European PV module prices and demand both fall; Trina ranks first in shipments.

Data from sun.store indicates that in August 2026, prices for solar PV modules in Europe generally declined, while market demand fell below the historical average.

Although the price of bifacial TOPCon modules rose by 6% to €0.116/W in August, they remain the most cost-effective choice, particularly for large-scale ground-mounted PV projects. The PV index report notes: "A distinct price gap has emerged between bifacial and monofacial TOPCon modules, a factor of critical importance for buyers whose selection criteria focus primarily on price."

Premium BC and all-black modules typically target small-scale residential and C&I (commercial and industrial) PV projects. Since the beginning of 2026, the price spread between these premium modules and standard utility-scale TOPCon modules has continued to widen.

Leading Chinese Companies Dominate the European Market; Trina Solar Remains Top Shipper

Leading Chinese enterprises dominate the European market landscape. Data from the PV index shows that Trina Solar was the largest module supplier to the European market over the three months leading up to August 2026, by Aiko Solar, JA Solar, JinkoSolar, and LONGi Green Energy.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) released by the PV index indicates that demand for PV modules in Europe has dropped below the historical average over the past two months. The index stood at 65 for the European market in August. This PMI—which gauges market sentiment based on surveys of future purchasing intentions among European PV buyers—has recorded an average value of 68 since its inception.

Among the surveyed buyers, 43% plan to increase their module procurement volume in September compared to August, 43% expect volumes to remain unchanged, and 14% plan to reduce their procurement scale next month. Shifts in the Inverter Market Landscape

The report notes: "High-end modules continue to lead the market, though demand signals have cooled significantly since this spring. Buyers who held out for lower prices on standard modules have seen their expectations met, whereas those specifically sourcing high-end categories have not benefited from price drops."

The index also covers the PV inverter category: in August, prices for string inverters fell by over 20%. Small-capacity systems (1–20 kW) saw a slightly steeper decline, with the average price dropping to €41.40/kW, while high-capacity systems (above 20 kW) averaged €24.26/kW, experiencing a relatively smaller drop.

The PV index report states: "The downward trend in prices for string and grid-tied inverters is primarily due to a shift in the product mix of traded units rather than direct price cuts on individual products. July’s market activity was dominated by high-end three-phase inverters from European manufacturers like SMA and Fronius—products priced higher than alternatives from China and other regions. In contrast, the focus of market activity in August shifted toward cost-effective, large-scale commercial and industrial models from brands such as GoodWe, Ginlong (Solis), and SolarEdge."

Price trends for hybrid inverters diverged across power segments: prices for small-capacity systems (1–20 kW) remained virtually flat, falling only 1% month-on-month, while prices for high-capacity systems (above 20 kW) rose by 11.1%.

Leading suppliers in the string inverter market include China’s Sungrow and Huawei, by Germany’s SMA, China’s GoodWe, and Israel’s SolarEdge.

The hybrid inverter market is dominated by Chinese suppliers, with top-ranked brands including Deye, Ginlong (Solis), Huawei, GoodWe, and Sungrow.