Solar Giants form Global Alliance

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) -- Major players in the solar power sector have banded together to form a global alliance to drive down the costs of solar power and promote the technology at the highest levels of government.

At a time when solar power subsidies are being slashed across a growing number of European countries, the Global Solar Alliance (GSC) is aiming to highlight the falling costs of solar power. The group brings together companies operating in manufacturing, materials supply, financing and research.

GSC will comprise the CEO's from seven leading solar companies, including Applied Materials (Santa Clara, California) (Dr. Charles F. Gay, President, Applied Solar), Dow Corning Corporation (Midland, Michigan) (Robert D. Hansen, CEO), DuPont (NYSE:DD) (Wilmington, Delaware) (David B. Miller, President, Dupont Electronics & Communication), First Solar Incorporated (NASDAQ:FSLR) (Tempe, Arizona) (Michael J. Ahearn, Chairman and Interim CEO), Lanco Solar (BSE:LITL.BO) (Gurgaon, India) (Vutukuri Saibaba, CEO), Phoenix Solar (Sulzemoos, Germany) (Dr. Andreas Hänel, CEO), and Suntech (NYSE:STP) (Wuxi, China) (Dr. Zhengrong Shi, CEO).

The GSC will work with existing solar organisations such as the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), APVIA, and SEIA.

"Solar energy has already proven itself a viable contribution to energy sources in many markets, particularly in the E.U. and the U.S., and the industry continues to improve the cost-effectiveness of this technology," claimed Bob Hansen, CEO of Dow Corning. "The Global Solar Council will enable us to continue the expansion of cost-effective solar power in collaboration with governments and other stakeholders."

Suntech CEO, Dr. Zhengrong Shi added: "A thriving solar industry is an important contributor to economic growth and employment in developing regions. By joining forces in the Global Solar Council, we will be able to demonstrate these benefits to our key stakeholders with one voice and drive forward the growth of the green economy".

The European solar market is the world's largest, accounting for 75% of all new capacity last year, according to data released by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Germany and Italy account for about 60% of the global market. For additional information see March 21, 2012, article -Global Solar PV Grew 40% in 2011, Decline Projected for 2012.

However, many of the leading European countries -- including Germany and Spain - are reducing or postponing subsidies to the solar sector to regulate its growth. This in turn led to a glut of projects being rushed through in 2011, before many subsidy cuts kicked in. AS a result, there is a predicted slowdown for the market in 2012.

The solar sector remains adamant that solar power can be as cost effective as fossil-fuel powered plants in the near future. Last September the EPIA published a report that claimed solar power could deliver electricity as cheaply as coal-fired plants in certain European countries within the next two years. Throughout Europe, the EPIA, claimed , solar power will reach full cost parity with coal by 2020 but, in some countries, it could get there as early as 2013. For additional information see September 7, 2011, article - European Solar Power 'Competitive' By 2020.

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