EDITORS I VIEW
David Ridsdale Editor in Chief
Focusing on business
The international solar industry has moved into the next stage of its evolution regardless of how many wish to protest that it is moving away from subsidies and support too early. Most of the concern and protest is occurring at a local level from companies who over extended their debt based on assumptions related to subsidies. The rest of the industry is moving on with the understanding that solar is a global business and awareness is required not only at the local level and that global changes impact dramatically.
Some of the global changes are not so easy to spot but have an impact on day to day business regardless. The state of the global economy is an obvious area where issues outside the industry impact the daily decisions. A less obvious global marker would be the ongoing trade battle between the US and China (page 34 this edition) which has divided the industry in both countries. What is interesting about this situation is that it has come about from voices claiming to speak on behalf of the industry. The CASE and CASM groups in the US alone both claim to be speaking on behalf of the industry. I see too many groups around the world claiming to speak on behalf of an industry and then hear many in the industry disagreeing with them.
Much like the companies who rushed into every new region once subsidies were announced there has been a steady rise in the number of associations and institutions and groups all claiming to be speaking on behalf of the industry. Scratch the surface and we find that each group is actually pushing a particular agenda rather than speak on anyone’s behalf. Many of these groups have been started by individuals who saw a financial opportunity just the same as companies that thought they were discovering the new gold rush.
The current change in economic support will ensure that the ‘chancer’ companies will fall by the side (sadly so will some excellent technologies and companies), the same cannot be said for the excessive number of associations and groups claiming to support the industry. I have warned before and advise again, take care of who is speaking on your behalf and make sure you speak up against them when their self interest is obviously of greater concern than any industry issues. There is a great deal of money to be made in creating such groups and the solar industry is currently in a dangerous position where too many groups will begin to compete for their side of the argument to keep in business.
These are the groups that lazy governments then go to and often end up as main advisors leading to decisions that affect your business operations. There is no need to look far to see examples of government action based on the view of a minority claiming to be speaking on behalf of the majority. SolarWorlds use of the US legal system to push trade restrictions on China is a prime example. There seems to be more industry support and acknowledgement on the side against their claims and yet the government pursued the minority view with vigour. Of course even that action was part of a broader political agenda.
Allowing others to speak on your behalf is fine as long as you understand the consequences of their words and whether they are truly speaking in your interest.
David Ridsdale
Issue V 2012 I
www.solar-international.net 3
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