Future PV: The feasibility of solar-powered hydrogen production
There is a solid business case to combine PV plants with electrolyzers, as generation costs are low enough to competitively produce hydrogen as a fuel, says Bjørn Simonsen of NEL Hydrogen. He will speak at pv magazine’s Future PV event at SPI in Las Vegas.
Interview: Using accurate weather data for asset management and risk reduction
Meteorological data are necessary to measure the performance of a solar plant, to ensure its yield and to effectively plan its maintenance. Gwen Bender, Vaisalas Product Manager for Solar Assessment Services discusses the importance of up to date, accurate weather monitoring, as opposed to relying on data from public sources.
Quality: Minor differences in yield percentage make the difference between good and bad investment
Changing technology, pressure to cut costs, dizzying price slumps and a number of other issues make solar module quality control as relevant as ever. The danger that modules could fail outright remains slim, so module reliability is still decisive for the success of the investment, explains George Touloupas, Director of Technology and Quality at CEA, in preparation of the 4th pv magazine Quality roundtable at SPI.
Poor quality planning: Shifting the blame, passing the buck
An installation company in the Midwest reports how blame was laid at their door for defective PV panels. The actual cause of the defects probably lie elsewhere.
Installation Innovation Award winner: Maxx-Solar Energy
After three weeks of intense voting, pv magazine and Hanwha Q CELLS is happy to declare Maxx-Solar Energy as the winner for its inventive project: delivering innovative financing solutions for solar PV in Africa.
Candidate 1, maxx-solar & energy: Innovative financing solutions for PV in Africa
maxx-solar & energy has arranged financing for a PV plant on the Dominican Grimley School; a school for the deaf attended by some 100 children.
Candidate 3, Solartechnik Mitteldeutschland: Innovative PV and CHP project for tenanted apartment buildings
Innovative PV and cogeneration tenant project for a multi-family dwelling.
PV innovations helping to push the French market forward
Philippe Malbranche, Directeur Général of the French solar research institute INES, explains why his organization is hosting a workshop on innovations from France. The varying innovations take part in the whole PV value chain, from oxygen measuring in the wafering process, to developing solar plants with integrated storage for French oversea territories.
A question of quality for European module manufacturers
In the run-up to the third pv magazine quality roundtable at Intersolar Europe, we report on a survey of European manufacturers about strategy and quality. The question is, what makes Made in Europe attractive to buyers looking for modules for a PV plant?
Burnt out, incompatible connectors
Black sheep campaign: PV panel manufacturers selling plug connectors as MC4 compatible is nothing unusual. Two operators who have installed such modules are now struggling with lost insurance coverage and fires.
