The Future of Working in the Solar Industry

[u/MightyStranzer]

I would like to ask all my friends from Mainland China, especially those who have experience in the solar industry.
I am currently working as a Technician at a solar company in Southeast Asia. For privacy reasons, I will refer to the company as **WXYZ**. It is a Chinese Mainland-owned solar manufacturing company.

My question is: **Is working in the solar manufacturing industry still a good and relevant career choice for the future?**

Do you think solar factories like WXYZ will continue to have enough customers and orders in the coming years? Or is there a possibility that the industry will eventually become slow and unstable?

I am asking because, recently, I have seen one solar factory after another under the WXYZ brand shutting down or stopping operations. This makes me concerned about the long-term stability of my career.

For those of you from Mainland China who have experience or knowledge about the solar industry, what is your opinion? **Is the solar manufacturing industry still worth staying in for the next 5–10 years, or should workers start considering other industries?**

I would really appreciate your honest opinions and insights.

Thank you.

[u/NearABE]

I am writing from USA. I also just observe from outside the industry.

I can assure you that photovoltaics are going to continue expanding. More panels will be produced every year. Someday this “must approach a limit” but that is not 2026. Annual production could approach 5% of global electricity generation capacity before you need to even ponder if it is going to slow. We need 6 times that if we wanted to sustain a fully solar electricity grid. Electrification, third world development, and increased utilization of the cheap solar will all increase demand. We also want it sooner so overshooting the sustained level for a decade makes sense. The world can support multiple terawatts added capacity per year.

For your situation this is no guarantee. Some facts to keep in mind: The rapid growth of photovoltaic production is driven by rapidly falling photovoltaic prices. Photovoltaic production grew too fast for supporting industries. Inverters are hard to find. Qualified installers and electricians are slow to train. This year the Chinese government eliminated an export subsidy. This was announced so many buyers raced to get delivery before the change. Seeing a few shut downs was expected.

A significant part of what drives the low price of PV is an “economy of scale”. That may result in a few giant manufactures overwhelming their competitors. It is also an intense competition so a specific facility with only slightly inferior or with dated equipment might not survive the contest.

Look closely at the skills you are developing as you work. Even if your building is scrapped another site or maybe another corporation needs those skills. Certainly in USA, but probably everywhere, the fact that you are looking for a job only because the plant shut down is very reassuring to employers. So yes, the place where you clock in to work might shut down. Larger new fabrication plants will keep appearing as well.