In 2020, the price of photovoltaic kits in Brazil rose 20% throughout the year. This is what the latest Distributed Generation Strategic Study carried out by Greener, a consultancy and research company, pointed out.
Among the reasons that triggered these increases are the reflections of the strong devaluation of the Real and high logistical costs.
“Such an increase in modules or inverters occurred due to the exchange rate devaluation over the past year. This factor directly impacted the prices offered by distributors. We saw an increase of more than 10%, in some categories, and in others of more than 20%”, said Márcio Takata, director of Greener.
Below is the table made by Greener with the prices of photovoltaic kits:
However, the consultancy highlighted that the integration chain absorbed a relevant part of this increase, reducing the price increase for the end customer. “It is important to note that in other categories, especially residential, we had a marginal increase in costs to the end customer”, explained the specialist.
“The service chain was an important factor in cushioning this increase. Therefore, it is an essential point, even more so for the integrator that operates in the residential segment, to work in a way that sells value and not low prices”, he highlighted.
Still according to the director of Greener, despite the significant increase in equipment costs, the fact that prices to the end customer have not increased in the same proportion indicates the reduction in the “services portion”.
According to the survey, the price difference between a kit on the ground and one on a roof was 7%, on average. In the middle of the year, in July, when this difference was last measured, it was around 9%.
Below is the table made by Greener with the prices of photovoltaic kits on roofs and on the ground:
Prices for residential photovoltaic systems (4 kWp)
The increase in the price of systems in the 4 kWp range was almost exclusively due to the increase in the value of the kits, while the integrator's share showed a slight change. Over the year the total price rose 2,5%.
Prices for commercial photovoltaic systems (50 kWp)
In the 50 kWp range, integration costs continued their downward trend. Despite this, the increase in kit costs was enough to generate an upward trend in the final integration price. Throughout the year the variation was 7,2%.
Prices of industrial photovoltaic systems (1 MWp)
The integration portion showed a sharp drop, but not enough to reverse the increase in final prices. In this category, the annual increase in the final price was 8,5%.
