Solar Panel prices have fallen 70% in 3 years due to competition from Chinese imports. The fast rate of change in solar tech brings with it an increased risk to developing new technology & bringing it to market. One such firm, Abound Solar, wound up recently due to the global price fall. It had initially believed it would find a market for it's chemically-lined glass alternative to silicon as it would be cheaper to manufacture although less efficient.
The firm needed production to run full-pelt in order for it to realise a more competitive pricing structure. But production never reached potential and a May 2012 US Department of Commerce ruling that the Chinese panels were being sold below cost and the subsequent placing of a 31% tariff on the Chinese products came too late to save Abound.
The firm needed production to run full-pelt in order for it to realise a more competitive pricing structure. But production never reached potential and a May 2012 US Department of Commerce ruling that the Chinese panels were being sold below cost and the subsequent placing of a 31% tariff on the Chinese products came too late to save Abound.
