The Solar Panel Production Industry In Italy 

A gigantic glass building on the outskirts of this Sicilian city had been proposed for making silicon wafers for flash memory chips. That project got crushed by the global financial crisis.

Made in the early 2000s, it was reconstructed in 2011 to churn out conventional panels used to build solar farms in Greece, Italy, and South Africa. Once again, the factory grappled, this time losing leadership to Chinese rivals that trumped it on price, as well as on technology.

Now, the facility’s owner, the Italian utility Enel, is increasing tack again, betting on an advanced, commercially untested system for solar panels. This time, Enel believes it finally has what it takes to challenge the industry giant, China.

Europe Still Trying To Try To Join Solar Industry

A short length beyond the toe of Italy’s boot, Europe is making what may be its last-gasp bid to be a player in the global solar sector.

The region was an early supporter of technology harnessing the sun’s energy. But construction of solar panels here has fallen off in the years since, as Chinese companies have cut prices and ramped up generation.

Enel thinks that by focusing on an esoteric technology, it can afford to make panels here and dodge a price war. It hopes that its outputs, which can capture more power from the sun’s rays than those of rivals, will offer higher value than cheaper models.

China Is The Big Player In The Solar Panel Market

China is a strong challenger to beat. The country’s producers have established giant factories, complex supply chains and global networks of suppliers. Having pushed prices relentlessly lower, they, too, are now innovating, rivaling the world’s best in productivity while scoring breakthroughs like building enormous floating solar farms or experimenting with installing solar panels in highways.

“Making solar power is not rocket science,” stated Jenny Chase, a solar analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, an analysis firm. “It is something you can do more cheaply when you have a big manufacturing base.”

At the foot of Mount Etna, Catania is known for its trove of gorgeous buildings fashioned from black and gray lava rock and embossed with winged cherubs. The city has also long served as a manufacturing and agricultural hub for Sicily, thanks in part to a busy port, which is also an entry point for thousands of migrants from North Africa, spanning the Mediterranean.

More lately, it has fallen on harder times. And, like the city itself, the building housing the Enel factory has struggled to adapt to economic shifts. Every time it outlined a path, Chinese rivals were quick to crowd it out.

Although there is a lot of variation of price across the planet, here in the United States, the solar panel industry has brought the price of new panels to an all-time low.  Here at HahaSmart, we can help you find these prices.  

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