Czech Solar Panel Prices Surge by One-Third Amid Supply Chain Strains

In the Czech Republic, solar panel prices have risen about 31% since December, according to Raylyst Solar. The increase follows the end of a 9% Chinese export VAT rebate on April 1 and higher raw‑material costs, especially silver, copper and aluminium, which now cost roughly double or 50% more than a year ago. Manufacturers also cut excess capacity and shifted to more efficient but pricier technologies.

The higher panel cost reduces the economic benefit for households that install photovoltaic systems. Even though summer months generate the most electricity, owners often cannot use all the power they produce and must sell excess back to the grid at lower feed‑in rates, limiting savings. Experts such as Lukáš Kaňok (Energo Kalkulátor), Michal Petřek (Raylyst Solar) and Štěpán Křeček (BH Securities) note that prices may gradually fall as production scales up, but the current surge challenges the attractiveness of new solar installations.