Developers are surpassing the manufacturers in the U.S. solar energy market.UU...
In August, two American companies - Evergreen Solar Inc. (ESLRQ) and start-up Inc. SpectraWatt - requested protection for bankruptcy. A third company, headquartered in Solon Germany (SOO1.)(XE), announced that would close your Arizona solar panels factory.
The U.S. market.UU. for the installation of solar panels, however, it has never been better. Many analysts predict the US sales of photovoltaic solar modules that convert sunlight into electricity, is expected to double this year to about 2,000 megawatts.
Federal and State subsidies which compensate for the price of the installation and the requirements of renewable energy in California, New Jersey, and other States are driving the market. A recent steep fall in prices of solar panels, caused by weak demand in Europe and an oversupply of China, has made solar panels more competitive against conventional energy and other renewable energies, such as solar thermal, wind and geothermal.
Despite growing facilities, manufacturers are feeling a pinch. Prices have fallen faster that many manufacturers have reduced costs and smaller manufacturers in expensive countries feel the pain more than large firms operating in China and other low-cost countries.
"You can make any money in U.S. manufacturing."UU. "because it can not compete", said Paula Mints, an analyst of the solar market at Navigant Consulting.
United States manufacturers of solar panels provide about 6% of the global demand in 2010. That figure is likely to decrease this year, predicted Mints.
Solon decided to close its U.S. factory.UU. before the recent fall of prices due to the large, low price manufacturers Chinese had scaled up to production, said Ed Wegener, Vice President of operations of Solon Americans.
"For us, I think we could do what is essentially a commodity, from Chinese players, which didn't make sense," Wegener said in an interview. "We realized the reality before what some people have."
Solon still has three factories in Europe. In the United States.UU., the company will sell its European panels and build projects using some of its own panels and some made by Asian rivals.
As part of a plan to boost us.UU. renewable energy generation and the generation of employment, the Obama administration has provided nearly $1.6 billion in loan guarantees to $14.3 billion in guarantees of loans to solar power plants and solar manufacturers developers.
Headquartered in the United States.UU. First Solar Inc. (FSLR), one of the largest manufacturers in the world of publishing and development is receiving more than $5.3 million in loan guarantees for the construction of four large solar parks. The company has a solar panel factory in Ohio, but makes most of its products in Malaysia. First Solar not sought a loan guarantee for a second factory to us.UU. It is building. Company executives have suggested the United States.UU. You can support better manufacturing through the creation of financial incentives in the long term and a national renewable energy requirement.
While the manufacture of solar panels is likely to continue migrating to China and other Asian countries, U.S. companies is provided many of the giants of the Chinese industry. MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (WFR) and Hemlock Semiconductor-based supply silicone raw materials necessary to manufacture solar wafers, while Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) makes solar-producto for the manufacture.
The value of those exports exceeded the value of solar panels imported in 2010 by half, or nearly $2 billion, according to a study conducted by GTM Research and the United States.UU. Solar Energy Industries Association.
"There is no doubt that the trend of Chinese manufacturers gaining share in the United States."UU.,"said Shayle Kann, GTM researcher and author of the report, in an interview." "At the same time, we still have these polysilicon large holder and equipment manufacturers, still manufacturing in the United States."UU. "and the sale to China."