Environment & Energy

FBaggins

(26,757 posts) Wed Jul 10, 2013, 04:39 PM Jul 2013

Germany's Solar Industry Is Imploding

Germany produced a record 23.9 gigawatts of electricity yesterday from thousands of solar photovoltaic systems, according to SMA Solar Technology.

Despite setting yet another solar world record, the collapse of Germany’s solar energy industry seems to be spreading downstream from manufacturers to distributors and installers.

On Friday, Gehrlicher Solar and Conergy, two of Germany’s leading downstream solar power companies, filed for insolvency.

...snip...

Only a few weeks ago, Siemens Siemens, the industrial conglomerate based in Munich, Germany, said it was shutting down its solar power division after enduring nearly $1 billion in losses over the past two years. Similarly, Bosch also recently said it was exiting the solar energy market after suffering significant losses.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/07/08/germanys-solar-industry-is-imploding/

12 replies

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Highlight:

Germany's Solar Industry Is Imploding (Original Post) FBaggins Jul 2013 OP

Yes - in response to cheap subsidized Chinese PV modules jpak Jul 2013 #1

If that's the case AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #3

Germany will have 52 GW of PV capacity by 2018 - nearly double what they have today (34 GW) jpak Jul 2013 #4

Who is William Pentland? AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #6

You might want to check your math. FBaggins Jul 2013 #10

Yes - Germany is installing lots of PV capacity.... jpak Jul 2013 #11

Yes, that's it Yo_Mama Jul 2013 #12

FBaggins? ... Trajan Jul 2013 #2

Amen. They think we don't recognize fossil fuel propaganda when we see it. ZRT2209 Jul 2013 #7

Obviously you can't. FBaggins Jul 2013 #8

We agree on the last sentence. FBaggins Jul 2013 #9

The comments after the posted article are interesting, iemitsu Jul 2013 #5

jpak

(41,759 posts)

1. Yes - in response to cheap subsidized Chinese PV modules

Reply to FBaggins (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 04:41 PM

Jul 2013

Just like the US PV industry.

Try again.

yup

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

3. If that's the case

Reply to jpak (Reply #1)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:28 PM

Jul 2013

Why is it also hurting installers?

jpak

(41,759 posts)

4. Germany will have 52 GW of PV capacity by 2018 - nearly double what they have today (34 GW)

Reply to AtheistCrusader (Reply #3)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:33 PM

Jul 2013

There is a lot of installing that will happen between now and then.

Try again.

Yup

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

6. Who is William Pentland?

Reply to jpak (Reply #4)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:39 PM

Jul 2013

Is he in any way credible on the claim that installers and distributors are hurting? (Forbes Magazine Contributor)

What do you mean by 'try again'?

FBaggins

(26,757 posts)

10. You might want to check your math.

Reply to jpak (Reply #4)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 06:06 PM

Jul 2013

That would be a tad over 50% more than they currently have. Not "nearly double"

18 additional GWs capacity over the next 5.5 years would be just a bit over 3 GW/year... but they've been installing 7-8 GWs/year in recent years.

That still "a lot of installing" compared to almost anyone else... but it's also a big hit to an industry scaled for twice the business.

It's worth noting, however, that they originally expected to hit that goal in 2030. So it's still an incredible story.

jpak

(41,759 posts)

11. Yes - Germany is installing lots of PV capacity....

Reply to FBaggins (Reply #10)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 06:10 PM

Jul 2013

and dumping nuclear.

Win Win

Yup

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)

12. Yes, that's it

Reply to jpak (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 11, 2013, 05:38 AM

Jul 2013

and it seems that those Chinese cos are running at a loss.

This was inevitable.

Trajan

(19,089 posts)

2. FBaggins? ...

Reply to FBaggins (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:06 PM

Jul 2013

I am guessing you are in the employ of a coal production organization, using DU to spread anti-solar propaganda ... am I wrong?

Are you an executive in the energy industry? ... or just a coal miner? ... Perhaps a refinery operator? ... Got some oil wells in your back yard?

Let us know, so we can understand where your coming from ...

NOTE: Solar has thankfully been pursued even when it wasn't profitable, because it was wise ... it is still wise ...

ZRT2209

(1,357 posts)

7. Amen. They think we don't recognize fossil fuel propaganda when we see it.

Reply to Trajan (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:46 PM

Jul 2013

FBaggins

(26,757 posts)

8. Obviously you can't.

Reply to ZRT2209 (Reply #7)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:53 PM

Jul 2013

You two might try reading the author's bio. It would help avoid this unnecessary embarrassment.

FBaggins

(26,757 posts)

9. We agree on the last sentence.

Reply to Trajan (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:56 PM

Jul 2013

The rest of the post was pretty ridiculous.

iemitsu

(3,888 posts)

5. The comments after the posted article are interesting,

Reply to FBaggins (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 05:35 PM

Jul 2013

they range from A to Z. It is obvious that people say what they want to say and believe what they want to believe regardless of what the evidence suggests. It is also obvious that Americans are not taught any standard methodological approach to figuring out the truth.
The best comments came from those, who recognized that the article was not well documented and drew conclusions that were not supported by any evidence and that seemed to contradict the basic facts laid out in the introduction.

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