STC In The News

Solar Traffic Controls Reports Soaring Prices for Silicon

TEMPE, AZ 05/15/2005 - Solar Traffic Controls is one of the many companies which has been affected by the soaring price of silicon, the primary material used in photovoltaic (PV) cells. Corresponding to the rising prices of oil, steel and copper, solar-grade silicon prices have increased from about $9 per kilo in 2000 to $25 and even $60 for small quantity shipments from the module manufacturers. ("Solar Industry Losing Power" Scottsdale Tribune, 9 May 2005).

A major factor in the worldwide supply imbalance stems from the situation in Germany where solar energy is heavily subsidized. Germany is aggressively purchasing solar PV modules paying 55 to 65 cents per kilowatt hour. The U.S. market has been paying 9 or 10 cents per kilowatt hour.

Joe Wise, president of Solar Traffic Controls, comments, "Solar panels have been difficult to obtain this year due to the continuing projects in Europe, especially in Germany. The problem has become so bad that some module sizes are no longer available and the situation may not improve for several more months. Those projects in Germany take the DC output of the solar modules and convert it to AC using a special inverter. The power produced is pushed back onto the power grid thus reducing the need to burn fossil fuels for power generation during the day. Some projects have used as many as 33,000 modules for a single site ("Future Power" National Geographic, August 2005, pp. 2-31). These large projects have put a strain on the available silicon supplies. Furthermore, manufacturers are producing modules that are most profitable to them, which are the larger modules used in these projects."

About Solar Traffic Controls, LLC
Solar Traffic Controls (STC) designs and manufactures solar-powered traffic control systems for city, state and federal DOTs. Its primary products are solar-powered flashing beacon systems used for school zones and 24-hour applications. What sets STC's systems apart from its competitors: technical merit. For more information, please visit www.solar-traffic-controls.com

 

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