Bad news for solar electric pricing in USA - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 12:05:54 pm
content: Quoting from another site:QuoteSee:https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2017/er0922ll832.htmPut that together with regulations like in Florida, making it illegal to run solar electric systems disconnected from the grid.eghttp://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-09-18/florida-you-cant-use-your-own-solar-panels-crisisI've been waiting for tptb to start a push-back against really cheap solar electric, and the threat it represents to the Centralist paradigm. Looks like they are getting serious about it now.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 12:38:20 pm
content: Here is another data point:http://www.iatp.org/blog/201602/obama-undermines-climate-efforts-in-solar-trade-disputeThis has nothing to do with Obama or Trump and everything to do with signaling.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 01:22:04 pm
content: In Spain they also set up arbitrary taxation to prevent homeowners from saving money by installing solar energy panels in some particularly crazy way.This is driven by similar considerations as the bar to cities upgrading their public transit after entering into toll road agreements, so that they wont be "unfairly competing" with privatized toll roads.Read up on "ISDS" and "Indirect expropriation""Ratchet"and "Standstill" rules -

author: IanMacdonald
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 03:48:16 pm
content: Privatized toll road: Really, really bad idea. Playing right into the hands of racketeers. Scotland has NO tolls, and I believe it's now part of the constitution that they are not allowed. England has one or two and they are intensely disliked.Solar panels became very cheap because of a worldwide surplus. I think it was to be expected that once the surplus was used up that would change. Of course if there is panic buying because of impending price increases that won't exactly help price stability either.

author: fourtytwo42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 05:53:59 pm
content: I think Ian the reason the USA prices are to increase according to the OP is anti-dumping tax, I am not sure if the EU is already imposing punitive tax to protect EU manufacturers also but I wouldn't be surprised if it is being considered. Overall with Asian production continuing to ramp up whilst western nations are reducing subsidies (not before time IMOP) indeed you are correct we are awash in a surplus that continues to increase.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 09:58:08 pm
content: It would seem to me that falling prices on solar cellsshouldjust be seen as good for everybody if it makes us even just slightly more independent of fossil fuels and nuclear energy..

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2017, 11:15:04 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on September 23, 2017, 12:05:54 pmOnly for grid tied systems.On the upside you can feedback power and get some money or you can buy a battery bank with a DC coupled inverter and not be affected by that caveat.Quote from: cdev on September 23, 2017, 01:22:04 pmModern free trade agreements are national enslavement agreements.

author: ajm8127
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2017, 08:05:50 pm
content: This looks like it is definitely going to happen. The article on The Hill indicates the tariffs would only affect panel manufacturers exceeding a certain quota, which would increase over time. The article says the tariffs would also decrease over time.http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/358019-trade-panel-seeks-up-to-35-percent-tariffs-on-solar-powerhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/10/31/federal-trade-panel-calls-for-protections-against-imported-solar-panels-which-trump-could-soon-implement

author: Old Don
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2017, 09:30:06 pm
content: Prices of imported solar panels are priced below cost to manufacture. This is called dumping. Dumping is a method to drive competition out of business and is illegal in the USA. Placing a tariff on dumped products isn't anti-competitive even if the consumer pays more since US jobs are lost when unfair pricing is allowed. Just like a bully can't take a students lunch money, government steps in to correct the problem. Of note, Chinese company, Linuo, bought some of the surplus IBM buildings in Fishkill, NY to build solar cells. that was a few years ago and still no production since cost to import is cheaper than domestic production, I guess. See:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/2014/05/07/linuo-demolishing-empty-building/8824229/So I guess if a tariff does happen production could begin.

author: DougSpindler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2017, 02:42:06 am
content: In September I was hearing Trump's tariffs on solar panel would double or triple the cost of residential solar and put 80% of the solar companies out of business over the next two years.Is that still the prediction?