At the inaugural Solar & Storage Live España, held in Barcelona, Solar&StorageXtra interviewed Search4Solar Owner Bart Wansink.
Bart discussed the company’s role in the European solar market, key industry trends the company is aware of, the current challenges both Search4Solar and the solar industry are tackling.
Interview with Bart Wansink, Owner of Search4Solar
“(Panel) prices are still dropping… to lower than anything we’ve seen before – it shows manufacturers are trying to clear out their stock.”
Xtra: What is Search4Solar’s role in the industry?
Bart: We are a business marketplace for all of Europe, and we currently have around 8,000 installers on our platform. Our role in the solar industry is to make pricing transparent for installers. We also check prices every week to track where they are in the moment – and how they change over time – as solar products become available in Europe.
Xtra: What market trends are you keeping an eye on?
Bart: We have been running our marketplace for four years, doing business across Europe. Right now, the Dutch market is very slow. We’re also seeing a lot of stock coming in from China to the Netherlands, and that stock is then distributed by manufacturers and distributors to different countries across Europe.
At the moment, a large amount of stock is sitting in Rotterdam, and prices are still dropping. Today, we saw a price lower than anything we’ve seen before – so low that it shows manufacturers are trying to clear out their stock.
Xtra: What industry challenges are Search4Solar tackling?
Bart: The biggest challenge right now is that several European countries are struggling to sell solar products. At the same time, China is still sending stock to Europe, but it isn’t selling, which is creating an oversupply. Because of this, prices are continuing to drop.
Xtra: Why is attending Solar & Storage Live important for Search4Solar?
Bart: The most important thing for Search4Solar is tracking product availability and pricing across Europe. Manufacturers and distributors often ask us what price they should set to sell their products.
Attending a show like this helps us understand the market in a specific country. For us, it’s valuable to connect with installers, talk to them about what kind of products they’re using for residential and commercial projects, and see what’s happening in the market.
At the same time, we’re here to meet new suppliers, whether they’re manufacturers or distributors.
With the London edition of Solar & Storage Live only weeks away, don’t forget to register for your free ticket and join us at the London ExCeL from 2-3 April 2025 – or find a Solar & Storage Live event closer to home.
