Tag Archives: panels

US-China Solar Wars Enter Second Round

US opens new probe into Chinese solar panels

Just days after China finalized anti-dumping tariffs on US makers of polysilicon, the main ingredient used to make solar panels, the US has announced it is opening a new anti-dumping investigation into solar panels imported from China. The close timing of this latest round of developments in a solar trade dispute between the US and China may look worrisome on the surface, especially if they had come a year ago. But in this case the solar signals seem less confrontational to me, as both Washington and Beijing finally realize the sector is too important for the world’s energy security to jeopardize with more trade wars. Read Full Post…

Beijing Bows Out Of Suntech Retrench

Suntech overhaul moves ahead

The latest signs coming from bankrupt solar panel maker Suntech (NYSE: STP) indicate a Beijing-led overhaul for the struggling sector may not be coming after all, and that local governments and other stakeholders may instead become the main rescue agents for these companies. Reports last year had hinted that Beijing was working on a broad plan to retrench the sector, which was suffering from massive overcapacity. But since then most of the problems at the weakest major player LDK (NYSE: LDK), have been handled by the local government and other stakeholders in its home province of Jiangxi. Now the same appears to be happening at Suntech, which was forced into bankruptcy in March. Read Full Post…

Traders Feed On Solar Rumors

Rumors power volatile solar shares

Solar stocks that were once a darling of bullish investors and green energy enthusiasts have found a new patron in short-term traders, who are feeding on the sector’s high volatility. That’s my main conclusion after seeing a huge surge in the shares of many solar stocks despite any major positive catalyst. This surge is one of the biggest I’ve seen this year, but is certainly not the only time that most solar shares have risen or fallen by more than 7 percent on a single trading day on little or no major news from the sector. Read Full Post…