Germany, the UK and others have reduced the 'feed-in tarrifs' that had encouraged so many to put panels on their houses. The sudden drop in demand has sent 4 big European panel manufacturers to the wall (leaving the Chinese as the major players). The upshot is that the market is flooded with the excess panels and prices have dropped sharply. The situation is unlikely to last. Once the surplus is sold then the fewer manufacturers can push prices higher. The lesson is: If you are thinking about more panels then get on with it! 

Hi
I sent you a pm.
Bruixot

Hi
Can I get details, please?

El_Alto wrote on Jun 10^th, 2012 at 4:29pm:


Well that's an interesting analysis. Considering panel prices have fallen several hundred percent in the last few years and the subsidised chinese companies are selling their panels for less than the cost of making them I can't see them getting 40 to 50% cheaper. Especially as the Americans have decided to put import charges on the cheap chinese panels and the Euroepean Union is currently considering the same thing. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/06/asia-report-as-eu-t...
So giving your analysis the benefit of the doubt a 40 to 50% percent fall in prices and a 30%tax increase doesn't seem that cheap. In addition solar manufacturers are going under as they can't compete with the chinese companies and I suspect once the board is clear of competition prices can only go up again.
I hope someone does come up with a viable solar panel with more efficiency(current rates are only about 10 - 15 percent) at a low cost so we can all have cheap solar. But I note that Cold Fusion(really abundant, cheap,clean power source) is reckoned to be only ten years away! Though the interesting thing about that is they have been saying that since the late seventies.
Bruixot

Hmm nanophotovoltaics sounds interesting but I note no company was mentioned as developing it yet?
But if your batteries can afford for you to wait five years or more then go for it.
Bruixot

i don't recall seeing that in the article you posted?

I saw that just as I hit the post button. Sorry. But I don't see how I can be wrong as if you check my posts I made no statements about companies developing them I just asked. Being into the scientific method I am always open to new ideas and new information. But reverting to old wives tales for a moment then a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Anyway it is irelevant to me to a certain extent as A. I am not selling the panels. B. I can't afford to buy panels at this price or 40 to 50% cheaper or buy new nano panels when they appear unfortunately. I only posted what I saw as a good offer on panels.
I will add that new technology, even if it enables production cheaper is never cheap initially as the companies want to make back as much of their R+D investment money as possible before everyone jumps on the bandwagon.
Bruixot