Looks like we are starting to get into the next phase of the cycle…that which separates the commodity players from the rest.
With ATS announcing the withdrawal of its IPO for Photowatt, with Canadian Solar announcing poorer results in the last quarter, this related group may be the first victim of the “commodity” play. ATS announced it may be reconsidering its Spheral Solar activities. Its no secret that this whole venture is a classic case of a technology working in the lab but not being produceable in the context of new thin-film technologies which are now coming up to speed. Spheral was around since 1981 when Texas Instruments launched it and nobody has made it work to date. I suspect that it will be the final nail in its coffin now that the IPO is gone. ATS/Photowatt is a smart company who makes good product, so I’m sure that they will be making moves in the context of the “new realities” and will simply adjust “expansive” plans and replace them with more moderate and sustainable ones.
As for other crystalline-based solar power suppliers in the industry, we are finding increased availability of crystalline cells and as a result dropping prices. Once in a while I see an article talking about continued shortages of silicon, yet I’m not feeling that in the marketplace. The key now is to see who will have a strategy to get through this next phase, and who will not.
I know ICP Solar has, and is showing its stripes publicly and with pride. We are taking on new clients and even taking some old ones back (stay tuned!). The key is that lasting value remains our theme and this is a one which requires investment and continuous improvements as the markets demand more of its suppliers.
Sass
2 Comments
What do you think about plastic substrates indeed metal ones?
Could be monolithic integration of cells into modules during cell manufacturing process a competitive advantage?
Is possible roll to roll process over metal substrates?
SASS COMMENT:
Abel, great questions. Hope my email answered them for you sufficiently.
Sass……I read your blog regularly and it ceratinly keeps all of us up-to-date as to the progress now being made on many fronts in the environmental field. Thanks to people like yourselves – entrepreneurial and innovative – we seem to be building steam. Touché!