Comments on: First Solar & Sharp The Lone Non-Chinese Solar Module Leaders

By: sirplus

sirplus — Fri, 09 May 2014 02:36:00 +0000

German Brand inverters made in India.
Canadian Solar made in China.

I think this is misleading though indubitably the way the world is going.
Aside from being misleading it’s probably ok as long as there is quality and consistency, how are those things guaranteed apart from desire to build a long term good reputation?

By: gib

gib — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 05:55:00 +0000

“Chinese Tier 1 suppliers, Yingli, Suntech, Trina, and Canadian Solar hold the leading positions across seven of the 10 key regions” -> despite the name, Canadian Solar is a chinese company

By: sambar

sambar — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 01:32:00 +0000

So, isn’t Canadian Solar, a non Chinese manufacturer, a leader in it’s territory?

By: Ronald Brakels

Ronald Brakels — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 08:48:00 +0000

Maintaining position in the solar module market is a Red Queen race. You have to run as fast as you can just to stay where you are. Unit cost advantage goes to whoever as the newest production line so there is nothing about the current Chinese position that guarantees that they will lead in the future. Of course experience and low capital costs helps, so they may dominate the market for some time, but it’s definitely not a sure thing.

By: Ronald Brakels

Ronald Brakels — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 08:37:00 +0000

I just have to jump on the pile and also say that’s silly, Shecky. Have you been to China lately? While the average Chinese citizen is sorely lacking in essentials such as Justin Bieber merchandise, they are not living like slaves. Go to rural areas and see 12 year old children towering over their parents and you’ll realise that China has come a long way.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 17:25:00 +0000

China doesn’t use slaves to manufacture solar panels. China’s labor costs are rising and they are improving their environmental problems.

China dominates the solar market mainly through more efficient manufacturing and better financing options.

Solar panels have a low labor input and plants are becoming more automated. Shipping costs are rising. At some point it will make sense to manufacture closer to point of use than to ship.

Solar is in the early stages of a massive boom. It won’t be long before new plants will be needed to keep up with demand. I’m expecting manufacturing to grow in Europe, North America and South America. It may be Chinese companies opening plants outside of China, but it’s almost certain to happen.

By: shecky vegas

shecky vegas — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 16:55:00 +0000

Will China’s dominance in the labor market change? Probably not. As long as they have abundant slave labor, with no safety or environmental oversight, the greedheads at Wall Street will continue to pour money and contracts down China’s gullet.