Falling subsidies by European governments (Italy, for example, is currently the world’s second largest solar market) has left production capacity of 30GW chasing demand for 18GW of panels this year.
As a result, prices are falling.
Installed cost is already $3/watt for some commercial buyers, and for residential is expected to reach around $4/watt next year.
Below $3/watt “the potential growth becomes exponential.”
With short term prospects weakening, deep investor pockets, and deeper nerve, will likely be key determinants of which firms will be left standing when demand revives.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7a992c2c-0af1-11e1-ae56-00144feabdc0.html