Solar Energy Beijing Champion Challenged

The eclipse threatens to become total. Marked by the placement into receivership of the French manufacturer Photowatt and sealed by the poor results of German manufacturer Q-cells, the prospects of the European market of solar energy have turned black in the last recent months. The decrease in tariffs for photovoltaic electricity determined by several governments has also contributed to this depression. Accused of breaking prices in a contest of global overproduction, Beijing has become the champion of a very challenging industry.

“The Chinese have made a bet, and they won,” observes Paolo Frankl, Head of Renewable Energy Division at the International Energy Agency (IEA). After being present on the photovoltaic market for a little less than five years, Beijing has taken advantage of incentives offered in Western countries to develop their photovoltaic park. With tens of billions of euros invested, the country became, in 2007, the largest producer of modules in the world. Today, the majority of cells installed in Europe are of Chinese origin. From the ten largest manufacturers of solar panels are 3 ones Chinese that are Suntech, Yingli and Trina Solar.

Basma – Green Energy International News Correspondent – 11/02/2012