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The photovoltaic barometer 2025 provides valuable information for the energy transition
01.04.2025 The photovoltaic barometer 2025, published for the first time, shows the main trends in the photovoltaic industry: higher efficiencies, larger modules and optimised temperature coefficients are driving development forward. At the same time, the market share of European solar inverter manufacturers is in sharp decline. The report is a joint publication of BFH’s Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems and Eturnity Ltd.
Key points at a glance
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BFH and Eturnity publish the first photovoltaic barometer, which highlights important trends in the photovoltaic industry.
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The report shows that the potential for PV systems in Switzerland is equal to 65 GW due to increased efficiency – and not 50 GW as previously thought.
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The report provides an additional basis for decision-making for the industry and politicians, thus driving forward the energy transition.
Efficiency of PV modules increased by five percent
In 2024, approximately 1,8 GW of new photovoltaic systems (PV systems) were connected to the electricity grid in Switzerland. Not only has the installed capacity grown rapidly. The technology has also evolved. Switzerland’s PV potential had previously been estimated at 50 GW. Christof Bucher, Head of the Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems at Bern University of Applied Sciences, explains: “The potential for PV systems in Switzerland is not 50 GW, but 65 GW. The PV Barometer shows why: the efficiency of PV modules has risen from 17% to 22% since the evaluation of their potential. This means that 30% more PV power can be installed on the same roof surface.” This increase in efficiency is accelerating the energy transition.
The key findings at a glance
- The average performance level of a module has increased from 17% ten years ago to 22%.
- Around 30% of this performance increase is due to higher module efficiencies and around 20% to larger modules.
- In more than half of the cases, a battery storage system has been integrated.
- The underlying data shows a decline in the market share of the European inverter manufacturers from more than 80% in 2020 to well below 40% in 2024.
'The PV barometer shows why the potential for PV systems in Switzerland is not 50 GW, but 65 GW.'
Trends and technical data from the solar industry
The report shows how the technical characteristics of PV modules and inverters have changed between 2017 and 2024. In addition, the development of system and market data such as manufacturers’ market shares or the number of installed battery storage systems has also been analysed. The report provides a concise overview of how the PV industry is evolving and offers in-depth insights into emerging trends, technical advances and market changes. “The PV barometer aims to provide an additional basis for decision-making with regard to the efficient and sustainable development of photovoltaics. The tool is intended to help decision-makers in industry and politics identify market and technology trends at an early stage,” explains Matthias Wiget, Managing Director of Eturnity Ltd, which provided the data for the report.
'The PV Barometer aims to provide an additional basis for decision-making with regard to the efficient and sustainable development of photovoltaics.'
The data comes from an anonymised and volume-weighted consolidated database from Eturnity and has been processed together with the Laboratory for Photovoltaic Systems at Bern University of Applied Sciences.
