Chinese solar panel maker Suntech flames out

[NickB79]

5. "Friends" was a reference to other solar panel companies

IE there were so many companies making solar panels until a year or two ago that the market was flooded and the prices plummeted. For example, a small town that has a Wendy's, Burger King and McDonald's all open next to the local burger joint: too many "friends" making burgers for a limited market kills the local burger joint as the market is flooded with cheaper food.

If they were friends of solar they would be buying all the over-capacity and installing it. Never been cheaper. Never been easier. Never been a better time. What are they waiting for?

Because countries like the US and Germany have imposed tariffs to protect THEIR solar panel industries, which worked to raise the price of solar panels in those countries so domestic panel makers were more profitable. Thus, they aren't buying the cheap Chinese panels as much for installation because they are no longer that cheap when you tack on a 30% import tariff.

The truth is that politicians, be the US President Obama or German Chancellor Merkel, care more about domestic jobs than they do about tackling climate change.