First Solar, a recipient of oodles of American taxpayer money, which is having lots of problems here in the US, and is being sued for deceiving the public, among others, is also having problems overseas
(LA Times) First Solar Inc. is laying off 2,000 workers and closing its plant in Frankfurt, Germany, in response to waning demand for solar panels and increased competition from China.
America’s largest maker of solar panels said the layoffs amount to 30 percent of its global workforce. Some cuts come from shutting down the Frankfurt (Oder) plant, where it doubled the number of employees to more than 1,200 just last year. The company will also shutter some production in Malaysia. Additional jobs will be cut in both Europe and the U.S.
Solar manufacturers have been hurt by the global recession, an influx of Chinese panels and declining subsidy programs in Europe. Germany, the world’s largest market for solar power, announced in February that it would cut solar subsidies by 30 percent.
They’ve also been hurt by their products being priced beyond what most individuals and private companies will pay, especially when the investment tends to me a money loser. But, hey, it’s obvious that the business model, taking taxpayer money and squandering it on worthless products “that are cheaper and less efficient than their competitors” but are still more expensive than old school energy products in an attempt to stop ‘climate change’ can’t possibly be the problem.
solar panel production had a great year AGAIN in 2011. Many companies are failing do to the decreasing costs of solar panels/power. The Chinese government is still granting huge subsidies in an effort to take complete control the manufacturing.http://finance.yahoo.com/news/worldwide-solar-cell-production-growth-192000600.html Solar is now cheaper than nukes
You have to wonder if greenies / liberals even understand business at all.
From the very article john cited:
But the annual survey also reveals a dramatic reduction in year-on-year growth. Compared to a record 120-percent jump in 2010, the 2011 cell output was the PV industry’s lowest growth rate since a 34-percent increase in 2003.
YAY!! Solar had a great year with decreasing sales!
Good grief.
I don’t even know what that means.
Hey, Orange are cheaper than space stations!!!
WEEEEeeeeeeee.
sigh.
Let’s assume they are talking about the cost of putting up one solar panel as opposed to one nuclear power plant. Ummm… yep. That would be cheaper. But, try powering a large city of 200,000 homes and businesses with a couple of solar panels.
How many chinese children have to die from chemical poisoning from solar panel production?