CELLSPOLYCRYSTALLINE SOLAR CELLS

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Foreign competitors and political uncertainties harbour risks. Asian, primarily Chinese, manufacturers of solar modules are exerting price pressure on domestic producers. In ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Technological progress is changing the industry's production focus. Non-bifacial monocrystalline modules account for the largest share of sales, but demand for solar modules ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Solar module production is dominated by a small number of companies. The production of solar modules and the research and development work in this area require specialised kn...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act contains a take-back obligation for photovoltaic systems. The law, which came into force in 2015, classifies photovoltaic modules ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Oversupply of solar modules increases pressure on profit margins. The oversupply of cheap solar modules imported from China is putting pressure on the selling prices of solar...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry in Germany is €1.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 22 businesses in the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 18.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What does the Solar Panel Manufacturing in Germany include?

Production of solar modules and Production of solar collectors are part of the Solar Panel Manufacturing industry.

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Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.