Wennerstrom Semi Equipment Analysis Message Board

To: Gottfried who wrote (56610)	6/18/2012 10:07:30 PM
From: Jacob Snyder	2 Recommendations Read Replies (3) of 60008

I wish that were true, since I am long both AMAT and solar panel producers. Unfortunately, the comparison in the AMAT press release is not apples-to-apples. A nat-gas burning electricity plant can be built anywhere, and can be turned on and off whenever demand changes. That isn't true for solar. So, a kilowatt produced by natural gas is worth more than a kilowatt produced by solar or wind. It is not true, that we are currently at grid parity in 100 countries. It's true in a few places, like California, Italy, Hawaii. And it will be true in more countries every year. The price declines for solar panels have been amazing, which is why grid parity is approaching sooner than expected. Those price declines are also why none of the solar panel producers are making money, and their stocks have collapsed.