**How Changes in Global Freight Costs Could Impact Solar Panels for Your Home**
If you’re considering installing solar panels for your home, there’s no better time to educate yourself on how global economic factors—such as freight costs—can impact the price you’ll pay for solar energy. In this post, I want to discuss how rising shipping prices, driven by recent trade pressures, could potentially affect the solar industry and what that means for you as a homeowner looking at solar solutions.
### Why Freight Costs Matter to Solar Companies
When thinking about solar for your home, you might focus first on the solar array itself—the advanced technology, energy-saving benefits, and environmental perks that come with it. But one element often overlooked is the logistics behind transporting the materials used in solar systems.
Most solar equipment, including photovoltaic panels, inverters, and balance of system components, are globally sourced. Many of the products, especially solar panels for homes, are manufactured in countries like China. Solar companies then must ship these products to consumers around the world, including the U.S.
However, recent moves by the U.S. government to increase tariffs on foreign imports, specifically from China and the European Union, have resulted in higher freight costs. As companies rush to import goods
Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/11/19/looming-trump-tariffs-drive-rush-on-imports-push-shipping-costs-higher/
