Agrion

Solar Strategic Board Meeting: 2012 Program

Tuesday, November 22nd, 8:00am- 9:00am PDT

A review of the year’s major events urges a prescriptive heeding—the road ahead for solar energy will be tenuous. Consolidation in the Solar Industry addressed issues of decreasing margins for manufacturers, commodity pricing, over capacity, and industry consolidation. Analysis of PV market growth also offers little in the way of “good news” as forecasts suggest that market demand will unlikely mitigate future cell and module manufacturing and that prices will not rebound once supply and demand reach equilibrium (Mints, Solar and Law of Unintended Consequences).

Delayed IPOs, failed enterprises, stale investor interest, and flagging federal support has only given additional fodder for critics to malign solar as a quick money scheme of mere bubble gimmick. As expected; a hasty examination would neglect that solar is capital intensive, needs years to mature and establish a history of reliability. Charlatans and doubters aside, it is without question that solar is here to stay. The various states and municipalities mandating the use of renewable resources is the foundation for a long term profitable future. But companies must be prepared to brace the increasingly complex and intense pressure of short term growing pains. How can solar companies prepare for this future? In this "all-hands" meeting, join the AGRION Solar Strategic Board as we review this past year’s major events and offer resolution for the future.

1. Manufacturers: Vertically and Horizontally