SEI Newsletter

I received my first SEI newsletter yesterday. It was a relatively small thing, but worth the read. The first article titled Solar power set to shine brightly was an interesting read.

There are several pluses for photovoltiacs right now. The first mentioned is the growing production capacity in both raw materials (Polysilicon) and finished products (photovoltaic panels). The growth in 2006 in production of photovoltaic panels rose by 40 percent. That is enormous. China manufacturer Suntech Power is now the fourth largest producer of photovoltaics and continues to expand.

All of that is good news and should bring the price of photovoltiacs down. A check of some online solar retailers show prices of between $4.50 per watt to 5.70 per watt. I think the main problem is that demand will continue to outstrip production for the forseable future and prices will remain at $4-5 dollar per watt range.

The thing that may also shape people’s opinion is higher electricity costs due to higher fuel prices and more pollution control measures being installed on newer electrical generating stations. Additionally, as more and more states deregulate the electric power industry, rates are likely to go higher, as we have seen in California and New York.

The solar industry is set to grow, no doubt about that. My plan is to get established before the major growth occurs in the next few years because then I will be able to grow with it.

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