L R AS Published on Monday 20 September 2021 - n° 374 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the Sino-American war: the Chinese response
At the moment, there is every reason to believe and hope that the photovoltaic market will return to normal, after the tensions over silicon, after the uncertainties over panel supplies, after the shocks over sea freight prices. Everyone is hoping for a return to normality, and the possibility of installing panels in sufficient quantities to meet demand. But the Chinese have not forgotten the signs at the entrances to the public parks: "No dogs and no Chinese". Their desire for revenge and their nationalism are ardent and constitute the cement around the Communist Party. They have been deeply angered by the willingness of the Americans to mind their own business in Xinjiang. They prepared their retaliation, that of being inescapable to obtain solar panels and to make them pay dearly. Very expensive! The world will pay.
L R AS Published on Tuesday 14 September 2021 - n° 373 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the climate crisis and the economy
Environmentalists are presenting their contribution to saving the planet and to COP 26, but with no immediate concrete measures. The pandemic has profoundly disrupted economic mechanisms, forcing governments to finance companies and individuals. For their part, companies have reacted by raising their prices. This will not be lost on governments. This increase facilitates the installation of solar power plants.
AS Published on Tuesday 7 September 2021 - n° 372 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the impossible energy transition
Who has not heard of the energy transition? The ecologists are there to remind us of its existence; the government has its specialised minister. The political parties have to talk about it to affirm that they are 'for' this change, and to capture the votes of supporters. However, for as long as the subject has been talked about, the ecological or energy transition is long overdue, desired and elusive. If we talk about it without knowing it, it's because it's an economic, social and climatic state whose contours we don't know, and we can't even define what it will lead to, and that nobody can conceive! This makes the transition so present and at the same time so evanescent.
This makes it all the more interesting to examine how it is approached? how it is imagined? how it is thought to be answered? how each people reveals what it is? The questions will be more numerous than the answers!
AS Published on Tuesday 31 August 2021 - n° 371 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the unintended consequences of the pandemic
The economic world, and also the photovoltaic world, has been changed by the pandemic. We only realise this a few months or quarters later. It has reshuffled the deck in favour of the producers, and above all, in the case of solar energy, has strengthened the position of the Chinese. They have increased their prices, strengthened their position, and acquired a dangerous position if we consider their financial and economic power.
AS Published on Sunday 11 July 2021 - n° 370 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the lack of realism in our time
Who has tried to understand why the EPP is having difficulty being implemented? Who has examined the consequences of the shift from thermal to electric vehicles? Who wonders why there is a gap between reality and the objectives? Who has an overview of the surprise appearance of hydrogen in the media landscape? We are in the midst of a dissociation between the concrete and the principles.
AS Published on Tuesday 6 July 2021 - n° 369 - Categories:PV Watch
A look back at a year that is ending rather well for photovoltaics, but ...
Considering the number of houses covered with panels, the number of articles or books advocating the advantages of photovoltaics, or the doubt of the President of the Republic who confirms that nuclear power has its place in France, one might doubt that photovoltaics is winning the war against fossil fuels. Renewable energies are being used more and more. Fossil fuels are increasingly suppressed! The statistics show it. The intentions of the leaders are becoming more and more pronounced. So the year is ending rather well for photovoltaics
AS Published on Tuesday 29 June 2021 - n° 368 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the resurgence of the Sino-American war: it's moving to photovoltaics
On the one hand, China has increased its economic potential and, with a population of 1.4 billion, believes it is entitled to the benefits of being a candidate for the world's number one position. On the other hand, the United States, which has dominated the world for at least three quarters of a century, does not want to relinquish its crown as world number one. The rivalry was placed on an economic level. The conflict has crystallised over photovoltaics, as this is a major industry for the future. Quietly, China has acquired a quasi-monopoly in panel production. The United States can only react or it will become dependent on China. D. Trump had started the fight. J. Biden is reviving it. The stability of the photovoltaic sector will be put to the test
AS Published on Tuesday 22 June 2021 - n° 367 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the inconsistencies in the explanations of the PV production chain
What is really going on in the Chinese photovoltaic industry? In principle, there is a shortage of silicon, which has driven up prices. The silicon slicers have entered into long-term contracts for the supply of silicon and for considerable amounts.
At the end of the line, panel manufacturers are refusing to accept price increases for cells that come from wafers and silicon themselves. They have sought to put pressure on their suppliers by working at only two-thirds and then half capacity
So where does the silicon produced go if the panel manufacturers are only working at half capacity? Why aren't users suffering from a shortage of panel supply? It is these inconsistencies, these manipulations, these unspoken words that are analysed in the text below
L R AS Published on Tuesday 15 June 2021 - n° 366 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the good and bad Chinese producers in PV
After nine months of rising silicon prices, will there be such a rapid decline in prices as there is always when there is inflation in the price of a raw material? Will we see a resumption of the decline in panel prices that we have seen over the past ten years? We can hope so, but is it realistic if we consider the market situation? There is a role-playing game between the manufacturers of the different stages of the photovoltaic industry. There are good and bad producers. In reality, they have divided the roles between them, so that everyone can say, it's not my fault, it's theirs! For the greater good of Chinese photovoltaics!
R AS Published on Tuesday 8 June 2021 - n° 365 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the European attitude towards photovoltaics, batteries and hydrogen
Over the past two years, the fate of photovoltaics, batteries and hydrogen has been sealed. For better or worse. For their future or for their decline. The future has been set. Why has one been favoured, another abandoned, the third attempted? What does this mean for Europe in 2021?
AS Published on Tuesday 1 June 2021 - n° 364 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the idea that stirs the world
After the debates on the best political regime in the first half of the 20th century, after the post-war liberation movement of colonised peoples, after the East-West confrontation, the defence of the Planet has gradually become a central theme.After the debates on the best political regime in the first half of the 20th century, after the post-war liberation movement of the colonised peoples, after the East-West confrontation, the defence of the Planet has gradually become a central theme. It is important to fight against the destruction of the ozone layer, against CO² emissions, against the share of petrol-powered vehicles in smoky and polluted cities. This movement of ideas is keeping people busy. The big difference is that previously there were two opposing camps. The defence of the Planet has only one side because the other side cannot find an angle of attack against what seems to be common sense, that ofThe defence of the planet has only one side because the other side cannot find an angle of attack against what seems to be common sense, that of a cleaner world, of an earth without global warming, of a universe where there will no longer be the disappearance of species for the benefit of mankind.
A simple idea, accessible to all and unquestionable in terms of its objectives, has therefore been allowed to flourish. Only its followers want results right away. Proposals abound, but as always, there is an overbidding among the supporters, without any examination of the realistic application of the measure. Photovoltaics is one of the solutions, but it is not that simple, because the economy is involved!
AS Published on Wednesday 26 May 2021 - n° 363 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the changes taking place in photovoltaics
All the current commentary on photovoltaics revolves around the real or organised shortage of silicon, the rise in prices, the consequences of reduced production by panel assemblers, the contracts being built, the policy to be followed in the face of this rise.
These are legitimate and worrying questions in the short term, which installers are examining almost daily for answers.
At the same time as this shortage, which will only last for a short time, a fundamental question emerges which has not been asked but whose answer engages the long-term future: who should renewable energies be used for? Is it for individuals? But how? Is it for industry in general? In what form? For certain categories of companies? But which ones? A split is already apparent in the European tradition and the Chinese choice. The answer to this question is fundamental
More concretely, changes are taking place in the roofs, in the installation of the panels. In Germany, the panels are less and less oriented to the south. This is an interesting observation. What is the logic behind it?
AS Published on Wednesday 19 May 2021 - n° 362 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the consequences of the silicon shortage
There is a lot of talk about the price increase due to the shortage of silicon. Indeed, prices have risen sharply. The industry has partly absorbed these increases, since panel prices have changed little, but their panel production volume has been reduced.
Developers are starting to show in their Q1 accounts that the difficulties are starting to hit them. Tracker manufacturers are seeing a halving of their sales compared to Q4 2020 or Q12020. This has a significant impact on their profitability. The few developer publications indicate that they too are affected by the pandemic and price increases. All those who do not have operating plants and are only service providers will have a difficult year in 2021.
AS Published on Tuesday 11 May 2021 - n° 361 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at Europe's small PV installers
The information on photovoltaics is usually about the big plants, i.e. the big companies and the well-known manufacturers. Less attention is paid to the small installations, the small installers, and the choice of panels they make. Are they in the same category as the former or are they different?
The study, published by EuPD on the European photovoltaic market, presents some characteristics of the German, French, Dutch and Italian markets. This gives a clearer picture of whether there is a common European attitude towards PV or whether, on the contrary, there are still some national specificities. The subject is worth looking into!
AS Published on Tuesday 4 May 2021 - n° 360 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the concentration of PV players
Through photovoltaics, China and its industrialists want to organise the world in their own way. They are doing so methodically and patiently. They are now reaching the end of the evolution originally planned, the concentration of world production in a few players who can, as the alleged silicon shortage has shown, organise panel prices to their sole benefit. This is the terminal phase. Is this clear enough for the authorities to take corrective action? Is it possible given the entanglement of commercial interests? Is there a way to take safeguard measures without retaliation from China? Or will we let it happen, at the risk of overpaying for solar panels in a few semesters?