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Is this not just a symptom of oil prices dropping? Solar has to remain competitively priced or the industry is screwed
by samfpetersen 10y ago
Is this not just a symptom of oil prices dropping? Solar has to remain competitively priced or the industry is screwed
- ohitsdom 10y agoAn entire industry can't just lower prices to meet a competitor.
- rhino369 10y agoWithout subsidies an industry can't not just lower prices to meet a competitor. Especially with the sort of auction pricing in energy markets. If the going rate for energy is 5 cents a KW*hour, then you can't sell it for 6 cents. Solar survives off subsidies in the USA. Though in places like Dubai it might be a competitive energy provider.
- mtgx 10y agoNo, solar installations have doubled every 2 years, which would be inline with the price dropping in half every 2 years, too. http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/22/exponential-growth-global-solar-pv-production-installation/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/22/exponential-growth-globa...
- RivieraKid 10y agoI'd guess that the profit margins were minimal before oil price drop, so lower demand for solar should not result in producers lowering their margins. But perhaps the inputs for manufacturing solar energy are dependent on oil price (transportation etc.).
- TheCoelacanth 10y agoNatural gas maybe. Oil probably not since it is rarely used for electricity.