Solar Panel and Battery Price Rises

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Looks like higher prices are on their way. The principal source for solar panels and LiFePO4 batteries is China. These have had rebates on their export taxes for a number of years that will soon be ending. 

Certain recent events may also be increasing demand for these products, so that's another upward pressure on prices.

 

https://www.alternergy.co.uk/blog/news-3/china-ends-vat-rebates-on-solar-exports-implications-for-uk-solar-pv-in-2026-149

 

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/china-scrap-export-tax-rebates-photovoltaic-battery-products-2026-01-09/

 

Note that the politics around this are not for discussion outside Politics and Current Affairs. I'm just making people aware, if they are considering a solar, or battery upgrade in the near future. 

[WulfNut]

Pretty sure the 9% VAT rebate China was handing out has now been deemed fairly pointless.   I don't know many people who would choose not to buy a 500w panel because they are going up £8

[Jen-in-Wellies]

LiFePO4 batteries are significantly more expensive than panels, so the export VAT will have a significant effect on overall costs. Hopefully hidden a little by manufacturing improvements and volume effects. 

[LadyG]

12 hours ago, WulfNut said:

Pretty sure the 9% VAT rebate China was handing out has now been deemed fairly pointless.   I don't know many people who would choose not to buy a 500w panel because they are going up £8

Yes but the supply and demsnd factor is not likely to be affected by a few boaters in E&W,more likely  thousands purchased for solar farms,  worldwide.

Edited March 20 by LadyG

[matty40s]

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

Yes but the supply and d3msnd factor is not li,Ely to be affected by a few boaters in E&W,more likely  thousands purchased for solar farms,  worldwide.

I presume your ignoring the Scotland boaters says more about you than their buying power.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

2 hours ago, matty40s said:

I presume your ignoring the Scotland boaters says more about you than their buying power.

 

Sunshine? Scotland? 

 

I lived there for eight years and even the most ardent Scottish nationalists I knew accepted that summer there was one nice week  usually in May, if you were lucky, before the drizzle returned. Eco Scots figure on wind, hydro and tidal power for renewable power, a lot higher on the list than solar. 

[haggis]

We seem to have had a lot of sunny days here ( near Edinburgh ) this year and in fact I am sitting out in the sun as I type this. 

[LadyG]

21 minutes ago, haggis said:

We seem to have had a lot of sunny days here ( near Edinburgh ) this year and in fact I am sitting out in the sun as I type this. 

'n'ere cast a clout till may is out"

[ditchcrawler]

33 minutes ago, LadyG said:

'n'ere cast a clout till may is out"

Is that the month or the plant 

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, ditchcrawler said:

Is that the month or the plant 

 

It's her sister.

[ditchcrawler]

18 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

It's her sister.

Or brother

[cuthound]

14 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

 

Sunshine? Scotland? 

 

I lived there for eight years and even the most ardent Scottish nationalists I knew accepted that summer there was one nice week  usually in May, if you were lucky, before the drizzle returned. Eco Scots figure on wind, hydro and tidal power for renewable power, a lot higher on the list than solar. 

 

They have a strange kind of sunshine in Scotland.

 

Whenever I have holidayed there (or attempted to) it has rained. Whenever I've been there on business (I managed a national team so went there at least once a month for about 5 years) it was always bright sunshine.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

Is that the month or the plant 

 

In Scotland it will be a type of midge... 😂🤣

Edited March 20 by cuthound
To insert spaces between merged posts

[Ex Brummie]

6 hours ago, haggis said:

We seem to have had a lot of sunny days here ( near Edinburgh ) this year and in fact I am sitting out in the sun as I type this. 

Lucky you if you can see the screen despite the glare!😎