Landmark- setting program
Guest article: Terrie Romano, Consul for Economic Affairs of the province Ontario, summarizes the effects of the feed-in tariff program in Canadas highest populated province.
Unseen quality
Module assembly: Generally, module manufacturers offer a 25-year performance guarantee with certificates and quality labels. But certificates and quality labels do not tell us much about the long-term stability of modules. In reality, tests under harsh conditions discover drastic differences in endurance. The modules are to be tested with the greatest care.
To the New World
Made in North America. Sparked by new solar policies in the United States and Canada, manufacturing activity is booming in North America. Solar companies are announcing new factory plans by the dozens as they seek footholds in a market which has long held the potential, but not the policies to reach industry-moving size. But will it ultimately make sense to manufacture in North America for the long term?
Time for change
Dear readers, No mid-size firms that construct solar arrays or wind farms can sign insurance policies, set aside provisions for dismantling, etc. without a permit. Of course, there are no major risks, yet those ones that do are certainly well covered. In contrast, oil firms like BP are liable for ridiculously low sums when giant […]
The numbers game
Project pipelines: Developers are fond of talking about project pipelines. Yet tossing out numbers doesnt tell the whole story.
The investments are paying off
Industry opinion: Although the U.S. PV industry has not boomed as predicted, it definitely has enormous growth potential, as Rhone Resch, President of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) recapitulates.
Tape and paste
Lightweight crystalline modules: Most modules are equipped with thick front glass in order to withstand mechanical loads. Solon presents a module with thinner glass and less weight, one suitable for numerous industrial roofs. The new module is fastened to the roof by adhesives instead of bolts.
Spot market for PV panels: Prices are rising
Module prices: Growing demand is now making itself felt on the spot market. In April and May, module prices from all regions showed a sustained increase for the first time since fall 2008.
Shanghai gets going
PV SNEC: With approximately 1,200 exhibitors, the Fourth International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition (SNEC PV 2010) set a new record for Asian solar tradeshows. In addition to Chinese and Asian manufacturers of photovoltaics, international equipment suppliers were the main groups presenting themselves in Shanghai.
Not your usual parking lot
Trackers: On the Amazon parking lot in Bad Hersfeld, Hesse, Germany, a dual-axis tracker system was built instead of the usual PV car port. A cool solution, but is it also economically feasible in an area where the cost-effectiveness of tracker systems hovers at zero, in a never-ending gamble with the weather? Investment alternatives and feed-in tariff options also have to be considered.
