Silver's price has skyrocketed — but one key factor could cap the rally

Silver's price has skyrocketed — but one key factor could cap the rally

Silver is both an investment metal and a key material for solar panels and electronics.Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesSilver's blistering rally may push industrial to cut back or find substitutes, Saxo says.Silver prices have surged far faster than gold as investors pile into hard assets.Silver is a core material in solar panels, making the industry especially sensitive to rising prices.Silver has outshone gold in the blistering precious-…

Silver's Rally Slams Solar Makers Struggling With Losses

(Bloomberg) — Soaring prices for silver are putting an extra squeeze on solar panel makers as they look to end more than two years of losses amid brutal competition in the sector.

By the Numbers: Efficiency deficiency

The rising cost of going green

Silver’s Rally Slams Solar Makers Struggling With Losses (Bloomberg)

Silver’s Rally Slams Solar Makers Struggling With Losses (Bloomberg) SilverSeek Fri, 01/16/2026

LONGi phases out silver in BC solar cells

Photo Credit: Artinun/Stock.Adobe.comChinese solar manufacturing giant LONGi is set to remove silver from the production of its back-contact (BC) solar cells. This move exemplifies the growing cost pressures and intensifying competition for critical materials across global clean energy supply chains. The company has indicated it will begin transitioning to base metals as a substitute from the second quarter of 2026, targeting one of the most exp…

From Silver to Copper: How Solar Giants Are Innovating to Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency

The solar industry is turning to base metals and innovation to bypass the soaring silver price. Silver’s exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity make it a critical material in the production of photovoltaics (PV). However, record-high prices are forcing key solar industry players to find more cost-effective alternatives.In a September 2025 report, BNEF analysts note that silver represents about 14 percent of the total cost of production …