Close

Solars Higher as U.S. Demand Expected to Double in FY12 (FSLR) (YGE) (JASO)

June 13, 2012 9:00 AM EDT
Solar stocks are indicated for a higher open Wednesday amid reports demand is likely to significantly increase in at least one key market through 2012.

According to reports, the U.S. solar market is expected to double its size in 2012 with the installation of about 3.3-gigawatts (GW) of panels. Data comes from a study conducted by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research.

Two key factors in the expected increase are low panel prices as well as the increased output rate by manufacturers thanks to technological developments to speed up the process.

With 30-GW of panels to be installed in 2012, the U.S. market is ranked as the fourth-largest, boasting an 11 percent share.

Despite the near-term good news, the industry still faces challenges. In 2013, U.S. tariffs on Chinese photovoltaic (PV) panel imports will come under way. Announced earlier in 2012, tariffs will be about 3 percent to 5 percent, with anti-dumping tariffs as much as 31 percent to 250 percent on the panels. The amounts are preliminary and could be changed before they take effect.

As mentioned, prices are making the technology that much more appealing. In 2011, PV prices fell about 50 percent to 94 cents per Watt. That was on top of a 27 percent drop in prices realized through 2010.

In the first-quarter alone, about 500-MW (megawatts) of panels were installed in New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, and other locations in the U.S., which is typically a slower time for installs due to inclement weather. The report says demand should pick up through the rest of 2012.

Indicated higher Wednesday are:
  • First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR);
  • SunTech Power (NYSE: STP);
  • SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR);
  • Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL);
  • LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK);
  • Jinko Solar (NYSE: JKS);
  • JA Solar (Nasdaq: JASO);
  • ReneSol (NYSE: SOL); and
  • Ascent Solar Technologies (Nasdaq: ASTI).


Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

You May Also Be Interested In





Related Categories

Insiders' Blog, Trader Talk