A trade complaint filed against China by a group of solar companies drew skeptical reviews from inside the industry, with many fearing a trade war could disrupt growth.
On Wednesday, seven US solar manufacturers asked the Obama administration to impose duties of more than 100 percent on Chinese imports, which they said were unfairly undercutting prices and destroying jobs in the US.
China's commerce ministry said on Friday that the country regrets the trade action and warned that exports of US solar-energy equipment and materials to China will fall as demand will decline because of the possible duties.
Many US and European companies supply China's industry with products used to make solar cells, while others end up buying those finished cells to put in their own solar modules.
"It's a really difficult issue for everyone," said Tom Hecht, head of US sales for Germany's Schott Solar AG. "Any trade war is damaging to the industry."
Fear of triggering retaliation by the Chinese government or angering Chinese companies appeared to be the reason that six of the companies that filed the complaint chose to remain anonymous, several industry experts said.
Only SolarWorld Industries, the US arm of Germany's SolarWorld AG, made its name public.
China's solar industry has grown rapidly over the past five years, led by companies such as Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd and Trina Solar Ltd - all of which have shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Analysts and executives have blamed the rising output of panels from China for pushing some US companies into bankruptcy this year. A glut of solar panels has helped drive down prices by about 40 percent so far this year, shrinking margins for nearly all manufacturers.
Kevin Kilkelly, SolarWorld's US president, said the Chinese companies had flooded the United States with panels at cut-rate prices simply to win market share.
"In July alone, (China's US shipments) far outweighed those from all of 2010 combined," he said. "So we said we have to take action."
Suntech, the maker of solar panels, responded to the filing by saying it was well prepared to demonstrate its strict adherence to fair international trade practices.
Many executives from the United States and Europe have privately complained for years about China's impact on the solar markets, but most have also said the business has become so globalized that penalizing one country would not help companies that are struggling to survive.
Still others seem wary of triggering a trade war that could lead to foreign companies being shut out of China, which has become one of the world's fastest-growing centers of renewable energy.
First Solar Inc, the largest US solar company and the industry's lowest-cost manufacturer, has signed agreements that could result in it building huge solar power plants in China, although it has only been involved in modest pilot projects there so far.
"What we believe in is free and open market access here and everywhere else in the world," First Solar's Chief Executive Rob Gillette told reporters at the Solar Power International trade show in Dallas this week.
Trade relations with China have become a hot issue ahead of the 2012 US presidential and congressional elections.
Last week the Senate passed a bill aimed at Beijing's currency practices, but the proposal faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives.
"The outside world looking at renewables as a whole says: 'Well, this is just proof that solar is not a business yet - let's just ignore it for another five years,'" said Julian Hawkins, head of sales and marketing for the US manufacturer Abound Solar Inc.
"I'm not really sure at times that people go through all the repercussions."
Source:http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2011-10/22/content_13955001.htm
Friday, October 21, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Solar Energy Jobs Growing In California And Across Nation
Solar energy jobs are growing throughout the United States and one in four of these jobs are held by a Californian, a new study says.
California, which ranked first in the nation for generating solar electricity, had an estimated 25,575 of the 100,237 solar-related jobs nationwide in August, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011, scheduled for release Monday by the Solar Foundation, a research and education organization in Washington, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The total for California was four times greater than the runner-up, Colorado, with 6,186 solar jobs as of last summer, the Los Angeles Times reports.
"This report shows that the solar industry is not only creating green jobs across California but that the industry is forecast to continue growing at a much faster pace than the overall U.S. economy," said Michelle Kinman, a clean-energy advocate for Environment California, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. "California industry and policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to build on this solid foundation and make solar a centerpiece of the state's energy policy."
Nationally, employment in all parts of the solar industry -- including manufacturing, installation, residential, commercial and large-scale power generation -- grew 6.8 percent in the 12 months prior to August, the study said, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Overall U.S. job growth was less than 1 percent for the same period, it said.
Growth is expected to accelerate by 24 percent, creating 24,000 jobs over the next year, based on a survey of solar employers, the Los Angeles Times reports.
"Solar is on the cusp of playing a large role in mainstream markets, said David Hochschild, vice president of Solaria Corp, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Source:http://www.thirdage.com/news/solar-energy-jobs-growing-in-california-and-across-nation_10-19-2011
Solar panels to line roof of U building $230,000 of a $1.35M grant will go toward the panels.
By the start of 2012, a building on the University of Minnesota campus will be partially powered by the sun.
The University will use $230,000 of a $1.35 million grant to install solar panels on the roof of the University Office Plaza Building. The city of Minneapolis authorized the University to use part of the grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Office of Energy Security for the installation, which will be finished by the end of the year.
Located next to TCF Bank Stadium, the building’s solar panels will create an estimated 38.4 kilowatts of solar electric power — enough energy to supply five homes a year, said Brad Hoff, chief administrative officer for Facilities Management.
“38 kW is a sizable amount, and it will provide a significant amount of energy,” said Louise Goldberg, director of the University’s Energy Systems Design Program.
But Hoff said they’ll have a small impact on reducing the University’s total energy output when compared to other energy-saving practices.
The University is hoping the panels will help save 3 to 5 percent of the building’s energy consumption, Hoff said.
Other energy-saving practices like re-commissioning — a process performed every five years that adjusts functions in University buildings like temperature levels, fan schedules and light usage — save 15 to 20 percent in energy reductions, he said. Hoff compared it to “tuning a car.”
“I think the solar panels will be a good learning experience,” he said, “but it’s not like they’re going to put a huge dent in our carbon footprint.”
Once installed, the University will create an online interface where anybody can see a live feed of the energy generated and saved by the solar panels.
The installation of solar panels at the University Office Plaza Building, which houses the Minnesota Daily suite, is part of a regional effort to improve energy sustainability.
The project is part of the Energy Innovation Corridor — a string of energy efficient projects, like LEED-certified buildings and charging stations for electric cars, along the 11-mile stretch of the Central Corridor light-rail line.
Numerous green projects along the corridor have already been completed, such as the Target Center’s Vegetated Roof, as well as installation of solar panels on the roof of the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Seven Corners Apartment Building on the West Bank and atop Fire Station 19 in Stadium Village.
The corridor is using the $1.35 million grant to harvest a total of 190.2 kW in solar electric power along the light rail.
Because most of the funding comes from a state grant, the city will make its money back from the entire network of solar panels in less than three months, according to the city.
While Goldberg appreciates the city’s commitment to alternative energy, she said she questions whether solar energy is the most effective energy source to promote.
“What really is important with renewable energy is the cost effectiveness of each dollar spent,” Goldberg said.
Source:http://www.mndaily.com/2011/10/20/solar-panels-line-roof-u-building
The University will use $230,000 of a $1.35 million grant to install solar panels on the roof of the University Office Plaza Building. The city of Minneapolis authorized the University to use part of the grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Office of Energy Security for the installation, which will be finished by the end of the year.
Located next to TCF Bank Stadium, the building’s solar panels will create an estimated 38.4 kilowatts of solar electric power — enough energy to supply five homes a year, said Brad Hoff, chief administrative officer for Facilities Management.
“38 kW is a sizable amount, and it will provide a significant amount of energy,” said Louise Goldberg, director of the University’s Energy Systems Design Program.
But Hoff said they’ll have a small impact on reducing the University’s total energy output when compared to other energy-saving practices.
The University is hoping the panels will help save 3 to 5 percent of the building’s energy consumption, Hoff said.
Other energy-saving practices like re-commissioning — a process performed every five years that adjusts functions in University buildings like temperature levels, fan schedules and light usage — save 15 to 20 percent in energy reductions, he said. Hoff compared it to “tuning a car.”
“I think the solar panels will be a good learning experience,” he said, “but it’s not like they’re going to put a huge dent in our carbon footprint.”
Once installed, the University will create an online interface where anybody can see a live feed of the energy generated and saved by the solar panels.
The installation of solar panels at the University Office Plaza Building, which houses the Minnesota Daily suite, is part of a regional effort to improve energy sustainability.
The project is part of the Energy Innovation Corridor — a string of energy efficient projects, like LEED-certified buildings and charging stations for electric cars, along the 11-mile stretch of the Central Corridor light-rail line.
Numerous green projects along the corridor have already been completed, such as the Target Center’s Vegetated Roof, as well as installation of solar panels on the roof of the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Seven Corners Apartment Building on the West Bank and atop Fire Station 19 in Stadium Village.
The corridor is using the $1.35 million grant to harvest a total of 190.2 kW in solar electric power along the light rail.
Because most of the funding comes from a state grant, the city will make its money back from the entire network of solar panels in less than three months, according to the city.
While Goldberg appreciates the city’s commitment to alternative energy, she said she questions whether solar energy is the most effective energy source to promote.
“What really is important with renewable energy is the cost effectiveness of each dollar spent,” Goldberg said.
Source:http://www.mndaily.com/2011/10/20/solar-panels-line-roof-u-building
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