US lagging in solar panel production, says The Information Network
Source: DIGITIMES, Taipe, Michael McManus, 19 March 2009
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20090319VL200.html
Although global solar panel production went up 48% worldwide to 5.6 gigawatts (GW) in 2008, market reserach firm The Information Network laments that the US is lagging in the market. In posing the question, “What’s worse, buying solar panels from Eurasia or oil from OPEC?” the market reserach firm noted that less than 14% of solar panel production – 750 megawatts (MW) – was produced in the US last year.
Europe produced more than 25% (1.5GW) and Asia 60% (3.3GW) in 2008, The Information Network added. However, although the use of renewable energy is lauded, the solar energy industry is also in a flux. Capacity utilization is below 50%. An oversupply of polysilicon is pushing prices of crystalline wafers below US$5 which is impacting sales of much lower efficiency amorphous silicon panels.
Due to macroeconomic issues, newly installed solar capacity will reach only 7.1GW in 2009, equivalent to a global growth rate of 26%, the research firm indicated. However, the solar panel market is expected to pick up again in 2010, growing 48% to 10.5GW of newly installed PV systems, Robert Castellano, president of The Information Network, indicated.
Castellano noted that the thin-film sector, which includes amorphous silicon, CdTe, and CIGS, will represent less than 20% of the market in 2010. Although plagued by low efficiencies in the region of 7-12%, this sector is compensated by low manufacturing costs, he added.