China’s Growing Share Of Solar Market Comes At A Price
(Excerpted from the Washington Post)

Growth in global solar manufacturing capacity is outpacing global demand, and prices of solar energy products are plunging. And while U.S. politicians portray Chinese firms as heavily subsidized rivals gobbling up global market share, Chinese solar companies are suffering from some of the same ills afflicting their U.S. competitors.

Some of China’s biggest companies are losing money, shelving capital expenditure plans and looking to conserve dwindling reserves of cash.

For consumers, the cutthroat competition is a good thing. Wholesale solar panel prices have dropped as much as 50 percent this year, and retail prices are less than half what they were five years ago. Industry experts say that the day is near when solar can compete against other energy sources without subsidies.
In certain places and at certain times of day, it’s already viable. Meanwhile, analysts say, if China wants to subsidize solar products, Americans can buy more of them.

...China’s expanding industry has meant more jobs. Cheap panels fuel greater sales — and installation accounts for more than half of U.S. solar industry jobs.

... U.S. solar panel manufacturers and people who believe that solar manufacturing can become part of a new “clean technology” economy are unhappy. They believe that the flood of Chinese solar cells is a textbook case of dumping — an economic term to describe when foreign companies overwhelm a market with cheap goods to drive competitors out of business. Later, after gaining control of that market, the foreign companies can jack up prices.

Chinese panels are selling for less than $1 a watt, while those made elsewhere sell for about 20 percent more, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

China supplies nearly half of U.S. solar panel imports — 44.6 million units in the first eight months of the year, up from 3.8 million in 2008, according to an anti-dumping petition filed by a group of U.S. firms.

...the top Chinese solar panel makers, reported losses for the third quarter and warned investors the outlook was grim.

...China is...re-creating “the old pattern of economic development"... Like many Chinese industries from the past, the solar industry is supported by subsidies and loans from state-owned banks; it imports equipment, thrives on low-margin, high-volume exports and often violates basic environmental standards in disposing of waste.
The U.S. economy, by contrast, focuses on jobs that add more value — research, design and equipment manufacture — and it captures profits at the retail level.

“I’m worried that what we see in China is...a pattern where existing technologies — sometimes mature, sometimes not — are ramped up rapidly, expanded quickly, because they have access to government support...“That kind of support has a danger because it distorts the overall global environment for these newly emerging technologies — technologies that are important for all of us.” (Barry Naughton:Economics Prof. @ U of California-San Diego)

...“the part of the process that China excels in is energy-intensive and not environmentally friendly.”
She adds that solar is “clean, green technology, but only after you manufacture it” — and not if it’s all exported." (Joanna Lewis: Prof. of Science-Technology-International Affairs @ Georgetown U]

“Solar panel manufacturers in China are not so much in a technology business as a commodity one... They get into the game by buying expensive assembly line equipment (mostly from American suppliers). They produce a product identical to that of their many other Chinese competitors, and then they try to hang on by producing at massive scale and tiny profit margins.” ( MIT Prof. Edward Steinfeld and MIT researcher Jason Lee)

“The price of solar had to come down for it to become mainstream... The question is, can you compete? And that depends on technology. The best technology is going to win here." (Victor Abate: Vice President of Renewables @ GE)

www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/chinas-growing-share-of-solar-market-com es-at-a-price/2011/11/21/gIQAhPRWyO_story.html



China Signs Grants in Jamaica As The Asian Powerhouse Steps Up Investments Across Caribbean
... Chinese vice premier, Wang Qishan, announced he wanted to see the implementation of more projects that focus on finance, infrastructure and tourism.
China's ministry of commerce announced that Beijing intends to collaborate on solar energy projects and the construction of schools.

http://blog.gfbcproductions.biz/2011/09/20/china-signs-grants-in-jamaica-as-the- asian-powerhouse-steps-up-investments-across-caribbean/



Interview with Roger Chang, President of the Jamaica Solar Energy Association
The Caribbean’s green energy movement has made strides in recent years, from a burgeoning geothermal sector on islands like Nevis and Dominica to wind farms like the one at Wigton in Jamaica.
It’s Jamaica, however, which is also on the cusp of potentially major headways in solar power, an energy source that is beginning to find traction in the region.
Recently, the Jamaican governmen t announced the renegotiation of some terms of the licence of theJamaica Public Service Company, which include net billing, or the ability of Jamaicans who use green energy to actually sell unused energy back to the grid.

Jamaica's residential solar projects: For the most part, they are battery systems, which are very expensive and have a long payback period. I envision that by next year, the take-up for renewable energy should be much greater.

What is the biggest challenge in moving solar energy forward in Jamaica?
...once we have the net billing on stream, that will help. Once we have the finances in place, it’s just a matter of public awareness and education. Like I mentioned, we’re on the verge of having consumers being able to purchase a PV system with the monthly repayment towards their loan being about the same as their current JPS bill. And that in itself should increase the take-up tremendously.

Where do you see green energy in Jamaica in a decade?
I envision that we will meet our target of 20 percent renewables, definitely within 10 years. (Roger Chang: President of JSEA)

www.caribjournal.com/2011/12/07/interview-with-roger-chang-president-of-the-jama ica-solar-energy-association/

How much does a 210 watt 12volt solar panel cost in Junction?

Sunny...Disposition...Although this is not an endorsement, since you mentioned Junction, you might want to check with:

LINK: www.go-greenjamaica.com

Rory Sinclair - Sales Mngr.

GREEN LANTAN ENERGY
WIND & SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTS

TEL: (876) 467-6643
EMAIL: GreenLantan@gmail.com
SKYPE: Greenlantanenergy
FACEBOOK: GO GREEN JAMAICA

He's located in the Lilitz District near Junction.

ACE: The Experienced Mandeville Solar PV/Small Wind Turbine Connection:

LINK:
www.aceja.biz/index.php?p=PVWorks