A juncture for junction boxes
Junction boxes: An often overlooked link in any solar PV system, the steady performance of junction boxes is an important component in ensuring solar electricity is safely and efficiently produced. pv magazine examines the latest development, production and cost reduction trends currently shaping the sector.
Poly and DG raise the bar
Guggenheim Solar Index: The best performing solar stocks of the last month were polysilicon suppliers and U.S. residential installers, the index finds.
Plugging away
Distributed energy storage systems: Hamstrung by the next big thing millstone, energy storage development has, finally, begun showing signs of a breakthrough on cost, performance, and data monitoring, particularly in the distributed generation (DG) segment. Headwall Power Internationals Brad Meikle brings a U.S. perspective to the storage space.
PERC and black Silicon do battle
Trends in PERC: The fluctuating pricing and preferences in the mono-Si and multi-Si markets are braced for a new round of battle as PERC and black silicon technologies bring their competing road maps to the sector, writes Corrine Lin of EnergyTrend.
No hard cell
C-Si cell ranking: Expansion is the order of the day for tier-1 crystalline silicon producers, with global reach. Expansions in Southeast Asia have been the common trend and PERC technology appears to be going mainstream. pv magazine teams up with IHS to produce this latest cell producer ranking.
Hype versus reality
2015 PV manufacturer shipments: The balancing act that is solar PV supply and demand exported its inherent hopes and anxieties ever more globally in 2015, with China firmly in the hot seat as the industry inches closer to 1 TW.
Getting energized
MLPE vs. String, Part II: Last month pv magazine explored the recent developments within the module level power electronics (MLPE) space for part I of its three part focus on the future of the solar inverter landscape. For part II, attention turns to how string inverter suppliers are responding to the growing market threat posed by MLPE players, and examines just how MLPE suppliers are hoping to maintain their recent growth trajectory.
Feasibility of Indias rooftop ambitions
India: While the financials in several subsets of the rooftop PV market segment in India can play out, some key regulatory hurdles must be overcome if India is to meet its ambitious solar goals. Akhilesh Magal the Head Solar Advisor to the Government of Gujarat provides this insightful analysis.
Equipped with challenges
German production equipment suppliers: Götz Fischbeck of Smart Solar Consulting finds German production equipment suppliers facing substantial headwinds, despite strong technology offerings. If the current storm can be negotiated, a new opportunity may await.
A patchwork of opportunity
ASEAN policy overview: The majority of PV investment in Asia has gone to countries outside of Southeast Asia, largely due to limitations regarding climate and renewable policy. Southeast Asia has a huge gap between potential (in terms of geographical position and climate) and short-sighted policy outlook. However, the potential for the market is vast, and changes are leading many ASEAN economies in the right direction.
