Top level, global reports for China’s PV market
The photovoltaics industry is fast paced, constantly evolving and always innovative. And, when it comes to the global PV manufacturers, it is impossible to ignore China. Indeed, the top four crystalline module producers are all housed there. With the help of their leading price advantage, they have been growing their businesses over the past few years at such a rate that is has been difficult for competitors from other parts of the world to keep up.
In light of its significance in the industry, pv magazine created a Chinese version of its international publication in 2011, to help China’s PV market gain access to global solar market developments. In addition to its Berlin headquarters, pv magazine Chinese edition has established a Shanghai office. The goal is to present the very best in photovoltaic technology and solutions from across the world to a Chinese audience throughout Greater China.
Benefiting from pv magazine’s international networks, and long-standing reputation for objective reporting and in-depth analysis, it offers content in the Chinese language and takes a look at the latest PV-related technological developments. With a specific focus on quality and best practices, it will also feature the top players from China and overseas, which are aiming to increase their China-related business.
In 2012, pv magazine Chinese edition will be published quarterly: a number of relevant PV topics and issues will be addressed. An online version will also be available in the coming months. The aim of this new endeavor is to bridge the Chinese market with the rest of the solar world.
Preview pv magazine Chinese edition 01/2012
The next edition of pv magazine Chinese edition will be published on February 10. The deadline for advertising, meanwhile, is January 25.
Markets & Trends
Competitiveness in PV
With falling module and system prices, and a market in oversupply, PV's "holy grail" of competitiveness with conventional energy sources has drawn closer than ever before. What will 2012 bring in terms of competitiveness for PV? The phrase grid parity itself is fraught with danger and also one that draws strong responses from many within the industry. As it comes closer to reality, pv magazine Chinese edition completes an overview and gains an insight into the issues surrounding PV's path to becoming a competitive energy generator of the future.
CIGS market
There’s activity aplenty in the CIGS segment of the thin film market. And it seems like it’s a truly global movement. Germany’s Manz and Singulus have CIGS fab machinery on the market, Solar Frontier’s ramp up of its one-gigawatt plant is nearing completion in Japan and Taiwan’s TSMC Solar is fitting out its seven-story new CIGS facility. But in the wake of CIGS innovator Solyndra’s failure in the U.S., should a modicum of caution be displayed? pv magazine Chinese edition investigates.
Singapore
As a parallel event to the Singapore International Energy Week, the PV Asia Pacific Expo brings the PV world to the island. The ASEAN region is starting to buckle up for the fast PV power ride ahead with FITs and projects that support the implementation of solar power in the member countries. pv magazine Chinese edition reports from Singapore.
Malaysia
With major PV players opening manufacturing facilities and some momentum building in the south-east Asian region, Malaysia seems well situated to take an expanded role in PV worldwide. pv magazine Chinese edition will head to the Renewable Energy World conference in Kuala Lumpur to get the inside information on the market, manufacturers and mood within Malaysian PV.
Brazil solar state
Brazil is on the cusp of new solar regulations that will finally permit PV connections to the grid on a standard basis, opening the door to more industrial, commercial and residential projects by domestic and foreign players. The new regulations also should usher in Brazilian module manufacturing, as well as ignite the formation of the rest of the on-grid market. With Brazil's long history of government-supported hydro and biomass energy projects, PV solar is expected to expand rapidly in the footsteps of solar thermal. And with the country's broad equatorial exposure, high PV efficiencies are predicted.
Intersolar China
The first Intersolar China takes off. pv magazine Chinese edition is on site to assess the trade show and the post-rollercoaster PV year sentiments amongst Chinese and global manufacturers. The market, politics and plans for China’s continued PV development in view.
Industry & Suppliers
PV logistics
There’s no denying that the PV industry has become truly global. It’s also true that some manufacturers are also ready and willing to move operations and plant closer to market. But in what way can improvements in logistics bring down prices, increase reliability, embrace environmentally friendly practices and turn this trend around?
Contacting back end thin film modules
For the manufacturing of thin film photovoltaics modules the application of longitudinal and transversal contacting in the back end can become crucial when regarding module performance and longevity. As there are a handful of different applications and process technologies applying the ribbons available, most processing equipment is specialized to task and module design. As we not only have to distinguish superstrate configurations in thin film technologies but also seriously to consider flexible thin film modules in this regard, standardized processing equipment cannot be that standard. A reliable, stable interconnect is essential to assuring long term life at best LCOE.”
Foreign investments in China
At the end of this year, the Italian photovoltaic backsheet manufacturer opened a state-of-the-art production plant in Zhangjiagang in the Greater Shanghai region. This is the first investment by a European photovoltaic components manufacturer in China. Will this become a trend among European and other foreign PV manufacturers? We will take a close look at the Coveme project to assess the pros and cons of setting-up a production plant in China and the best way to proceed in developing such a venture.
Storage solutions
Storage is going to be as important to drive the next phase of growth for PV as "lowering costs and increasing conversion efficiency" were in the first decade. Big names, such as Sony, Samsung, and Saft have developed and are introducing PV battery storage products. But it is early days and a range of players, including inverter, tracker, and module manufacturers, as well as innovative battery manufacturers are becoming involved. pv magazine Chinese edition investigates who they are, what they are doing, and why.
Applications & Installations
PV meets drinking water
It really is the coming together of two of the most primal life forces, sunshine delivering clean, fresh water. In many parts of the developing world, or in communities with poor water infrastructure, PV systems are doing just this and are solving problems through simplicity.
Tracking goes large
The large scale solar segment boasts more than 9,100 MWp of installed capacity worldwide. The trend is that such installations are getting larger and more remote. At the same time, there is an opposing industry trend towards larger decentralized systems. Both segments offer additional opportunities. Where and how does tracking technology and tracking systems fit in with these two trends?
Large market for small systems
Simon Rolland, Secretary General of the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), on business models for small-scale off-grid photovoltaics.
BIPV China
Higher feed-in tariffs (FIT) in parts of Europe to support BIPV are attracting both large and lesser-known Chinese PV manufacturers to commercialize roof-integrated and other types of BIPV systems at competitive cost. Several companies, including Suntech, Chinaland Solar Energy, SunLink PV in collaboration with Sigma Energy Systems GmbH and Guangdong Golden Glass Technologies discussed and, in some cases, demonstrated their BIPV offerings at this year's EU PVSEC in Hamburg.
Software in manufacturing process
The rapidly changing market environment in the PV industry today requires new software approaches for factory and process automation. Although the PV industry has a few standards to support the manufacturing process that will help achieve cost reduction and process efficiency goals, more has to be done. Different applications and processes lead to diverse manufacturing challenges. This is where industry standards can play a significant and valuable role.
Research & Development
Crystalline silicon solar cells solutions
The conversion of sunlight into electrical energy is carried out in solar cells, the core component of PV equipment. The process of manufacturing this equipment includes a variety of steps – from extracting silicon to manufacturing the modules. Within the value chain of manufacturing crystalline solar cells, Manz AG focuses on the third stage: the process of going from wafer to cell.
DOWNLOAD ISSUE 02/2011
The booming region, when it comes to photovoltaic production, is Yangtze-Delta. This includes the provinces Zhejiang, Jiangsu as well as the metropolis Shanghai. Yangtze-Delta is generally a centre of innovation. Moreover, it has an outstanding logistic location. The region in and around Shanghai represents more the advancement of PV-production in China. Shanghai provides not only highly qualified workforce, but also strong fundamentals of basic and applied research in the semiconductor and PV-industry. The city is internationally orientated, where investors overseas can find a healthy investing environment. Last but not least, Shanghai is the financial centre in mainland China and thus, the best place for Chinese solar industry and investors overseas to come together.
Contents
Cover Story
- Shanghai: The rise of the metropolis as the potential photovoltaics capital in China. What draws investors, talent as well as manufacturers to the bustling city?
Markets & Trends
- Ranking: Can Chinese module manufacturers sell the modules they plan to churn out? The new hurdles for the gigawatt class.
- BIPV China: Can the astounding development rate include BIPV?
- India: Is a reverse auction right at this juncture of the National Solar Mission? Mercom Capital examines.
- Middle East: The shift from oil to solar. The Arab states start to take solar seriously.
- Takeover: The pressure of takeovers in the branche grows.
Industry & Suppliers
- Optical inspection systems: Vital and sans contact. Assessing the inspection systems for cell production (inline).
- Atomatic testing: Process and quality management systems, automation aids in control.
- Polysilicon production: A glimpse at Schmidt Silicon Technology´s monosilane process.
- Stringers: Can stringing be moved to the end? An attempt to change the order of production.
Applications & Installations
- Power optimizer: A revolution or a niche product?
- Products News
Research & Development
- Smart Grid South Korea: A nationalwide grid to combat energy woes.
Career & Recruitment
- Headhunting: When an industry is booming, experienced top managers
and specialists are in short supply. Often they must be lured away from
the competition, a delicate task that human resources is happy to outsource.
Advertising contacts
Andrea Jeremias
Advertising director
jeremias( at )pv-magazine.com
Tel. +49 30 726 296-323
Eva Cairns
Advertising sales, Greater China
china( at )pv-magazine.com
Tel. +852 238 866 86
Fax +852 918 929 17
Lan Cao
Representative Solarpraxis AG/pv magazine Chinese edition, Shanghai office
pvmagchina( at )pv-magazine.com
Tel. +86 21 6103 6799
Justin August
Advertising sales, Japan, Korea and India
Sakura international
japan(at)pv-magazine.com
justin(at)sakurain.co.jp
Tel. +81 356 461 160
Mob. +81 90 5887 2552
Subscribe for free to pv magazine Chinese edition
Read the latest PV headlines in English
