Tumbling oil prices will maintain pressure on the solar industry to consolidate by drying up investor interest in building new factories, according to an executive who just carried out a $1.2 billion merger.

 

Dong Kwan Kim, chief commercial officer of Hanwha SolarOne Co. (HSOL), said the industry has been “unfairly penalized for oil prices” and that the company that ranks among the top three panel makers may return to profit this year for the first time since 2010.