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A Bad Year for Solar Energy

01.01.70

By virtually any yardstick, 2011 was probably a year the PV solar panel industry may like to forget. First and foremost, of course, there was the Solyndra case, which quickly morphed into a major political issue that will likely be continually revisited during the upcoming U.S. presidential campaign. Beyond its political ramifications, the Solyndra incident may eventually come to symbolize the public’s wavering enthusiasm for large-scale public funding support for the solar energy industry. Indeed, combined with recent difficulties within the ethanol industry, many may now question the economic viability of alternative energy in general, which despite its seemingly eternal promise has yet to displace traditional forms of electrical power generation such as fossil fuels.

The China Challenge

Two factors frequently cited in the demise of Solyndra are the economic downturn in Europe (which currently represents the largest single existing market for solar energy) and cheap silicon-based PV panels produced by China. The first issue will likely become less of a driver as Europe’s economy improves. However, China’s heavily-subsidized solar panel industry may present significant ongoing challenges. On the face of it, cheaper solar panels appear to be a boon to consumers, who may choose to adopt this technology more widely as up-front costs are significantly reduced. (The price of panels has come down some 70% over the past few years, with a whopping 30% to 40% reduction within the past year alone.

Source: Environmental Leader

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