March 2009  

Speculation on Solar Futures Hits Overdrive

Dan Martin
Executive VP, Photovoltaics

Amidst the world economic recession and credit crisis, the solar industry is quickly amassing nearly as many predictions of gloom and doom as it did wildly optimistic forecasts a year ago. Some analysts claim the "worst is not yet over" and that the "shakeout will be brutal." They predict the "higher cost of finance continues to choke-off growth", sinking ASPs, "demand destruction," even the loss of subsidies due to falling government tax receipts.

No doubt the global recession will impact the photovoltaic (PV) industry, but some forecasts suggest a massive restructuring is around the corner. One analyst sees a "handful of vertically integrated giants will emerge to dominate the industry." Another sees, "application wars" possibly yielding a "clear winner." While some solar ventures without a realistic business model will surely disappear, deep industry consolidation and vertical integration won't happen in the next several years. Here's why: The recent solar bubble was driven by investor expectations--and government incentives that anticipated reaching grid parity in the next 3-10 years. (More...)

Events Calendar

	Mar 25		Pacific Northwest PV Industry Lunch
	Mar 29- Apr 3		SEMI NA Standards Meetings
	May 13-16		SEMI Europe Standards Meetings
	May 13		DOE Workshop on c-Si Terrestrial Photovoltaic Cells
	May 14		Silicon Valley PV Industry Luncheon
	May 20-22		SOLARCON Singapore 2009
	May 27-29		PV Production & Technology Hall, Intersolar Europe
	Jun 1		PV Conference at SEMICON Russia
	Jun 24-26		PVJapan 2009
	Jul 14-16		Intersolar NA at SEMICON WEST
	Oct 7-9		PV Taiwan 2009
	Nov 9-11		SOLARCON India 2009
	Dec 2-4		PV Industry Symposium at SEMICON Japan

PV Production and Technology Hall at Intersolar Europe
This dedicated exhibition in hall A3, the premier conference program and associated networking opportunities with industry leaders will provide the ideal business environment for building new relationships, introducing new products and services and accelerating market growth.

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