Solar Cells, Automation and Green Jobs

Aside from its environmental benefits, solar energy is frequently touted for its job creation potential. But for solar manufacturers themselves, machines — not employees — may be the key to their long-term survival.

Take, for example, photovoltaic solar panels — the most common form of solar technology. As Roger Efird, the managing director of the United States branch of Suntech Power, a solar energy company based in China, the process of making these cells is already largely automated.
According to Jesse Pichel, a clean tech analyst at Piper Jaffray, companies in developing countries (including China) typically rely on workers to perform this task, because human labor is frequently cheaper than automation technology. To stay competitive, therefore, manufacturers in Europe, Japan and the United States — where labor costs are significantly higher — will need to employ more automation technology.

New York Times