BloombergNEF has once again recognized Sungrow as the world's most bankable inverter provider in its current "Bankability Survey 2024". This is already the fifth time the Chinese manufacturer has received this title. The award is more than just a PR trophy: it directly influences which components banks and investors accept when financing solar parks – and on what terms.
BloombergNEF's ranking evaluates how trustworthy financiers rate an inverter manufacturer. Criteria include total installed capacity, long-term warranties, service coverage, and the company's financial strength. For photovoltaic system developers, a top ranking means better financing opportunities: banks offer lower interest rates and higher loan-to-value ratios when hardware is considered low-risk.
Sungrow benefits from an installed base of over 605 gigawatts worldwide and a diversified product portfolio that includes string inverters as well as energy storage and system solutions. The company offers warranties of up to 25 years and maintains service locations on all continents. These factors reduce failure risk from financiers' perspective and lower the overall costs of a solar project.
The ranking has tangible effects for the solar industry: developers who rely on components outside the top rankings often face higher financing costs or additional collateral requirements. In tenders for large solar parks, bankability is therefore frequently specified as a criterion. Manufacturers like SolarEdge also compete in this segment, but Sungrow has dominated the top positions for years.
The award also underscores the shift in market power in the photovoltaic supply chain: Chinese manufacturers not only supply the majority of global modules and inverters, but also meet the strict requirements of institutional investors. For installers and planners in Europe, this sends a clear signal: financing and insurability increasingly depend on manufacturer choice – and Sungrow sets the standard here.
Anyone planning commercial commercial PV systems with battery storage or designing large rooftop systems should consider the financiers' bankability lists already in the tender phase. This is the only way to avoid later cost increases due to more expensive financing.
