October 26th, 2011

Rob Gillette’s ouster Tuesday as the CEO of First Solar brings to light a potential market problem with the Cadmium Telluride “thin film” solar technology that First Solar relies upon.
CadTel solar panels are considerably less efficient than regular silicon solar panels, but they are cheaper to make.
For many years, CadTel technology appeared to be a worthwhile proposition, because it could offset its lower performance with lower prices that made thin film more marketable. It could break through the price barrier that was holding up solar adoption by utilities and residential consumers.

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