MENA pause
MENA: Some MENA countries are swimming in oil; some are beset by conflict. Some have grand PV plans; others have more modest ambitions. All, though, are perceived to have collectively dragged their heels when it comes to tangible solar progress. pv magazine attempts to find out why.
Thailands PV tiger
Southeast Asia: The archipelago geography of a number of the most populous countries in the southeast Asia region plays into one of PVs major competitive advantages. Strong economic growth has also created a need for more electricity supply. However, only Thailand is seeing the PV boom many have expected, with policy conditions emerging as the key point of difference between it and its neighbors.
Steady growth in China and the USA
Global solar forecast: Market conditions are as stable as they can be in the historically volatile solar industry, says Raj Prabhu, CEO and co-founder of Mercom Capital Group, who forecasts global solar installations of 43 GW this year.
Shift in financing models
Southeast Asia: While regulatory support is being wound back as solar PV approaches grid parity, new business models and financing approaches are emerging. Ragna Schmidt-Haupt and Elena Bai? of the renewables advisory team of global consultancy DNV GL (formerly GL Garrad Hassan) explore the new models and the associated bankability challenges for solar in southeast Asia.
Regulations in recycling
PV recycling: Updated to include PV modules, the new European Community directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) comes into effect in February. pv magazine investigates how the EUs PV industry is preparing for the change.
PV modules on the flow
Fluid dynamics: Fraunhofer CSP researchers Ulli Zeller, Matthias Pander, Sascha Dietrich, Martin Sander and Matthias Ebert explain how state-of-the-art simulation software has enabled more accurate and cost-effective testing for photovoltaic components, creating near real-life conditions that aid faster development cycles.
New hopes for the Russian PV industry
Russian PV market: Russia is slowly joining the global solar race. With just 1.5 GW of solar power announced so far, its intentions are firm. Representatives of the Ministry of Energy stated at the Market Council Renewables Conference in November that despite criticism by the press and lobbying from conventional energy suppliers, the government will fully support the deployment of renewable energy sources, aiming to create a self-sufficient industry sector that builds and supports photovoltaic, wind and biogas power plants, write Dimitry Miroshin an independent consultant and Matthias v. Armansperg of Accelios Solar.
Negotiating the fine print
Power purchase agreements: Rosa Tarragó, Head of structured finance at Sowitec, analyzes the legal, technical and financial aspects of power purchase agreements from the perspectives of developers and equity investors, and country-specific PPA terms in South Africa.
