On the Road, Again

Demand for solar energy could be down as much as 17% on the year for 2009. This is the stark reality the industry is facing as it slowly emerges from the recession that has caused demand for energy across the world to drop for the first time in a half-century.

While this may put a damper on power industry growth in the short-term, long-term energy demand worldwide is expected to double by 2050 and with concerns about climate change on the rise, the prospects for the solar power industry remain bright.

In some ways, the recession may turn out to be a boon to the industry having allowed a number of companies that were, until recently, operating in stealth or R&D mode to strengthen their products and enter the market just as it's on the cusp of recovery.

DuPont Apollo has opened its silicon based thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing facility in China. The 538,000 square foot manufacturing facility will have an annual capacity of up to 50 megawatts (MW) of modules that will be produced on a thin-film-on-glass PV module production line. Full-scale commercial production at the facility is targeted for the first quarter 2010.

"Through our work in this venture, DuPont will use its science to produce thin-film solar modules that can help make solar energy a more viable alternative for everyone."

-- David Miller, President, DuPont Electronics & Communications

In addition to providing innovative thin-film photovoltaic modules that are fully International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certified, DuPont Apollo said that it plans to offer a total system solution focused on the China domestic market to help safeguard customers’ long-term investments in renewable power generation.

“Next generation solar technologies are a critical market opportunity for DuPont to deliver more secure, environmentally sustainable and affordable energy sources for people everywhere,” said David Miller, president of DuPont Electronics & Communications. "REworld article 11/09

It appears the downturn has caused most US manufacturers to shift production to, you guessed it China. Maybe its inevitable, we create and China builds. For the last 50yrs USA produced and slowly lost out to cheaper labor countries, who I am I to question progress, its all I am about. As long as good paying jobs are made here and profits return here I guess its ok.