The photovoltaic machine manufacturing industry witnessed a trend reversal in the second quarter of 2022: While orders and sales had been lower since the beginning of the corona pandemic, manufacturers now posted a remarkable 62 percent increase in sales compared to the previous quarter, where in Europe sales increased by a factor of four.
For the first time since the beginning of the VDMA PV quarterly statistics in 2008, European orders were higher than those from Asia. Orders from Europe in 2022 by the second quarter of this year have also already exceeded the value of total European orders in 2021 by four times.
The industry is expecting an increase in sales for the third quarter of 2022 which indicates an improvement in addressing the current supply chain bottlenecks.
Europe plays a larger role in PV equipment deployment
The increase in European sales and the high values in 2022 European orders show that capacities of local PV module manufacturing facilities is starting to increase. The module manufacturing equipment sales reach nearly one-third of the total orders in the second quarter.
Although orders second quarter 2022 in Asia are lower than that in Europe, it still topped the share of sales with 52 percent of the total market share. Moreover, sales in the United States of America increased in comparison to the previous quarter, with a slight decrease in orders. The current export ratio of the European PV manufacturing equipment is around 66 percent.
Jutta Trube, Division Manager of the sector group VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment says: “The Asian market was in the past the largest for the German PV equipment manufacturers, but since first quarter 2022, orders in Europe have increased and are expected to further increase. In general, a continuing demand is expected because of an increasing interest of different countries on local PV Manufacturing.”
Still more incentive programs required
Peter Fath, Managing Director of RCT Solutions GmbH and Chairman of the Board of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment, comments: "In the second quarter, the PV manufacturing equipment from the EU orders increased. Solar equipment manufacturers experience positive sales despite the still-remaining pandemic- related supply chain shortages and the lack of skilled workforce. Although these challenges persist, an expected increase in sales is still foreseen.
“EU PV equipment manufacturers are dealing with these shortages and are thriving through these uncertainties. An increase of initiatives in Europe and the political will to establish PV production throughout the entire value chain is a chance for the further deployment of EU PV equipment. Currently countries such as USA and India are introducing very attractive incentive programs to stimulate PV manufacturing, the same is required in Europe”, Fath says. (hcn)
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