Magazine Archive 05-2010

Solar Energy & Technologies Fair: Turkey has experienced hard times in the photovoltaics market. However, it retains enormous potential – as the blooming Istanbul solar fair demonstrates.

Ardour solar index: Positive data on end market demand is not enough to boost stocks, while feed-in tariff risk in Spain makes headlines.

The story of solar electricity: The eleventh part of our series of chapters from John Perlin’s book From Space to Earth is the continuation of the Chapter “Father Verspieren Preaches the Solar Gospel”, about a Catholic priest who initiated a PV water pumping program for Mali that became the model for the developing world.

Solar glass: A new float glass factory of F-Glass, a joint venture between Scheuten and Interpane, now makes very clear glass with low iron content. As a result, more sunlight is passed on to the solar cells and module efficiency increased. And as the glass is also coated directly in the production plant, production is also cheaper.

Interview: Where is the PV industry today in terms of automation and standardization? How much can they lower costs? pv magazine spoke with Jörg Walther, Head of the installation technology department in the Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies Division at Bosch Rexroth AG of Stuttgart.

Management: Most people would be scared off by a constant pressure to perform, new situations and uncertain future prospects. Bona fide interim managers, however, thrive in such situations. They think of it as a challenge, as independence, and an opportunity to make a difference. Their creed? Roll up your sleeves and get to it. More and more solar energy companies are using these modern nomads to meet the quickly changing demands of the market.

Solar panel orientation: Roofs that face towards south present ideal surfaces for photovoltaic installations. Yet with the decline in the prices for solar systems, more and more plants are being built on roofs that face towards east and west.

Anti-reflective solar glass: Solar glass is meant to protect modules from wind and weather. But it always reflects a small amount of sunlight, especially if the light hits the glass at a low angle. Anti-reflective coatings and structures can help, and increase module output, yet there remains no ideal solution for every application.

Triple Green, part 5: Mass production of CIS modules is largely possible without heavy metals and metallurgy. Theoretically, they as such have the best chance of becoming truly “triple green” (green energy, green recycling, green manufacturing). Nevertheless, there is still some need for development before these modules can be produced in a manner both environmentally and economically sustainable.