sunedison recognised 'best solar power producer in india'

Costs rapidly falling—Photovoltaics taking big steps towards competitivenessCosts rapidly falling—Photovoltaics taking big stepstowards competitivenessSebastian Pflügge, SolarpeqFuture product: Module productions are becoming increasingly efficient. As a result, photovoltaics are rapidly approaching competitiveness.(Photo: Centrosolar)Following the free fall of module prices, solar energy systems cannot getthat much cheaper for the time being—or so we thought. But the costreduction potential of photovoltaics is far from exhausted: in the areaof raw materials and components considerable savings are still possible.This is difficult to understand: thesolar energy sector is still veryangry with the German FederalGovernment because it would like to cutsolar power funding by up to 30 percent.“We can’t cut costs by as much as that at allany more,” says a critical Solarworld bossFrank Asbeck. He added that the FederalGovernment was putting thousands of jobsat risk.In actual fact the market situation isa lot less dramatic: “In Germany peopleare still busy installing solar energy systems.This year a new extension record of8 GW is even feasible,” says analyst Stefande Haan from US market research InstituteIHS iSuppli. One thing is certain: the priceof solar energy systems is currently fallingat the same rate as that of solar energytariffs. Whereas a small turnkey rooftopsystem including installation still costs onaverage two Euros per kilowatt (kW) atthe turn of the year, according to surveysconducted by IHS iSuppli, it is currentlyalready 25 percent cheaper at 1.50 Euro.The reason for the rapid price slumpis the tough competition within the PVindustry. “Chinese manufacturers, in particular,have invested heavily in new technologyand have quickly developed majorproduction facilities,” says de Haan. Theconsequence: massive surplus capacities,which are forcing producers to sell theirmodules in some cases below their productioncosts. “Since mid-2010 the averageprice of modules has almost halved,” deHaan said.Tough price battleFor the solar energy industry the priceslump is both a blessing and a curse. Onthe one hand, an increasing number of28 16 –– Global Solar Technology –– November/December September/October 2012 www.globalsolartechnology.com