Managing Risk in Times of Module Oversupply

PV manufacturing capacity is rapidly expanding in China, US and elsewhere as different regions look to establish localized supply chains. And with demand in many regions suppressed by a lack of grid capacity as well as other, often political, reasons, PV module oversupply may be with us for some time.

This situation may have the positive effect of weeding lower quality suppliers out of the market, and leading to better negotiation power for the buyer. But there are also challenges. For instance, the industry is in the midst of a technology transition from PERC to TOPCon and HJT, and there are questions around how to negotiate a flexible supply agreement. Furthermore, there are quality risks associated with leaving modules in a warehouse for a long period between manufacturing and installation.

In this pv magazine webinar, produced in partnership with Clean Energy Associates (CEA), we take a closer look at the situation that has led to this oversupply situation. We’ll examine the various risks that this situation presents to module buyers and offer advice on the most effective strategies to manage them.

We’ll be joined first of all by Christian Roselund, senior policy analyst at CEA, who will provide some background on the differing conditions in U.S. and global markets and the U.S. trade and industrial policies that create the specific conditions in the U.S. market. Engilla Draper, Senior Manager, Supply Chain Management with CEA will follow up with a look at the risks and opportunities that this situation presents for the industry. And finally, CEA Engineering Manager Claire Kearns-McCoy, will take us through some of the specific risks to module quality and performance that oversupply and low prices can present.

pv magazine Webinar content
• Overview of the current oversupply situation in the PV module industry and how we got here
• Industry risks and benefits that this situation presents for buyers
• Opportunities and challenges related to supplier contract terms that buyers should be aware of
• Module quality and performance concerns as a result of the oversupply
• Q&A

Questions can be submitted beforehand or during the webinar through a chat window. Mark Hutchins, magazine director at pv magazine, will be moderating this webinar.

Registration for this pv magazine Webinar is free of charge.

Time: 11:00 AM ET

Location: Virtual

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2024