DALLAS (Reuters) – As prices on silicon-based solar panels continue to plummet, makers of alternative technologies are tweaking their products and in some cases shifting strategy altogether to make sure they are not left behind in the race to make solar competitive with fossil fuels.

From start-ups such as Miasole and eSolar to industry heavyweights like First Solar Inc, solar companies that use raw materials other than polysilicon are working to preserve both their competitive positions and their survival.

DALLAS (Reuters) – As prices on silicon-based solar panels continue to plummet, makers of alternative technologies are tweaking their products and in some cases shifting strategy altogether to make sure they are not left behind in the race to make solar competitive with fossil fuels.

From start-ups such as Miasole and eSolar to industry heavyweights like First Solar Inc, solar companies that use raw materials other than polysilicon are working to preserve both their competitive positions and their survival.

DALLAS (Reuters) – A trade complaint filed by a group of solar companies against China drew skeptical reviews from inside the industry, with many fearing a trade war could disrupt growth.

On Wednesday, seven U.S. solar manufacturers asked the Obama administration to slap duties of more than 100 percent on China imports, which they said were unfairly undercutting U.S. prices and destroying American jobs.

DALLAS (Reuters) – First Solar Inc does not expect any delay in the completion of its massive Topaz solar power project in California despite not having clinched a U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee to finance it.

The U.S. solar company is in advanced talks with several potential buyers for the project, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

DALLAS (Reuters) – Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd expects U.S. solar installations to reach a record 2 gigawatts this year, even as demand from the German market stumbles, a Suntech executive said on Monday.

Solar companies have been betting that the United States could become the world’s largest market in the next few years, replacing Germany in the top spot as Berlin trims subsidies there.

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Solar panel installer SolarCity said on Friday it was the second company in as many days that will not get finalization of U.S. government loan aid by a September 30 deadline.

The Department of Energy informed SolarCity of its inability to close the loan 48 hours ago, blaming increased paperwork resulting from a Congressional investigation into the DOE’s $535 million loan guarantee awarded to bankrupt solar company Solyndra, SolarCity said in a letter to the Republican lawmakers heading the probe.

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Solar panel installer SolarCity said on Friday it was the second company in as many days that will not get finalization of U.S. government loan aid by a September 30 deadline.

The Department of Energy informed SolarCity of its inability to close the loan 48 hours ago, blaming increased paperwork resulting from a Congressional investigation into the Department of Energy’s $535 million loan guarantee awarded to bankrupt solar company Solyndra, SolarCity said in a letter to the Republican lawmakers heading the probe.

LOS ANGELES, Sept 22 (Reuters) – The U.S. solar industry,
eager to shake off the shadow cast by Solyndra’s high-profile
collapse, has launched a full-scale public relations campaign
as scrutiny of government support programs for renewable energy
intensifies.

Solar industry officials are aiming to portray Solyndra’s
failure as an isolated incident in an industry that is
otherwise thriving, thanks in part to support from Washington.

WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Republican lawmakers are stepping up their investigation into alternative energy loan programs in the wake of the collapse of the Solyndra solar company, the first company to receive such government funding.

With only days to go before the Department of Energy faces deadlines to finalize $8.9 billion in loans for 14 pending renewable energy projects, Congressional investigators asked for detailed financial information on the deals and the due diligence done by the government.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Solyndra’s collapse has cast a harsh spotlight on rival start-ups backing a promising solar technology that, despite the flameout by a leading player, remains on the verge of cracking the renewable energy market.

Undeterred rivals from HelioVolt to Nanosolar continue to espouse non-silicon copper indium gallium selenide CIGS.L panels that many industry experts continue to argue is cheaper to make. Solyndra failed because of its inability to bring down costs, not the fundamental promise of its technology.