Panasonic Abruptly Exits Solar Market on April 28, Disrupting 5-MW Installer Forecasts
Updated
Updated · Solar Power World · Jul 21
Panasonic Abruptly Exits Solar Market on April 28, Disrupting 5-MW Installer Forecasts
1 articles · Updated · Solar Power World · Jul 21
Summary
April 28 blindsided New Jersey installer Public Service Solar when Panasonic abruptly quit the residential solar market just after requesting its January 2026 forecast for 5 MW of panels and batteries.
That exit forced an immediate scramble for replacement supply in an already tight market, with Public Service Solar first turning to REC, then pivoting to Maxeon after REC's Singapore plant fire and later facing Maxeon customs delays.
Battery sourcing proved less disruptive because the installer had already sold FranklinWH systems, giving it a quicker alternative to Panasonic's EverVolt line.
January 2026 brought another aftershock when Panasonic shut its battery monitoring portal, complicating service calls until SolaX recently took over the monitoring apps.
The episode reinforced Public Service Solar's strategy of avoiding reliance on a single premium brand as tariffs, trade probes and supply constraints keep the U.S. residential solar market volatile.