Spot market for PV panels: Lively demand
Module prices: Theres sufficient supply of modules, but bottlenecks persist to push some prices up.
Stricter and more uniform
Most inverters are already certified. Yet amazingly enough, uniform standards for all testing procedures do not exist. That is now changing. Axel Schwalm from VDE Testing and Certification Institute explains what this means for manufacturers, dealers and installers.
The market is picking up again
Taiwan: The Taiwanese photovoltaics industry aims to turn its homeland into one of the top three PV producers worldwide. Last years financial crisis put the brakes on growth, but things are moving ahead again now.
Stricter and more uniform
Safety for inverters: Most inverters are already certified. Yet amazingly enough, uniform standards for all testing procedures do not exist. That is now changing. Axel Schwalm from VDE Testing and certification Institute explains what this means for manufacturers, dealers and installers.
Bankruptcy insurance
Interview: Small and midsize module manufacturers often are left sitting on their products when banks do not have enough confidence in them. Steffen A. Müller of Trust, a risk management and insurance broker, explains why his firm is focusing on this problem, and why bankers do not openly talk about the issue. While his explanations specifically refer to the legal situation in Germany, there are similar issues abroad.
Targeting new markets
CEO interview: Worldwide competition in photovoltaics is increasing. What are the strategies of producers for expanding their global market share, reducing costs and ensuring quality? pv magazine spoke with Ping Peter Xie, President of China based Solarfun.
Be proud of yourself
Dear readers, Is the PV industry innovative enough? Over the past few months, the German solar industry in particular faced such public criticism. PV execs were charged with being too lazy, only having an eye on quick returns and investing too little in innovations thanks to Germanys generous feed-in tariffs. Politicians were able to use […]
The quiet after the boom
Korea: South Korea has become one of Asias most attractive photovoltaics markets. Yet now, given that the government is not extending its financial assistance, the industry will have to reckon with a bitter setback. One could sense the apprehensive mood at South Koreas largest trade show, the Green Energy Expo in Daegu.
Enabling growth
Automation and robotics: Reducing the cost of labor is only one reason to further automate the processes of solar photovoltaic production. Currently, the quest for improved quality and increased production capacity is driving the global demand for automation and robotics.
The way to France
France: After a slow start, the French PV market enjoys the status of being the fourth largest connected power market in Europe. Below is an overview of the main procedures and administrative approvals necessary when setting up a photovoltaic installation in mainland France or French overseas territory.
