Module production heading to 25 GW by 2013 atlatest (the equipment is mostly in place but currently unused)and 50-100 GW by 2015-2020. Prices are dropping at last after the silicon shortage of the last five years, prices officially down 30% from 2007 but in practice down a lot more than that.
Get big or get out. The first big round of PV installer and support group amalgamations in Australia is starting. CBD has just about given up on thermal power storage and is heading to be a major PV installer on the east coast. CBD have backed this by buying a significant amalgamator of domestic installations. That amalgamator has an offer out to install domestic PV systems including inverter and panels at $2.70/W, modules claim 16-17%aperture efficiency, very similar to the Solco modules.
SOO is now fighting a serious contender on very similar turf.
SOO cannot rely on the upcoming FIT in WA (July! what will Colin Barnett and the boys be doing until then? Waiting for a brownout?, the ascendency of Abbott, the descendency of Abbott?)to secure SOO's place in the solarsphere.
I would suspect a friendly byyout of a large unlisted installer (Energy Matters?)at 100% dilution (same as CBD), or a more or less hostile takeover attempt by another distributor on SOO.
Who will get the Sliver panel distribution work from Origin?
These are the best of times, and the most dangerous of times.
GOE Price at posting:
12.5¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held