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Hidden Costs of Solar Tariffs
The argument is basically tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels is going to cost US jobs, and the Solar Panels will just come from another country besides China.
My 2 cents. Chinese firms are selling below cost, because of over expansion. The result is a glut worldwide in Solar Panels. And there are subsidies on solar in the US, that with the current solar efficiency do not make economic sense. The largest Spanish Solar manufacturer just declared bankruptcy. A better use of the money for subsidies would be R&D, to increase the efficiency for solar panels and decrease battery cost that will eventually make solar have more economic sense.
Hidden Costs of Solar Tariffs - Bloomberg View Labels: Chinese Economics, made in china, solar
Solar War Heats Up
I like the idea of Solar a lot, so I have mixed feelings on this. I am surprised that Taiwanese solar manufacturers are included. The major cost, not mentioned, of solar is installation. The panels are just part of the total cost of setting up Solar.
I have gotten a lot of telemarketing calls at home (and yes, I am on the do not call list) about Solar. The callers know less about Solar that I do, so the calls are not even educational. On my most recent call, from a telemarketer, I was polite and after listening to their start by asking a question (classic sales technique), I just replied politely, I am surprised at your call, since I am on the do not call list. The person seemed surprised by that answer, and after a little bit of silence, said they would place me on their do not call list.
Global Solar Trade War Flares Up - The American InterestLabels: free trade, solar
How “Green” are China’s Solar Panels?
Great question! I am not surprised that Solar Panels manufactured in China are dirtier, than those made in Europe. The sad part is the huge environmental degradation done that is impacting the health of many Chinese people.
How “Green” are China’s Solar Panels? - The American InterestLabels: china's future, solar
China's Solar Producers - Who will be the last man standing?
It seems to be the China's Solar Companies are playing a dangerous game of musical chairs. Where each of them wants to be the last one winning. The danger is the longer they are kept on life support, the more resources they use.
At home in the past week, I have gotten 2 calls about installing Solar - and I am on a do not call list.
China Throws More Money at Failing Solar CompanyLabels: solar
The Wacky World of Solar Subsidies
I like the idea behind Solar a lot, but the strange subsidiaries don't help. I favor spending a lot of money in research to make it more economical. Another article I read mentioned fire fighters have the headache that solar panels can't be easily powered off yet, which complicates fire fighting. The latest strange tariff is by China, against a US polysilicon that is used in some solar panels.
The Wacky World of Solar Subsidies - Via Media Labels: made in china, solar, US Chinese Image
Tarrifs on Chinese Solar Panels - So what effect?
The US put tariffs on cheap Chinese solar panels last year. The allegation was the Chinese manufacturers were selling under cost. I agree with the allegation of selling under cost, unfortunately there is an over supply of solar panels and its better for the local government that usually backs a solar manufacturer to keep the jobs, and take the loss. Another allegation is that the Chinese solar panels quality is suffering, some of them not even lasting two years as costs get cut, resulting in poor quality.
A scary quote from the NY Times story Solar Industry Anxious Over Defective Panels:
Executives at companies that inspect Chinese factories on behalf of
developers and financiers said that over the last 18 months they have
found that even the most reputable companies are substituting cheaper,
untested materials.
What happened to the market for cheap solar panels, is another nations such as Malaysia now supply the US.
Disclaimer: I am a big fan of solar in theory and the technology advances are very exciting. Solar is getting closer in the Los Angeles (super sunny) area to be competitive with the price of retail electricity. And yes, I know about the storage issues (no solar at night). As well as the impact of fracking that has led to cheap natural gas in the US that is changing the economics of electricity generation. Labels: solar
Night Falls on China’s Solar Industry
Think of Solyndra, but on a much bigger scale, in the Billions. I have very mixed feelings on this. It shows the ability to create an industry through government support that has taken a huge percentage of the world market and dominates, but it has also created a huge amount of oversupply creating a solar bubble. In the US fracking has led to a huge reduction in natural gas supply that has hurt the economics of the Solar and Wind industry. Coal is still a much lower cost producer than Solar.
I am a big solar fan, and I look forward to the day Solar makes more economical sense.
Night Falls on China’s Solar Industry - Via MediaLabels: made in china, solar
China’s Solar Woes Make Solyndra Look Like Small Potatoes
$1 loss for every $3 of sales. The joke at a previous company I worked for, was the strategy was make it up with volume. This same company's hr department got an award for RIF'ing - laying off - an entire building in a day.
One one hand, it's amazing how much prices have fallen for solar, 75% since 2008. And 2/3rd's of the Solar cell manufacturing capacity is in China.
China’s Solar Woes Make Solyndra Look Like Small Potatoes - Via Meadia
And the US also claimed anti-dumping against Chinese Solar Manufacturers. And subsidies across the world are being reduced for solar.Labels: solar
$5 Billion Potential US investment in US
The Chinese Solar Machine
Good article about Solar Cell manufacturing in China, which is very relevant now with the over supply in the solar cell market and bankruptcies. Everyone was focused on exporting to Europe, which has reduced their incentives for solar, resulting in a glut of production without buyers.
Great comment:
The Chinese government did not INVEST in solar, they went on a mad drunken irresponsible spending spree, with obvious long term financial consequences for everyone.
Profits of a durable nature are not the end result of overspending, of massive incomprehensible overcapacity. Decimation of profits for everyone is the inevitable result of irresponsible overbuilding of capacity.
The Chinese Solar Machine - MIT Technology Review
Chinese manufacturers have dominated the international market for conventional solar panels by building bigger factories faster. Now they will need to innovate to maintain their lead. Labels: made in china, solar
China Solar Makers Face ‘Suicidal’ Prices on Excess Output
This makes sense, since Europe was a huge market for solar due to government support, which has been reduced due to economic issues. Which has translated to an oversupply and Chinese companies have a bad habit of just competing on price.
I would not be surprised if a forced consolidation happened soon in China of Solar Cell manufacturers.
China Solar Makers Face ‘Suicidal’ Prices on Excess Output - Bloomberg News Labels: made in china, solar
China takes lead in clean-power investment
China takes lead in clean-power investment - LA Times. Peter Drucker had a famous question, "Are you doing the right work?" The question for China and other countries, are they making the right investment in clean energy? Some countries have made massive investments in alternate energy that do not make economic sense (Spain is an example of this). The challenge is making the right investments in alternate energy that provide a long term benefit. Labels: china's future, solar
China, Silicon Valley, & Solar
Solar IPO - Real Goods Solar
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