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An article written originally in French by Normand Gosselin for Electricite plus and translated by an automatic tool.
Électricité Plus interviewed Mr. Martin Lambert of Ecosolaris, a solar component distributor based in Laval, to get his perspective on the current state of the Quebec market. His company has been in business for over 18 years and employs about thirty people. Over the years, Ecosolaris has carried out several projects in various African countries. We asked him why these countries do business with them: “It’s because Quebec has developed strong expertise in off-grid solar installations, and the province’s reputation, like that of Hydro-Québec, has crossed many borders. We have installed many cottages, outfitter lodges, and remote industries in Quebec, and it works well,” he added.
As for pricing, Martin Lambert mentioned a steady decrease in solar panel costs over the past fifteen years—around 90%—while solar energy is on the verge of surpassing wind power worldwide. In his view, just in the past year alone, panels have dropped by about 15%. And yet, distributors’ profit margins on these panels range only between 15% and 20%. Currently, a single panel—such as a 450W bifacial panel—costs about $0.50/W; purchasing a full pallet (30 to 36 panels) reduces the price by nearly 20% (10 to 15¢). Competition is fierce in Quebec.
