PVT prices are falling while local production and supply chains continue to strengthen

The European PVT collector industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with manufacturers focusing on increasing production efficiency, improving quality assurance, and reducing dependence on imported components, particularly from China. These developments are the findings of a workshop on production and supply chain strategies for PVT collectors, organized by the PVT taskforce (Task 73) within the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme on 21 October. In this article, we explore key examples of how European PVT collector manufacturers are reshaping their production. Despite the industry’s innovation potential, it is noteworthy that list prices of PVT collectors in Germany are falling. Germany was the largest PVT market worldwide in terms of new installations in 2024. The photo shows the technical tour to the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities at the University of Zaragoza, where PVT panels from Abora Solar, Spain, are in operation.
Photo: Task 73

A recent survey conducted by the German research project IntegraTE-XL in September 2025 analyzed the net list prices of uncovered, non-insulated PVT collectors over the last four years. Nine PVT manufacturers selling in Germany reported their prices. The products were divided into two categories: large-scale ambient air heater exchangers and simpler absorbers.

The results show a nominal decrease in list prices: 4 % for PVT collectors with large-scale ambient air heat exchangers and 9 % for PVT elements with simpler absorbers (see figure 1). This price drop is significant given the 17 % rise in the consumer price index during the same period. “Manufacturers have clearly signalled their commitment to reducing prices, even during a period of high inflation. This is a key step toward accelerating market uptake”, said Dr. Korbinian Kramer, Task Manager of Task 73 and scientist at the Fraunhofer ISE research institute.

The survey also shows a shift from simple absorbers to large-scale ambient air heat exchangers, suitable for system variants where PVT acts as the sole heat source. In 2021, only one company with such absorbers took part in the survey; by 2025, four more companies had started selling such PVT collectors.

Figure 1: Price trend for uncovered PVT collectors in Germany between 2022 and 2025 Source: IntegraTE-XL

Zero-defects strategy at AKG Group

PVT collectors in Europe come in various designs. In addition to the market-dominating uncovered PVT collectors, which serve as a heat source for heat pumps, there are also insulated, covered PVT collectors, such as those from Abora Solar of Spain, and PVT collectors based on vacuum tube technology, such as those from Naked Energy of Great Britain.

“I was impressed by how six renowned European PVT manufacturers shared their insights into product design, manufacturing, and quality assurance during our October workshop”, said Dr. Kramer. Key discussion points included PV-absorber connection technology, carbon footprint reduction, and quality control processes.

One of the featured companies, Consolar Solare Energiesysteme from Germany, has partnered with AKG Group to produce “Solink” PVT collectors at their facility in Hofgeismar, Germany. AKG, a global manufacturer of heat exchangers and cooling systems with 3,000 employees, has a zero-defects strategy. “We aim at a zero-defects strategy. All incoming materials are carefully checked and all production parameters are completely documented”, said Andreas Siegemund, Managing Director of Consolar. AKG uses a special glue between the PV panel and the metal absorber, which enables short production times.

Three joining technologies for PVT Collectors

PVT collectors typically rely on one of three connection technologies: lamination, gluing, or mechanical clamping. Dr. Raquel Simón, R&D Engineer from Endef, Spain, presented an overview of the PV-absorber joining processes with their advantages and disadvantages (see figure 2). Lamination offers the highest thermal conductivity but can also create stress in the PV cells due to differences in thermal expansion between materials.

Straight from the laboratories of Fraunhofer ISE, Prof. Holger Neuhaus shared valuable insights into 3D lamination and the latest photovoltaic technologies, such as the shingle technique, demonstrating what can be achieved and brought to the product level with the right development tools. Neuhaus made clear that the durability of collectors is largely determined during production, with key factors including the choice of materials and stringent quality assurance processes.

Figure 2: Technologies used to join the PV panel and absorber with their pros and cons Source: Endef

Dualsun’s rigorous quality control

Dualsun, a French manufacturer, employs mechanical clamping to assemble its PVT collectors. The company offers PVT collectors with an aluminium absorber either insulated, non-insulated or with fins. Laetitia Brottier, Co-founder and Innovation Director at Dualsun, confirmed that all absorbers are manufactured entirely in Europe. The thermal absorbers are then connected to the PV modules in France at the Jujurieux factory using aluminium bars and springs.

To reduce the carbon footprint of its PVT products, Dualsun sources its laminated PV modules from China, but the cells are produced using low-carbon silicon. It comes from an optimized manufacturing process in order to reduce raw material extraction. This approach lowers CO₂ emissions by 17% per kW_p, according to Brottier.

However, Dualsun enforces a zero-defects product control policy within its subcontractors’ factories. This approach relies on three levels. 100 % of production is supervised by at least one inspector permanently on site at the factory to monitor each stage of production; and up to 1.5 % re-inspection at the end of the production – either flash test, visual inspection or electroluminescence imaging. Additionally, Dualsun carries out random tests, performed in an independent laboratory, on around 20 panels per month.

Supply chain traceability at Naked Energy

Naked Energy offers the VirtuPVT collector which consists of a 19 cm wide evacuated single-glass tube, which is always delivered in a set of five tubes minimum. Here, the aluminium absorber is laminated with PV cells. “We identified a borosilicate tube supplier in Germany – Schott – and source PV cells from Taiwan. Additionally, as part of Naked Energy’s strategy to diversify its supplier base, we source EVA foil from businesses in both Germany and India”, explained Frank Bruce, Head of Brand and Communication at Naked Energy. He also presented a series of photos showcasing the 100 % material separation process for recycling the VirtuPVT collector.

Figure 3: Purchasing components outside of China is an important brand mark of Naked Energy. Source: Naked Energy

“It is interesting to observe the lessons learned from the industry in this early but rapidly growing market. The Task 73 workshop highlighted a strong focus on material and component sourcing within the EU for EU-based manufacturers, an encouraging trend for sustainable market development,” summarized Kramer.

Websites of organizations mentioned in this news article:
IEA SHC Task 73: https://task73.iea-shc.org/
Consolar Solare Energiesysteme: https://www.consolar.de/en/home_en/
AKG Group: https://www.akg-group.com/akg-group/
Abora Solar: https://abora-solar.com/en/
Endef: https://endef.com/en/
Dualsun: https://dualsun.com/en/
Naked Energy: https://nakedenergy.com/