We've Seen the Bottom in Solar?

We've Seen the Bottom in Solar - Motley Fool

Assuming the Economy keeps on improving, credit markets unfreeze, and technology keeps improving...

Dark Times for Solar

Dark Times for Solar - WSJ

Solar megawatts installed this year will be less than last, but prices have dropped 50%. Translation - there will be a lot of consolidation as weaker firms fail. My opinion is a good foundation for the future as cost cutting becomes more important as a competitive advantage.

Solar Growth only 40% in 2009?

Last year it was 60% growth, this year estimated is 40%. Still a huge amount of growth in my opinion, but it has a long ways to go. Global solar capacity forecast to add 5.5 GW in 09 - Reuters.

Why is this a little, because it's still less than 1% of all electricity generated. 21 Trillion Kilowatt Hours. Depressing reading - EIA - International Energy Outlook 2008-Electricity

China's Solar Subsidary

China Combats Solar Downturn With Subsidy - Environemental Leader.

Same thing the US is doing, China is also working to build their own solar industry...

I don't understand the worry about this - nothing new!

Skyline Solar mixes old technology with new

Skyline Solar mixes old technology with new - SF Gate.

Smart, they are looking at ways around the Silicon to increase efficiency and decrease costs. The Silicon is only part of the cost of a solar install. I wonder if they are also looking into methods for cooling the silicon. I like the idea of combining solar water along with solar cells.

Solar Powered Donuts?

3 Dunkin' shops get solar power - Boston Globe. My guess is solar arrays and batteries for at night. Article does not state how much of the power actually comes from solar..

Solar & Applied Materials

Per the WSJ on Applied Materials, the larger players are still able to get deals, but the smaller ones who buy their fab from Applied Materials are hurting. Interesting prospective.

Applied Materials Solar Bet II

Applied Materials says value of solar order slashed - Reuters. Looks like they are waiting for credit to unfreeze, estimates are another year.

Solar in Singapore - Waiting for Parity

Solar panels wait for sunny outlook in Singapore - Reuters.

They believe that parity will happen within a decade, and then the government will back Solar.

Interesting...

Limit Solar in US Deserts

Feinstein wants desert swath off-limits to solar, wind projects - LA Times.

Interesting, I don't understand the politics behind this.

Solar in the US - Up 17%

US installed solar capacity up 17 percent in 2008 - Reuters.

US - 8775 megawatts overall solar. Claims Texas has more Solar than California.

From another report (claims California is leading the way on solar):
Germany - 3,830 megawatts PV Solar, #1 in the world.

Another report - http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5449

And another reference: U.S. Is Virtually A Non-Player In The Solar Power Production Business

I need to figure out what this really means

Harnessing the Sun, With Help From Cities

Harnessing the Sun, With Help From Cities - NY Times.

Not a very positive article.

Solar's prospects dim, at least for near term

Solar's prospects dim, at least for near term - Mercury News.
Statewide, the three big investor-owned utilities, including PG&E, received about half the applications in January and February that they had in each of the last four months of 2008.

Translation - economy, credit freeze, and decrease in rebates are taking their toll.

LA Prop B Seems defeated?

LA solar plan measure continues to trail - Los Angeles Times - ‎Mar 4, 2009‎

Unofficial results show 50.3% opposing it and 49.7% in favor. Coalition of politicians, labor leaders and environmentalists hopes 46000 uncounted ballots

My guess is when the absentee ballots are counted it will trail even more, usually absentee ballots are pretty conservative.

The question is why did it go down to defeat?

Solar Supply and Demand

Solar Panel Drops to $1 per Watt: Is this a Milestone or the Bottom for Silicon-Based Panels? - Popular Mechanics.

Argh!!! Very basic idea of supply and demand. If the demand increases without an increase in supply, there will be a price increase. And then the supply will increase due to the higher margins that will increase the supply. Basic law of economics. The article seems to worry if the price of solar goes too low, the supply won't be enough.

Solar Over Expansion?

German solar company to build $1B plant in Tenn. The Associated Press - ‎Feb 26, 2009‎. The plant is making hyperpure polycrystalline silicon.

Cost of solar installation has fallen in decade

Cost of solar installation has fallen in decade - SF Chronicle. 28% from 1997 to 2007. Average price right in California is $8.10 per kilowatt, and per another study needs to fall below $5 to be economical.

Another report mentioned prices will fall another 10-20% this year due to decreased demand hitting prices due to the credit crunch. Estimate $7.30 to $6.50. Now, is electricity going to stay around $5 per kilowatt? Will there be increased efficiencies in manufacturing? New processes? New installation processes to cut costs? Economies of scale? Hmm... The fun of forecasting!

Yes on solar, no on this solar program

Yes on solar, no on this solar program - LA Times.

Opponents of a measure on the LA city ballot to increase solar usage.

Major Solar Price Descreases

GOOD NEWS: Solar Photovoltaic Prices Seen Falling - via Instapundit.

Already a 25% drop in the last 6 months, and another 10% expected by the end of the year.

Very exciting.

ANALYSIS-Solar shakeout less likely to hit wafers, silicons

ANALYSIS-Solar shakeout less likely to hit wafers, silicons - Reuters.

Translation - because they have longer contracts they should be OK, where B2C and B2B (selling to end users) don't have this luxury.