Magazine Archive 01-2012

Dear readers, Is climate protection really only a secondary concern? This is the impression that was conveyed in Durban. While earlier international summits on protection of the Earth’s climate stood at the center of media attention, and those interested in protecting the climate expressed great expectations in terms of the results, things are somehow different […]

PV in Palestine: It was Gershon Baskin who rescued Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, held hostage by Hamas for over five years. Now maybe Baskin can also save the Palestinian photovoltaics program. After long debates, the Palestinian Authority wants to introduce the first feed-in tariff (FIT) for photovoltaics in 2012 — initially only for five megawatt (MW) systems. But Baskin has much bigger plans.

ASEAN: With complications in policy and politics as well as the emergence of the eastern nations in the PV market, attention has fallen on the ASEAN region. Who are the leaders and is grid parity, subsidized or unsubsidized, within their reach?

Intersolar China: The growing domestic Chinese market for photovoltaics offers new sales opportunities. But the cost and price pressures are enormous. This was evident at the first Intersolar China in Beijing.

Thin film: In its 2011 solar study, released in November, Bank Sarasin noted that thin film manufacturers backed by “large, financially strong corporations” have the potential to address the major issues facing the sector and take a place amongst the world’s leading PV companies. GE, it appears, fits this mold: in October, it announced its move into the thin film cadmium telluride (CdTe) marketplace, with a new Colorado manufacturing facility.

Module prices: The trend on the spot market continues with further price reductions and high demand.

Forum Solarpraxis: Whether to work together or compete across national borders was one of the key themes addressed at the recent Forum Solarpraxis in Berlin. The nuclear industry and lobby were often singled out as being forces to work against as the experts examined key markets.

Interview: Process control is one key to a functionally healthy production line. Economies of scale can be achieved with process control software. Rudolph Technologies is one company that has seen success in this realm. The company’s Solar Market Manager David Genova explains to pv magazine the successes and the challenges for this steering software.

Grid parity: With supply outpacing demand, most analysts agree that the PV industry is set for its long-predicted period of consolidation. And it won’t be without casualties and some pain. However, with the fast-falling price of PV also come the many possibilities presented by grid parity or competitiveness of PV. Is a new day of PV competitiveness dawning? And if so, what does it mean? pv magazine investigates.