If your Chinese solar panels are not on one of these lists, be careful!

January 16, 2014 2017-12-04T14:23:52 by 306 Comments
chinese solar panels

Some Chinese panels are top quality. But which ones?

A lot of people are wary of Chinese solar panels. China doesn’t exactly cover itself in glory with some of the low quality junk it manufactures. But, as I have said many times before, China also produces some fantastic quality stuff.

Need examples? I bet the device you are reading this blog on was made in the People’s Republic. The Macbook Pro I am writing it on certainly was and it is impeccably put together (the laptop – not the blog!). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Panels Tagged With: ,

Can Solar Trade Wars Save The West’s Solar Manufacturing Industry?

June 24, 2013 2017-10-25T10:14:21 by Leave a Comment

 

EU fighting China

Solar trade wars, what are they good for? Absolutely nuthin! Say it again! Uh! (RIP Edwin Starr)

While the ongoing dispute (AKA solar trade war) between Europe and China continues apace, an article caught your correspondent’s eye this week (and was posted in our popular Facebook Page if you’d like to comment). Perhaps the most interesting part of the article is what it hints at: the inevitable change in focus of solar power production from the West to the East.

Business Spectator covered the demise of the Israeli company Solel, which was written off by owner German industrial giant Siemens when no sellers (mugs?) could be found to take the company off Siemen’s hands. Incredibly (or maybe not so given the Chinese solar panel charge on world markets) the solar company has incurred debts of around US$1.4 billion since its acquisition by Siemens in 2009, according to the article.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Economics Of Solar Tagged With: ,

Solar’s part in globalisation’s downfall

January 21, 2013 2017-10-25T10:18:55 by 1 Comment
Chinese solar panel

Are cheap Chinese solar panels good or bad for Australia?

You remember the spiel readers? About how globalisation was going to make an awful lot of people in the Western world very rich er … save the world through the breaking down of trade barriers. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Economics Of Solar Tagged With:

Are your “Green” Solar Panels killing Chinese villagers?

October 30, 2012 2012-10-30T10:16:45 by 2 Comments
toxic waste outflow

Solar Panel production produces large quantities of toxic waste. Where does that waste go?

If you are looking to invest in solar panels for environmental reasons, you’ll be pleased to know that, the solar electricity you will get from those panels will be 40 to 50 times less carbon intensive than electricity generated from coal.

But before you buy those solar panels and start basking in their green glow, you should be aware that the environmental impact of those panels might not be all good news. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Panels Tagged With:

Time to batten down the hatches as China, EU solar trade war looms

August 3, 2012 2017-10-25T10:24:15 by Leave a Comment
chinese and EU fists

Is the next solar trade war between China and Europe?

News on the international solar front is not good this week solar fans, with rumblings of a trade war between China and the EU.

The dispute revolves around German company SolarWorld AG which has asked the European Union to investigate allegations of dumping by Chinese-based solar firms. Instead of keeping their heads down and riding out the quarrel, Chinese firms Yingli Green Energy, Suntech Power Holdings Co., Trina Solar and Canadian Solar (which operates in the country) have come charging out of their corner, swinging punches like a drunken flyweight. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With:

Will the U.S’s solar panel tariff wall on China cause a trade war?

May 21, 2012 2017-10-25T10:27:00 by Leave a Comment
US and Chinese fisticuffs

Are Cheap Solar Panels Going To Start A Trade War?

It may be a little while before the dust settles on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to slap a massive 31 percent tariff on China’s top makers of solar panels (more for those about to enter the market) but already big questions are being asked. One of these is: who are the real winners and losers? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Economics Of Solar Tagged With: ,

China Plan To Whip Australia’s Ass in Domestic Solar Investment

August 11, 2011 2017-10-25T10:38:55 by 2 Comments

Whilst many Australian state governments dither over the solar feed-in-tariff (FIT) issue, China has come charging out of the changing sheds recently with a brand new, highly-polished, national feed-in-tariff system.

They are kicking the world’s ass when it comes to high value manufacturing (where was your iPad made?) and now it looks like they are serious about installing solar power domestically. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With: ,

4 Ways to Know You’re Talking to a Solar Moron

March 14, 2011 2016-05-30T14:04:15 by 3 Comments

The title of this blog post is not exactly accurate. “Moron” implies that they don’t know any better. In actuality, most of the people who throw these lines DO know better.

Much better. But they still use these lines because they help them to sell more product. Which makes them much worse than morons. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Installation Tagged With: , , , , ,

Chinese Solar Company Says Improved Solar Efficiency On The Way (based on Aussie Technology!)

April 7, 2009 2017-05-03T14:37:44 by 2 Comments

The largest producer of solar panels in the world, Suntech Power Holdings, has recently reported more information regarding its latest Pluto technology. This new technology has made substantial progress in improving the conversion efficiencies of solar cell technology

Although there have been a number of improvements in technology in the industry overall, none of the others are yet ready for commercial distribution. Although the Fraunhofer Institute achieved a solar cell efficiency of over forty percent, it, also, is far from ready for mass production.

Already in the process of mass production, Suntech’s Pluto technology has employed solar panels with efficiencies of 19% in monocrystalline technology and 17% in polycrystalline panels. Other current technology currently has efficiencies of 18% and 14% respectively.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Panels Tagged With: , , ,
Get the latest solar, battery and EV charger news straight to your inbox every Tuesday