Automatic PV Panel Inspection Instruments Industry Research: the market valued at US$1,354 million in 2024 and projected to reach US$3,316 million by 2031

According to the recent report by QYResearch, the global market for Automatic PV Panel Inspection Instruments is on a sharp growth trajectory, driven by the adoption of advanced solar cell architectures such as TOPCon, heterojunction (HJT), back-contact designs, and the emergence of perovskite-tandem technologies. The market, valued at US$1,354 million in 2024, is projected to reach US$3,316 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.7% from 2025 to 2031. Approximately 30,000 units were produced worldwide in 2024, with an average unit price of around US$45,000.

In 2025, market momentum is reinforced by rapid advancements in inline inspection, AI-powered defect detection, and long-pulse LED simulation technologies. Shifts in global trade policy, particularly U.S. tariff adjustments, are reshaping manufacturing geographies and influencing capital investment in inspection tools.

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Latest Market Data

· Market size (2024): US$1,354 million

· Forecast size (2031): US$3,316 million

· CAGR (2025-2031): 13.7%

· Global production volume (2024): ~0.03 million units

· Average unit price (2024): ~US$45,000

· Product types: Electroluminescence (EL) inspection equipment; Photoluminescence (PL) inspection equipment

· Key applications: Quality control in PV module manufacturing; Post-installation inspection for PV plants; Operation & Maintenance fault diagnosis; R&D and laboratory testing; Others

Leading Companies

WAVELABS Solar Metrology Systems
h.a.l.m. elektronik GmbH
SCREEN Holdings Co Ltd
Meyer Burger Technology AG
Manz AG
Ingenieurbüro Mencke & Tegtmeyer GmbH (IMT)
Aurora Solar Technologies Inc
Ecoprogetti Srl
Pasán SA
Teamtechnik Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH
Camline GmbH
Viscom AG
InnoLas Solutions GmbH
Shenzhen Topraysolar Technology Co Ltd
DR. SCHENK GmbH
Wuhan Sunic Photoelectricity Equipment Co Ltd
Wuhan Osito Technology Co Ltd
Shanghai HiPeak Photoelectric Technology Co Ltd
Wuhan Lingri Electronic Technology Co Ltd
Chroma ATE Inc
TÜV Rheinland Group
Altenergy Power System Inc
JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co Ltd
Trinasolar Co Ltd
Canadian Solar Inc
JA Solar Technology Co Ltd
Hanwha Q CELLS
First Solar Inc
Risen Energy Co Ltd

Application Scope

· Quality Control in PV Module Manufacturing

· Post-Installation Inspection for PV Plants

· Operation & Maintenance Fault Diagnosis

· R&D and Laboratory Testing

· Others

Product Classification

· Electroluminescence (EL) Inspection Equipment

· Photoluminescence (PL) Inspection Equipment

Company Developments and Achievements (2024-2025)

· WAVELABS: Launched the SINUS-1000 ADVANCED mini-module testing platform designed for perovskite and tandem module R&D, featuring programmable LED spectrum tuning and extended pulse options for high-capacitance devices.

· Aurora Solar Technologies / BT Imaging: Secured the first commercial inline order for its AI-driven Intelligent PL Solutions, with a second Tier-1 inline pilot in China, marking a shift from offline PL to inline production control.

· PASAN: Integrated into a larger solar test equipment portfolio, combining xenon long-pulse and LED simulation to handle large-format, high-capacitance TOPCon and HJT modules.

· DR. SCHENK: Advanced SolarInspect inline optical platforms with high-resolution multi-channel illumination and line-scan imaging for 100% inspection coverage.

· Ecoprogetti: Expanded high-resolution ECOLAB EL HR testers with solder defect detection for both pre- and post-lamination inspection of large-format modules.

Five Product Spotlights

1) WAVELABS - SINUS-1000 ADVANCED

· Supports silicon, thin-film, and perovskite/tandem mini-modules.

· Programmable LED spectra aligned to reference standards.

· Extended pulse profiles to stabilize measurements on high-capacitance devices.

· Accelerates transition from cell R&D to pilot-scale module production.

2) h.a.l.m. elektronik - cetisPV-Moduletest4-BF

· Class A+A+A+ IV flash testing for advanced module types.

· Long-pulse capability for large-format, high-capacitance modules.

· Integrated dark IV and temperature control.

· Provides bankable measurement data with minimal error margins.

3) DR. SCHENK - SolarInspect (Sheet / RtR)

· Multi-illumination defect inspection with high-resolution line-scan cameras.

· Contamination, and print defects in real time.

· Operates at high line speeds with full inline coverage.

· Integrates with MES for process control.

4) Ecoprogetti - ECOLAB EL HR

· High-resolution NIR EL imaging before and after lamination.

· AI-based detection of cell breaks, and interconnect issues.

· Supports automated handling for large-format modules.

· Improves field reliability through early defect detection.

5) Aurora Solar Technologies / BT Imaging - Intelligent PL Solutions

· High-speed PL imaging with AI/ML defect classification.

· Enables real-time process control, binning optimization, and root-cause analysis.

· Inline deployment reduces false positives and accelerates production feedback.

· Enhances yield and narrows power-class distribution.

Downstream Customers

JinkoSolar
LONGi Green Energy
Trina Solar
JA Solar
Canadian Solar
First Solar
Hanwha Qcells
Risen Energy
Tongwei Solar
Aiko Solar
Astronergy
Suntech Power
Seraphim Solar
Maxeon Solar Technologies
REC Group

Market Trends

AI-Driven, Inline Inspection as the New Standard

The market is moving rapidly toward continuous, inline inspection using AI-powered image analysis. Manufacturers now prioritize systems capable of detecting micro-defects in real time, linking them to process stages, and feeding corrective actions back to production equipment. This approach increases first-pass yield, and improves module bankability.

Long-Pulse LED and Spectrum-Tuned Testing for Advanced Modules

With the adoption of TOPCon, HJT, and large-format modules, accurate IV testing requires extended pulse durations and precise spectral matching. Long-pulse LED simulators provide more stable results for high-capacitance devices, ensuring consistency across global production sites.

Photoluminescence Adoption Beyond the Lab

PL inspection is transitioning from a lab-based diagnostic tool to an inline process control standard. Its ability to detect bulk defects, shunts, and passivation issues before final testing allows for immediate process adjustments, improving efficiency and yield.

Field EL and Drone-Based Diagnostics

Daylight-capable EL systems and drone-mounted inspection tools are making large-scale PV plant diagnostics faster and more cost-effective. These technologies reduce inspection times, minimize downtime, and speed up warranty claim resolution.

Perovskite and Tandem Readiness

Inspection systems are increasingly required to support non-standard spectra and calibration for tandem and perovskite modules. Mini-module formats and unique interconnect designs demand flexible, high-precision measurement capabilities for R&D and pilot production environments.

Rising Quality Pressure

Independent reliability testing shows an increase in module failure rates compared to last year, particularly in mechanical stress and UV degradation tests. Manufacturers are responding by tightening in-factory inspection protocols and investing in advanced EL/PL and IV test systems.

Integration with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Inspection tools are being integrated directly into MES platforms, creating closed-loop quality control systems. This enables immediate feedback, faster correction of process deviations, and improved overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Impact of Trade Policies on Investment

New U.S. tariffs on certain Southeast Asian solar imports are prompting shifts in production investment toward domestic and alternative manufacturing hubs. This realignment is influencing where inspection equipment is deployed and how quickly new factories come online.

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