Solar panel prices going up?

Good. I don't particulary like buying sweat-shop goods myself. I'm secretly hoping all these cheap chinese panels fall apart in 5 years.

I guess that means there is no price increase if it is made in America

Sounds good to me. :)

IMHO, solar panels prices will increase as long as consumers will continue to buy, there's no way of getting around it, it's the capitalist's system of supply and demand. Once the oil industry is less demanding, the govt will tax us on the solar usage (depending on the total area of our panels used) even though they do do not provide the service. We cannot get free energy forever, the govt will not allow it, they have too much money to lose, just my 2 cents.
So get as much solar energy as you can before the govt intervenes.

Well, I guess my shinny new controller will be going up for sale on ebay. No way am I going to reward the whiners with my money. You guys do realize that the present solar market is driven by these cheap panels. If the cheap panels go away so does the market. But, whatever, I still have a job.

2oldman wrote:
Good. I don't particulary like buying sweat-shop goods myself. I'm secretly hoping all these cheap chinese panels fall apart in 5 years.

Much of it is automated and that's the problem. Once the machine starts. it keeps running. They have way too much production and the government has decided to let the chip fall where they may. Some of the companies are using inferior and untested materials in a effort to compete. Those are the panels I would worry about and you are right, it would be a few years before you would know.

The thing is, there's a glut of cells and modules in the market. This existed before most of the Chinese mfgs. decided to drop prices and capture market share. The US mfg's were then caught between a rock and a hard place, they had too much production and were also forced to sell at the Asian influenced prices.

There have been some of the larger Asian mfg's closing their doors because they can't sell more than the market will buy, no matter what the price. Maybe we'll see resellers like Solar Blvd. picking up on these bankrupt Chinese modules and offering them at good prices.

I really don't have a horse in the race as I bought a US made module, made by an Italian company. But if price of pasta goes up, I may see an inflationary price increase if I want to upgrade. :B

The US market accounts for about 3% of Chinese solar panel production. The entire third world is electrifying with these panels, especially in Africa and remote Asia. They are also "masters of the bluff" and can and will revalue the Yuan Renminbi versus the dollar so fast it'd make a person dizzy. This is the wrong item the wrong time and the wrong way to correct the problem. The USA seems to have a problem with common sense when it comes to taxation. This includes medical gear and doctors. You can go to the US Treasury Department and scream every obscenity in the book at them and they wouldn't blink. Whisper the words "Tax Exempt" and they would blanch and call for the US Marshall.

The way to become and remain competitive, is to not hinder success with unneeded taxation. Solar Voltaic power is the way to go. As the USA electrifies with co-generation, the cost of 2nd and 3rd tier power plant production is going to skyrocket.

The USA is also infatuated with paying CEO's and other top management salaries and benefits that are obscene. Before a US solar panel manufacturer gets any support from me on the trade issue, I would like to learn of their management salaries, benefits, and platinum parachute policies.

Uncompetitiveness. We did it to ourselves. No outside help. Caterpillar, Boeing, and computer components are a wild success. Why? They are better products. come to Mexico. I will kiss your rear if you can find a piece of construction equipment that is not of USA manufacture. You cannot give a "Mahindra" or Japanese tractor away here. They are sneered at. Even when price half that of a Cat or Case.

Solar Panels of US manufacture, and alternative energy products should be utterly free of taxes. Federal and State. A constitutional amendment. But leave panels of foreign manufacture alone. No sanctions. This is the way to cure the problem IMHO.

I like your reasoning Mex.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
The US market accounts for about 3% of Chinese solar panel production. The entire third world is electrifying with these panels, especially in Africa and remote Asia. They are also "masters of the bluff" and can and will revalue the Yuan Renminbi versus the dollar so fast it'd make a person dizzy. This is the wrong item the wrong time and the wrong way to correct the problem. The USA seems to have a problem with common sense when it comes to taxation. This includes medical gear and doctors. You can go to the US Treasury Department and scream every obscenity in the book at them and they wouldn't blink. Whisper the words "Tax Exempt" and they would blanch and call for the US Marshall.

The way to become and remain competitive, is to not hinder success with unneeded taxation. Solar Voltaic power is the way to go. As the USA electrifies with co-generation, the cost of 2nd and 3rd tier power plant production is going to skyrocket.

The USA is also infatuated with paying CEO's and other top management salaries and benefits that are obscene. Before a US solar panel manufacturer gets any support from me on the trade issue, I would like to learn of their management salaries, benefits, and platinum parachute policies.

Uncompetitiveness. We did it to ourselves. No outside help. Caterpillar, Boeing, and computer components are a wild success. Why? They are better products. come to Mexico. I will kiss your rear if you can find a piece of construction equipment that is not of USA manufacture. You cannot give a "Mahindra" or Japanese tractor away here. They are sneered at. Even when price half that of a Cat or Case.

Solar Panels of US manufacture, and alternative energy products should be utterly free of taxes. Federal and State. A constitutional amendment. But leave panels of foreign manufacture alone. No sanctions. This is the way to cure the problem IMHO.

I can hear the Union boys boo hoo'ing already at the mere suggestion of buying imported solar panels vs Made in America ones.

The same can be said of US trained and schooled dentists, tooth and mouth surgery specialists and eye care/sight specialists that practice in border towns, convenient for any snow birder that's spending time in their RV in AZ or CA in the frigid months. Plenty of places to stay on BLM land in CA near Winterhaven,for a short walk across the border to see a doctor or dentist.

Shop smarter, not harder. Vote with your dollars.

In a similar vein, why did I pay top dollar for a Honda Generator, and not a Champion, at half the price? What is it that makes power equipment worth the investment, yet solar panels, there is no difference in the appearance or function of chinese panels vs made in America. Maybe it's because it's dead simple engineering and manufacturing techniques, materials and procedures that does not differentiate the prices of the products Made In America vs Made in China, so there appears to be no added value in the Made in America panels for the double the asking price. Funny, I don't buy american cars, either.