Photovoltaic panels in 2026 have been rising in price continuously since January. For the past three years, PV module prices have fallen so steeply that installers have joked: „wait a month, it will be cheaper”.”. In 2026, this joke is no longer funny. At the same time, technology is taking a leap that the market hasn't seen in a decade. We explain what is really happening in the market and what you should do about it.
Photovoltaic panels 2026: the end of historically low prices
By the end of 2025, PV panel prices have reached historic lows. For years, the Chinese PV industry had been producing volumes significantly above market demand, fighting for market share at the expense of margins. This has now come to an end. Beijing has clearly changed its policy towards its own energy industry - it has reduced production subsidies, and several large producers are on the brink of solvency. The market regulated itself.
The effect is evident in data from the European sun.store platform - the leading wholesale site for PV modules in Europe. Panels have increased in price in every month since January 2026. The trend is unmistakable and so far there is no indication that it will reverse in the coming months.
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↑ each month Continued increase in the price of PV modules from January 2026. |
24,9% Record-breaking LONGi module efficiency - May 2026. |
90% bifaciality of the new BIFIMAX TNC modules |
Important context: Inverters are going in the opposite direction - their prices are falling minimally in 2026. This means that if you're planning an investment, the cost of the panels themselves goes up, but the overall cost of the system (panel + inverter + installation) doesn't rise as sharply. This is good news for those who decide now.
A fitness record that changes the calculations
In parallel with the rising prices, something is happening that you should be aware of before you buy: the Chinese company LONGi announced in May 2026 a new world record for photovoltaic module efficiency - the 24,9%. For comparison: a typical off-the-shelf panel just two years ago reached 20-21%. The standard in 2026 is modules with an efficiency of 22-23%.
What does this mean in practice? On the same square metre of roof, the new panels produce 10-15% more energy than those from 3 years ago. For a house in the Tri-City with a 40 m² roof, the difference between a 2022 installation and a 2026 installation is in real terms 800-1,200 kWh per year - as much as the average household appliance needs for a whole year.
| Panel generation | Typical efficiency | Power per 1 m² | Annual production (40 m², Pomerania) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panels 2021-2022 | 19-21% | 190-210 W | approx. 6 800 kWh |
| Panels 2024-2025 | 21-22% | 210-225 W | approx. 7 400 kWh |
| Photovoltaic panels 2026 (standard) | 22-23% | 225-235 W | approx. 7 900 kWh |
| Panels 2026 top (LONGi, Aiko) | 23-24.9% | 235-250 W | approx. 8,400 kWh |
In other words: if your roof has limited space - and in the Tricity this is a common problem, especially in the densely built-up areas of Wrzeszcz, Oliwa or the centre of Gdynia. The new photovoltaic panels allow more power to be crammed in where the old ones wouldn't fit.
Bifacial technology: when is it worthwhile and when is it just marketing?
One trend coming out of the niche into the mainstream in 2026 is bifacial modules - producing power from both sides. New modules such as Tongwei's TNC BIFIMAX achieve a bifaciality factor of 90%, meaning that the back side of the panel can provide up to 90% of power to the front side if reflected light reaches it.
Does it make sense on a normal roof in Gdansk? The answer depends on the structure on which the panels are mounted. On the ground or on flat roofs, especially light-coloured roofs where the albedo is higher, bifacial panels can give a realistic 5-12% higher yield without any additional costs. On pitched roofs this effect is small.
Bifacial modules work best on flat roofs with a white membrane or on ground with a light-coloured substrate. When installed parallel to a dark roof slope, the benefit of bifaciality is minimal - don't overpay for this feature if your roof won't use it.
What does this imply for the person planning the installation?
We have a paradoxical situation: photovoltaic panels are more expensive than a year ago, but at the same time much better. Here is how to understand this as a potential investor:
Strategy: „I will wait until they become cheaper”.”
It's a strategy that worked between 2022 and 2025. Today, the figures show continued increases until at least the end of 2026. Every month you wait is a higher purchase cost and a month without electricity savings.
Strategy: „I will buy the cheapest panels now”.”
With higher base prices, choosing the cheapest modules with lower efficiency is a mistake. The price difference between a 21% and 23% panel today is relatively small, and the difference in production over 25 years is significant.
Strategy: „I will buy the best modules available now”.”
This is the most sensible strategy in the current reality. Higher efficiency = more energy from the same roof = faster return on investment, despite the higher entry price. Current module rankings can be found at PV Tech.
⚠ Attention to offers from stock
Some installers today offer panels from stock bought at the old, lower prices - and sell them at market prices, earning the difference. This is legal, but it's worth asking for the date of manufacture of the panels and comparing with the current market offer. A 2024 panel at a 2026 price is not a bargain.
Tri-City perspective: what to choose with limited roof space?
Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot is a market where limited roof space is a real problem - especially in older buildings and on multi-pitch roofs. Here, the new higher efficiency modules offer a tangible advantage. Instead of installing 6 kWp of 21% efficiency panels on 29 m², the same roof will accept an installation of 7 kWp from 23% panels - without any structural changes.
This is particularly important for homeowners who plan to purchase an electric car in the future or heat pumps. Instead of installing a small installation now and expanding it in a year's time, it makes sense to choose modules with higher efficiency right away and maximise the power from the available space. Also check out how the energy billing rules have changed in the article on net-billing in 2026.
Summary: three things to remember
- Photovoltaic panel prices on the rise since the beginning of 2026 and the trend shows no signs of correcting - waiting does not pay
- Module efficiency reached historic highs - the new panels produce 10-15% more than 3 years ago from the same metre of roof
- With limited roof space (typical in the Tri-City) it is worth choosing modules with higher efficiency today - the energy gain over 25 years will outweigh the price difference
