[RE-wrenches] high efficiency modules in U.S.

Sat Apr 26 20:05:35 PDT 2014

Photon magazine and numerous other publications have pointed out one of the most troubling results of the collapse of PV prices. That is the fact that the manufacturers have been unable to compete on anything but low price. 

Keep in mind that global research on PV [NREL et.al.] has not stopped just because the wholesale & retail market is flat. New technology to increase cell/module efficiency and reduce production costs will become affordable and begin to return to the market only when margins begin to increase. As a result, once those profits go up manufacturers will begin to invest in these new technologies.

And when there is competition based on innovation and efficiencies, not just low prices, we’ll see a return to the market of years ago before PV just became little more than a low-priced commodity. PV is like natural gas, it’s underpriced because there is a glut of it on the market. 

A higher price for PV will also put more pressure on the SunShot  initiative to drive BOS and soft costs lower. 

Inverter costs could go a whole lot lower. Those manufacturers are not struggling like PV is struggling. The collapse of PV industry cut waste, got rid of weak companies and made the industry really work to survive. This is what needs to happen to the fat and profitable inverter industry. 

I don’t know how to bring that about but you can imagine how installed costs would benefit if inverter prices dropped 50% and PV prices rose 10%. 

My 2¢

Jim Duncan

North Texas Renewable Energy Inc

www.ntrei.com <http://www.ntrei.com/>  

NABCEP PV 031310-57

TECL-27398

ntrei at 1scom.net 

817.917.0527

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of William Korthof
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2014 10:14 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] high efficiency modules in U.S.

These anti-solar tariffs are awful! 

What a horrible disappointment--- they won't revive a dead horse (domestic PV manufacturing already folded), BP already closed its solar division, Evergreen/Astropower/countless others already folded, they won't protect Solar World (which isn't even a US company)---- 

but they will hurt consumers: 

-drive solar businesses out of the marketplace and out of business 

-less competition and fewer options in the market = lower quality and higher prices 

-lack of product 

-lack of replacement product 

-aftermarket warranty support for solar will evaporate 

/wk

William Korthof

714.875.3576

Sustainable Solutions

#956904

On Apr 25, 2014, at 7:59 AM, Jason Szumlanski <jason at fafcosolar.com> wrote:

I heard Canadian Solar prices are on the rise, and supply will be "tight and uncertain." Korean made panels were recommended as an alternative.

Jason Szumlanski

Fafco Solar

  <https://wisestamp.appspot.com/pixview.gif?p=chrome&v=3.31.0&t=1398437817077&u=d0c775731865b324> 

On Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 8:42 AM, William Dorsett <wmdorsett at sbcglobal..net <mailto:wmdorsett at sbcglobal.net> > wrote:

I was recently told by a distributor that beginning perhaps as early as mid-May, that a number of Chinese manufacturers will stop shipping to the U.S. This is response to the solar tariffs imposed by the U.S. Does anyone know which specific manufacturers have announced discontinuing shipments and how this will tighten up the supply to U.S. installers…and thereby price?

Bill Dorsett

Sunwrights

Manhattan, KS

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Kirk Herander
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2014 7:05 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] high efficiency modules in U.S.

Now that it appears Sanyo/Panasonic is no longer available, and Sunpower distribution is tightly controlled, what other high-efficiency alternatives are U.S.-available? Thanks.

Kirk Herander

VT Solar, LLC 

Un-Common quality since 1991

www.vermontsolarnow.com

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

NABCEPTM Inaugural Certificant

VT RE Incentive Program Partner

802.863.1202

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