Global Photovoltaic (PV) Manufacturing Capacity (10 GW per year in 2008)

[jpak]

http://www.earthtoys.com/news.php?section=view&id=4507

We take advantage of this new release to update you with some analysis extracted from this new Yole’s report “PV Fab Database 2008”.
Wafer based cells and modules

According to Gaetan Rull, analyst at Yole Developpement, “The production capacity for wafer based solar cells will increase 62% and reach 10GW in 2008.” One of the reasons identified by Yole Développement, is the anticipation of the renewed availability of silicon that will start in late 2008 and will drastically increase in 2009-2010. Leaders have succeeded in securing long term supply agreements and want to be ready when poly-Si will be available.

Visibility on specific projects is reduced after 2010. Leading cell manufacturers have an-nounced their projects up to 2011 but medium and small companies have not disclosed their plans. Yole is tracking expansion projects on a daily basis and will update production capacities as soon as information is available.

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[zeemike]

1. Good now if they can just sell that much

while in the long run it makes sense to use solar power it all comes down to whether people can afford to buy it now.
Yes the rich with disposable income will find it easy to come up with the money but the poor and middle class who have no disposable income with higher prices for every thing including food will not be Able to do it.

I would like to see some kind of program that made it possible for the lower income people could by the system with a federally subsides loan that would actually be less than their power bill is now. It would help people and at the same time reduce the burning of coal and oil at a rapid rate.

I would also like to see the same thing for an electric car with a solar charging station at the owners home...priced and financed at a rate that would be less than what they spend now.

[jpak]

2. kicking

this is *hugh* and "faster than expected"...

:evilgrin:

[bananas]

3. k&r for "faster than expected". nt