Two Taiwanese companies are moving from computer components manufacturing into solar panels and components. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has plans to make solar cells and LED lights while Powercom will
branch out and build solar panels, polysilicon, and solar cells as well
as continuing to build inverters for solar panels. How quickly these
companies bring their products to market could have an impact on
prices. If there is an abundant supply of panels, will prices drop?
If so, how low will they go? Will home owners that have been waiting
for prices to drop, take action and thereby spur demand? Will coal
fired utilities begin to purchase more solar projects in order to meet
state requirements for renewable energy?
Recent reduced demand for electricity, combined with abundant new supplies is dropping the price of natural gas from a high of $13 per million BTU last summer to $4 per million BTU currently. This low price is now competing with cheaper coal. Natural gas is cheaper to transport and burns more efficiently and has fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal making it more attractive to utilities that are keeping an eye on coming carbon emission regulations. There is still the overriding question, will natural gas prices continue to remain low, or will they spike like oil prices? The benefit of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal, is once they are built and paid for, the fuel is free.
A new report from the Center for American Progress describes how many green jobs will be created in each state with private and government stimulus spending. Most of the funding would come from the private sector, with some government spending on incentives, subsidies and regulations to give direction and motivation to the private sector.
Wow,more and more people are getting into solar business now.
Posted by: solar panels | June 18, 2009 at 07:19 PM
Thanks for this useful post...
Posted by: Solar Energy Information | July 24, 2009 at 01:01 AM