Rising silver prices drive solar industry toward copper alternatives
Solar panel producers are replacing silver with copper to combat rising costs. This shift could save the global industry billions of dollars every year.
Insights:
Solar panel manufacturers are accelerating a shift from silver to lower-cost alternatives such as copper after a sharp rally in silver prices increased manufacturing costs and squeezed margins. This market-driven transition is occurring as silver prices have risen by roughly 130-147 percent over the past year. Consequently, silver paste now represents approximately 30 percent of solar cell costs, contributing to a 7-15 percent rise in panel prices over the last 12 months.
