JoeJoe

First Solar's $1/Watt Capex: Half the Industry Average

I think you also got the CIGS conversion efficiency wrong. Global Solar seems to be the leader with an efficiency of about 10%. - news.cnet.com/CIGS-cel...

There's a discount between the cell efficiency and the module efficiency but it wouldn't go all the way down to 6%. Currently, Global seems to be getting the bugs out of their process and if you look back at the history of First Solar you'll see they too had to get the bugs out of their process over many years. From my perspective it seems like an interesting technology to watch because CIGS should have more potential for improving efficiency than CdTe based upon the highest efficiencies achieved in laboratory settings.

Has the Sun Set on Solar Energy Stocks?

Not bad Dr. Duru...

I wouldn't short STP if I were you but agree with your take on ESLR. Hell, the wafer manufacturers have almost gotten down to 150 micron and poly prices are set to drop so I don't see where ESLR can go but down.

Spain is being over analyzed by guys that have a terrible history when it comes to predicting the future of this sector. The market should shift back to Germany where the subsidy is stronger. If the prices get low enough demand will kick in from Japan, Hawaii, California etc. It's a big world after all and there's plenty of money floating around. Give these solar companies and their sales departments some credit.

Lately I've been reading into STP's and Q-cells work with UMgSi.
The progress has been incremental so far but I half expect some game-changing news on this front in the not so distant future. The market sure needs some sort of news from one of the major manufacturers to calm it down.