Nissan launches home solar package in the UK

As with rival electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla, after making some progress in the EV market with the Nissan Leaf, Nissan is now setting sights on the home with batteries and solar panels to form a complete home energy solution.

Nissan's Energy Solar scheme

Rather surprisingly, the Nissan scheme will be available only in the U.K. where there is often rain, fog and otherwise inclement weather. However, Nissan says its panels will be able to operate in bad weather and will store power in recycled Leaf batteries. This power can then be used in the home as an alternate fuel but can also power EV's such as the Leaf.

There is a push for cleaner ways to produce energy. There were 13,000 people who pre-ordered the Nissan Leaf. Even in the UK there are already 800,000 homes that are taking advantage of solar power. There definitely seems to be an expanding customer base.

Advantages of the System

The system gives customers some degree of independence from electricity providers. The company claims the system will lower electricity expenses about 66 percent when buyers opt for the six panel system. This costs about $5,200. There are several packages customers can choose from. The full package integrates energy generation with management and storage, but one can buy the components separately. The scheme appears to be an appealing solution for anyone looking to invest in renewable energy and reducing their carbon footprint.

Tesla's similar scheme

In the U.S., Tesla is bringing solar panels and Powerwall batteries to Home Depot, the giant U.S. retail company. Elon Musk's company will set up its own selling spaces in 800 different location, and will staff them with its own employees to explain the benefits of its products. Later, Tesla may also display later its solar roof which will generate electricity but looks like a regular but high-end roof and costs about the same.

The displays will be quite visible, 12 feet high and seven feet wide. Some locations will also demonstrate how the tech works. Tesla is a widely-known brand and having a spot at Home Depot is bound to attract more people to its products.

Solar panel installations are relatively expensive — between $10,000 and $30,000. However, with Trump's new import tariffs prices are expected to rise by about five percent. Tesla is counting on manufacturing its own panels using imported cells which are exempt. Only complete imported panels are subject to the tariffs. Tesla can afford to import some finished panels until it can begin constructing its own since the tariff kicks in only after 2.5 gigawatts worth have been imported.

Previously published in Digital Journal

U.S. solar company Abound files for bankruptcy

The company had received a 400 million dollar loan from the U.S. government. The company is losing money as demand from the U.S. and Europe falls and competition from Chinese manufacturers has cut prices.

Another reason for Abound's failure is that its manufacturing process has lost its competitive advantage. Abound produced electricity directly from cadmium rather than using silicon cells. While the cost of silicon cells was high this was an advantage but now the price of silicon cells has dropped considerably so the Abound technique is no longer efficient.

U.S. solar makers are requesting the government to increase tariffs on Chinese solar panels. However, any legal measures are already too late for Abound.

­ Last year another U.S. solar maker Solyndra also collapsed after receiving over a half billion dolllars from the U.S. government. In the last year solar panel prices have dropped by half. The import of Chinese made panels has soared from 639 million in 2009 to 3.1 billion in 2011. While restricting imports would help U.S. manufacturers the price for the panels would rise for U.S. consumers. For more see this article.

U.S. set to impose 31 per cent tariff increase on Chinese solar panels

The U.S. is contemplating an increase of up to 31 per cent in the tariffs slapped on Chinese solar panels. The U.S. maintains that China is dumping the panels at below market prices.

Three major Chinese manufacturers have rejected the U.S allegations. Shen Danyang a spokesperson for the Commerce Ministry said:

"This is not consistent with China's development status, does not conform to the facts of China as a market economy and highlights the tendency of trade protectionism in the United States,"

The Obama government has itself subsidized the energy industry. See this article which points out:: "An investigation has revealed that the White House approved billions of dollars in federal funding for clean-energy firms. It also happens that nearly two-dozen of those companies have close ties with the president’s own cabinet."

The U.S. and China are cooperating on a clean energy drive and the Chinese says this action put that cooperation at risk. Both countries are promoting their own companies to generate jobs. Demand has weakened in Europe and this has increased competition from China.

U.S. solar panel manufacturers had asked the U.S. government to penalize the Chinese accusing it of selling below market prices. Even though U.S. manufacturer Solyndra received over half a billion in loans from the U.S. government it went bankrupt.



U.S. solar panel installers are upset by the government move as it will make the panels more expensive and likely reduce demand. The installers point out the Chinese make solar panels more affordable. Both China and the U.S. accuse each other of violating free trade pledges by subsidies to their own manufacturers. Both are probably correct! For more see this article.

Sales of solar panels expected to surge as prices drop.

There is a large surplus of solar panels waiting to be bought. The surplus has brought prices down to what are being called unsustainable levels. Environmentalists will no doubt be happy to see more units being shipped.

Suntech Power Holdings (STP) predicts shipments to be up 19 per cent from 2011. Suntech is the worlds largest producer of solar panels.

The Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) claims that shipments will increase as much as 51 percent. Many companies however are struggling to make any profit at all because of a dramatic fall in prices.

Last year prices fell by a whopping fifty per cent. As a result profit margins on average have fallen by almost a half as well. Jinko Solar Holding (JKS) reported a negative gross margin of 4.4 per cent in 2011 compared to plus 29percent in 2010.

The Suntech CEO Zhengrong Shi said:"The challenge is profitability," "Excess capacity in the global industry has pushed the international solar companies to sell at unsustainable pricing levels in an effort generate cash and maintain viability." Chinese demand is growing by leaps and bounds as installations there are expected to double this year according to Shi. Suntech based in China suffered a loss last year. For more see this article.