2023-05-10 10:41:00
We had already had the flea in our ears during the last Batibouw show, when it was very difficult to find a solar panel installer in the aisles of the show. The reason was simple: the success of photovoltaics is undeniable and it is not even necessary for companies to go and expose themselves to Batibouw to fill their order books.
It must be said that the energy crisis has made people happy in this sector. Belgians who have a little money to invest no longer hesitate to ask for quotes for an installation, especially since it will quickly pay for itself given the financial savings that are well established.
“Consumers may be discouraged by long wait times, although solar panels are still an attractive investment.”
And it is not the steady decline in gas and electricity prices on the markets in recent months that is driving down demand. “Last year, the gas and electricity crisis caused a spike in the amounts of energy bills. Belgian consumers then turned to solar energy. Although the energy market has calmed down since September 2022 – after a price spike of €0.93 per Kwh – and has remained stable at €0.40 per Kwh since February (according to figures from the Vreg, the independent Flemish energy market authority), the demand for solar panels in Belgium is not weakening. Wait times have increased further to an average of one year”, we learn via market data available to Otovo, a company specializing in the installation of solar panels.
Dropouts, network saturation, complaints from prosumers: photovoltaics under tension in Wallonia
Enough signs… but understaffed
”There are enough solar panels but there is no one to install themobserve Cédric Sever, Country Manager d’Otovo. The main reason for the waiting lists is the lack of time of the installers who, in addition to the installation of the solar panels, also take care of the sales and marketing, the introductory meetings, the drawing up of the plans, etc. .”
Also, the potential of the Belgian market is very important. “In Belgium, the installed capacity in Belgium is 599 watts per inhabitant, which ranks it fifth in the world in terms of the number of solar panels per inhabitant, according to figures from SolarPower Europe, the European organization for the sector. A total of 120,000 solar panel installations were carried out in Belgium last year. By 2025, the annual potential could rise to 180,000 total installations in one year for the entire Belgian market. But this is only possible if installers can meet both supply and demand. In addition, consumers may be put off by long wait times, although solar panels are still a worthwhile investment, both for the wallet and for the environment.”, adds Otovo.
Photovoltaic installations taken off the grid… because of the sun: “Today, there is nothing worse than the Walloon energy policy”
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