Solar – Its what’s in the news!

Smart Energy Portal has certainly ran enough articles on solar over the last few months and the editorial section, Insights, has had plenty of grist for its mill. Here are a few, if you missed them :

Is the Solar Glass Half Full or Half Empty? 

Battlefield Solar: Are We Seeing a Partial Collapse of the Global PV Industry? 

Not to pile on Solyndra but…Where Was that Junior Engineer?!

Too many articles on one energy topic maybe, but the solar PV industry is in such a transition right now that at least one intriguing story comes out every day.

For a recent example, how about the Honolulu-based polysilicon maker Hoku Corporation that built a plant in Idaho to make use of Idaho’s low electric and labor costs. But now, because of high competition/low margins and resulting lack of capital in the PV industry, Hoku is in danger of having its lights turned off due to non-payment of its electric bill. See Hoku Can’t Pay Its Electric bill in Idaho, Freezing Temps May Destroy $390M plant

And there are the tax assessors who can’t figure the best way to tax solar facilities that have been financed partially through tax subsidies? Towns puzzled over solar panel taxes 

And let us not neglect the possibilities of bikini solar-powered iPods: Solar-Power Gadgets Pave Way to More Uses 

Still, through all the razzle dazzle and solar industry shake-out, if you follow the money you can see that PV is expected to settle down and become a legitimate, major part of the resource portfolio landscape.

Expect more turmoil in the solar industry over the next few years as the industry winnows out the smaller players through price wars, mergers and acquisitions.

Even big oil is heavily invested in the game.  For example, Europe’s third-largest oil producer now owns two thirds of Sun Power. See Total ‘Doubling Down’ on Solar by Increasing Stake in SunPower  

So the solar industry is maturing – but its teenage years are providing plenty of reading entertainment.

About the Author

Editor:

Paul Mauldin

Paul earned his B.S. and an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of California-Berkeley and is a registered professional engineer. He has worked in the energy industry for more than 25 years, developing and implementing advanced energy technologies. As research director for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. he pioneered methodologies used in the design, maintenance and control of energy delivery systems. As a consultant he has provided guidance to utilities and the vendor community, nationally and internationally.