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Once 'Overhyped and Sexy,' Solar Tumbles
CNBS ^

Posted on 03/31/2013 4:58:00 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA

The excitement over solar power, which once attracted billions in private investment and public subsidies, has waned recently, underscoring the limitations of renewable energies and the unchallenged dominance of fossil fuels. Some of the $75 billion sector's high profile names have fallen on hard times recently - most notably Suntech Power (STP). The China-based solar panel company rattled the industry when it filed for bankruptcy last week. In its heyday, the stock traded just shy of $90 and had a market capitalization of $16 billion: on Thursday, the last day U.S. markets were open, the shares traded around for 42 cents each.

"The overall story is about growth and declining costs," said Arno Harris, chairman of the SEIA Board, in an interview. Much like the way low-cost natural gas is transforming the U.S. energy market, "[solar] costs have come down so dramatically, it's created a Darwinian environment," Harris added. He pointed to the collapse in silicon - a linchpin of solar panel manufacturing - which has led to a steep drop in prices per watt of solar panels. That amount is now less than a dollar, down sharply from $4 per watt a few years ago, making it difficult for companies to make money. Yet in many ways, Suntech's spectacular fall is a microcosm of a sector in transition, and holds lessons for U.S. solar firms. As domestic drilling and abundant natural gas has stoked expectations for U.S. energy independence, it has also sapped attention from renewable energy.

(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: energy; greenenergy; solar; yahoo
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1 posted on 03/31/2013 4:58:00 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA
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To: Red in Blue PA

Imagine that.

Ayatoilet Barky’s fair-haired boy crashed.


2 posted on 03/31/2013 4:59:35 AM PDT by Westbrook (Children do not divide your love, they multiply it.)
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To: Red in Blue PA

Once ‘Overhyped and Sexy,’ Solar Tumbles

The excitement over solar power, which once attracted billions in private investment and public subsidies, has waned recently, underscoring the limitations of renewable energies and the unchallenged dominance of fossil fuels


Call me optimistic, But I do hope to see a similar headline about Obama and company soon.


3 posted on 03/31/2013 5:01:06 AM PDT by The Working Man
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To: Red in Blue PA

Because we have enough cheap natural gas to last for hundreds of years, we don’t need ethanol, solar or wind projects. They are money pits created by enviro-nazis in their quest to remake America into a third-world hovel. The first move in dismantling these atrocities is eliminating the EPA, Nixon’s biggest blunder.


4 posted on 03/31/2013 5:03:17 AM PDT by txrefugee
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To: txrefugee

It was simply a technology bubble. In the 1970s...everyone felt that solar would arrive one day. Well...by the late 1990s...the crowd felt solar was now on the verge of arriving and delivering a massive contribution to society. They guessed wrong. Solar has yet to arrive.

When your entire house can run on half the amount of power that you currently consume....and the solar apparatus on your roof can deliver one-hundred percent of what you need at least 200 days out of the year....then it’ll amount to something. Today’s just not that day.


5 posted on 03/31/2013 5:10:12 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: Red in Blue PA

About three years back, my wife had someone come over to do an estimate for a solar system on our house to supplement our regular power. As part of the estimate, they did an analysis of how long it would take us to break even on the investment. It was 20 years—I kid you not. And I’m sure they were being as optimistic as possible.

No thanks.


6 posted on 03/31/2013 5:16:22 AM PDT by rbg81
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To: pepsionice

The only viable green energy is hydroelectric so naturally the greenies are desperate to tear out as many dams as possible.


7 posted on 03/31/2013 5:22:57 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: rbg81
break even on the investment. It was 20 years...

And may I presume that was WITH heavy federal subsidies and tax breaks, in other words, other taxpayers helping to shift the break-even from 40 years to 20?

8 posted on 03/31/2013 5:29:51 AM PDT by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: Red in Blue PA

End all subsidies for solar, wind, ethanol, and oil now,
and see which one is standing in two years. Hint: The only one that is economically viable.


9 posted on 03/31/2013 5:39:01 AM PDT by Fireone (Impeach and imprison, NOW! Treason and murder are still crimes.)
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To: txrefugee

Solar has it’s place. As you drive the interstates you see lots of installations of solar panels powering various devices and far removed from wires.

The same is true for say pumping water on remote pastures some distance away from wires. Ditto residences far removed from wires.


10 posted on 03/31/2013 5:44:22 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 .....History is a process, not an event)
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To: Red in Blue PA

Fewer and fewer people are convinced of the environmental damage fossil fuels are causing. Thanks to skeptics and the alternative press, the hoaxes and exaggerations have come to light.

The cycle of global warming has ceased and may be reversing. It’s gotten to the point where we barely hear the term global warming any longer. It’s been replaced with the term climate change which is an all encompassing term that any natural disaster (unusual heat, cold, snow, storms, earthquakes, etc.) can be blamed on.

Doesn’t help matters that whenever and wherever there is a global summit on the matter, a brutal cold snap with accompanying snow and ice appears. This is especially the case whenever Al Gore is due to make an appearance. :)


11 posted on 03/31/2013 5:44:25 AM PDT by randita
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To: txrefugee
The first move in dismantling these atrocities is eliminating the EPA, Nixon’s biggest blunder.

Oh no, the EPA and DHS will one day be combined. Ya know, like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees morphed into the Department of WAFTGAWAHTHY (we are from the government and we are here to help you). How's your meds holding out?

12 posted on 03/31/2013 6:05:13 AM PDT by VRW Conspirator (Cyprus - the beginning)
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To: bert

Indeed.

Solar has its place...So does the occasional windmill. Everything “has its place”.

The atrocities occur when the greenies want THEIR projects to usurp everything else.


13 posted on 03/31/2013 6:06:02 AM PDT by left that other site (Worry is the darkroom that developes negatives.)
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To: pepsionice
...the crowd felt solar was now on the verge of arriving and delivering a massive contribution to society.

At best, solar panels can be purchased at $4-5 per watt, IIRC. The commercial efficiency is about 15%. Laboratories claim efficiencies of 30% to 50% (that and $4.50 will get you a Frappuccino at Starbucks) . The real improvement over the years was in the durability of a panel; the warrantees are into 20 years, again IIRC.

The breakthroughs that the market was and is waiting for is in cost of manufacturing and efficiency. Bring the cost per watt down and get more power out per panel, and all the while keep the quality/longevity the same. We are still waiting. Of course, if you can bribe an "expert" in solar energy to endorse a new manufacturing process, you too can get a huge govmint subsidy.

The math: with an average electric bill of $200-300 a month as the method of recouping any costs ideally ($12, 000 to $18,000 over 5 years), how much is a homeowner willing to spend up front? The numbers are actually less attractive.

14 posted on 03/31/2013 6:30:00 AM PDT by VRW Conspirator (Cyprus - the beginning)
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To: Red in Blue PA

Schadenfreude .. when AlGork’s misery just cries out for some salt rubbed in !


15 posted on 03/31/2013 6:45:02 AM PDT by tomkat ( .. I repeat it, sir, let it come)
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To: Red in Blue PA

the reason solar was doomed from the start is simple: once you get set up with a workable system, you no longer have to buy anything from the conglomerates that support he political system. Can’t have people having real independence now, can we?


16 posted on 03/31/2013 6:56:51 AM PDT by jdub (A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.)
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To: VRW Conspirator

Because of the proliferation of Chinese panels, the arrays themselves are now down to around $1 per watt. Panels rated at 250 watts can be had for less than $300. Then add in the balance of the equipment: wiring, inverter, control center, grid-tying, installation, etc. - maybe another $1.50 to $2 per watt - less if you can DIY the install.

WITH federal and state subsidies via tax-credits (65% combined here in NC), you can re-coup costs in 5 years. Plus, you’re fixing your cost of electricity, vs. being subject to regular increases from your utility company.

WITHOUT subsidies, it’d take 15 years to pay for itself. Panels degrade over time, and the typical warranty is that they’ll produce 80% of their rating at 25 years. That means break-even at best vs. doing nothing.

If costs continue to decline, you’ll probably see more adoption - at least until the subsidies expire in 2016 (unless renewed). I’m half-considering it myself - I’m way over-taxed, and this would be a way I could get some of it back. But it will be an economic decision - not because I’m worried about the size of my carbon footprint.


17 posted on 03/31/2013 7:00:08 AM PDT by Be Free (I believe in gun control. The more people that control their own guns, the safer we'll all be.)
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To: left that other site

———.So does the occasional windmill.———

I hiked into the far back country of Philmont Scout Ranch. They have wells at the back country camps and once had windmills. The windmills were replaced by battery electric pumps and an array of solar cells.


18 posted on 03/31/2013 7:00:32 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 .....History is a process, not an event)
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To: bert

Well there you go...everything has its place. Whatever WORKS is good. :-)

Solar doesn’t work too well in New England, for example.

However, in Israel, everybody has a little solar array on top of their house to make their own hot water.

Unfortunately, the left HATES Israel, so their successes in “alternative energy” don’t count! LOL.

Which brings us to the crux of the matter.

Solar and wind are not scientific...they are POLITICAL.

JMO, of course.


19 posted on 03/31/2013 7:05:27 AM PDT by left that other site (Worry is the darkroom that developes negatives.)
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To: Red in Blue PA

Much like the way low-cost natural gas is transforming the U.S. energy market, “[solar] costs have come down so dramatically, it’s created a Darwinian environment,” Harris added. He pointed to the collapse in silicon - a linchpin of solar panel manufacturing - which has led to a steep drop in prices per watt of solar panels. That amount is now less than a dollar, down sharply from $4 per watt a few years ago, making it difficult for companies to make money.


Read the article people. The costs of solar have come down from $4 a watt to $1 a watt. Does this prove that ultimately solar will succeed? Of course not. But it does show that the technology itself is making progress and in so doing has made it harder for individual companies to make money. If I were a solar advocate I would tend to think this supports the case for the technology not detracts from it. If the cost per watt had stayed the same or gone up that would be a failure scenario IMHO.


20 posted on 03/31/2013 7:10:55 AM PDT by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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