How to add an empty element in a JSF panelGrid?

Use an empty <h:panelGroup>.

<h:panelGrid columns="2">
    <h:outputLabel value="row1"/>
    <h:outputLabel value="row2"/>

    <h:panelGroup />
    <h:outputLabel value="row2"/>

    <h:outputLabel value="row1"/>
    <h:outputLabel value="row2"/>
</h:panelGrid>

See also:

  • Java EE tutorial - <h:panelGrid>

Unrelated to the concrete problem, are you in basic HTML terms very well aware of when you should be using <h:outputLabel> instead of <h:outputText>? If not, carefully read Purpose of the h:outputLabel and its "for" attribute.