TAIWAN SUN MAKERS GET AGGRESSIVE

Taiwanese Manfacturers to Enter Solar System Market and Face New Challenge
2011 December 1 (Energy Trend)

"As a result of the persisting price downtrend, the mid-stream Taiwanese solar cell makers have been facing deficits since the beginning of 2011. With the prices showing no signs of rebound in the near term, manufacturers have shifted the focus to the end market, bidding for the Taiwanese and foreign solar system installations through sole proprietorship, joint ventures or strategic alliances…

"First, the issue facing the Taiwanese manufacturers is fund accessibility…In the mature markets such as North American and European markets, obtaining the Power Purchase Agreement is the key to acquiring financial support… [T]\he lack of [a] Power Purchase Agreement adds uncertainty to the management of the power plant…"

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"Second…Taiwanese manufacturers will be facing the “Local Content Requirement” issue in the future…[in] European, Indian and United States’ markets…Regions with great market potential, such as China, Southeast Asia, North and South Africa, will be the next major battlefield for the Taiwanese solar companies, which will also face the aforementioned issues…

"…[The] “Local Content Requirement” has become a pressing issue and will in turn affect the capacity arrangement of the related manufacturers and their transnational management strategies and fund accessibility. Taiwanese companies which have entered or are planning to enter the market should predict the problems they will be tackling and come up with solutions beforehand…EnergyTrend believes that as the inventory level lowers, the chance of the prices hitting rock bottom is getting slimmer, and the price gap will continue to decrease."