I'm curious if anyone has insights on the price trends for 200W solar panels in the U.S. over the next couple of years. Prices have been on a steady decline, largely due to Chinese oversupply, but will this trend continue? I'm also uncertain about how current tariffs impact this situation since there are already significant tariffs on solar panels. I'm considering whether I should stock up on inventory now before any potential price changes due to tariffs. Right now, my solar array is almost sufficient to eliminate my generator use; I've tracked just 8 gallons burned over the last five months. I'm not sure if there's a financial benefit to adding more panels at this stage, so I need to understand if I should expect prices to drop, rise, or remain stable going forward.
3 Answers
That’s a tough question! While the overall trend for panel prices is usually downward, tariffs and the removal of tax credits can definitely play a role. Maybe consider analyzing different scenarios to see how those factors might affect your decision? Also, just a heads-up, 200W panels feel a bit outdated; are you sure that's what you want to go with?
I totally get where you're coming from. I live on a boat myself and have older panels that aren't performing well anymore. Swapping out for 200W panels could yield a nominal gain, but it’s a long break-even period based on current gas prices. If panel prices stabilize or drop further, maybe waiting would be the better play. It's a personal call depending on your need for immediate power versus potential long-term savings!
Right now, I can get my hands on 410W panels for around $130 each, so I'm not convinced 200W panels will hold value at all. Prices are falling, and larger panels give a lot more bang for your buck these days. Maybe you should look into options that give you better output for similar space!