Magazine Archive 04-2015

USA: Only two states in the south of the US adopted renewable energy mandates that require their utilities to purchase electricity from renewable energy. Just a few years ago Southern utilities were openly opposed to solar energy in their service area. Now a wave of change is crashing through the region.

Japan: There have been reports that the Japanese PV market may not have the most rosy of outlooks in the mid-term. But with predictions for the 2015 market coming in between the 8 to 10 GW mark it is hardly a minnow. And with its continuing preference for high efficiency products and smart solutions it will remain a highly significant PV hub for some time to come.

OPV: The Rotrot project uses an environmentally friendly roll-to-roll production process to manufacture photovoltaic materials based on a tandem structure for a range of potential applications.

Grid Parity Monitor: In January 2014, Creara and eclareon (Spain) merged their business to form Creara Energy Experts. The company has released a new issue of its Grid Parity Monitor (GPM) series, this time exclusively focused on Chile.

Grid Parity Monitor: In January 2014, Creara and eclareon (Spain) merged their business to form Creara Energy Experts. The company has released a new issue of its Grid Parity Monitor (GPM) series, this time exclusively focused on Chile.

PV’s price pressures: Battling the clout of conventional energy and unreasonable price expectations from both government and consumer, margins in the PV industry have been too tight for too long. But with quality an intrinsic value that should never waver, the industry must find new ways to fund innovation and protect its reputation.

PV’s price pressures: Battling the clout of conventional energy and unreasonable price expectations from both government and consumer, margins in the PV industry have been too tight for too long. But with quality an intrinsic value that should never waver, the industry must find new ways to fund innovation and protect its reputation.

CEO interview: While the global PV market has been through dramatic pricing and demand peaks and troughs over the last five years, there are signs that the high conversion efficiency market segment is benefiting from stable demand and returning relatively steady margins. Lee Zhen Guo, CEO of the Chinese monocrystalline ingot and wafer producer Longi Silicon Materials Corp., spoke exclusively to pv magazine in Tokyo to share the company’s dramatic predictions for cost reductions in mono wafer supply.

NYSE Bloomberg Solar Energy Index: Financing support and sunny 2015 outlooks help lift the index. Hanergy continues its upward trend despite lack of news flow.