Longi Green Energy Technology Co. will begin substituting base metals for silver in its solar cells, according to Bloomberg News, as China’s solar manufacturers move to reduce costs amid record prices for the precious metal. The company said mass production using base metals is expected to start in the second quarter, a move intended to: “further lower the costs of solar modules,” according to a regulatory filing cited by Bloomberg. The shift comes as solar manufacturers, the largest industrial consumers of silver, face overcapacity and intense competition while input costs rise sharply. Silver prices tripled last ... (full story)