PV blackout
Spain: The Spanish government has struck the final blow against renewable energies and is cutting existing feed-in tariffs yet again. There are no licenses even for unsubsidized power plants. High fees turn the new own consumption regulations into a non-starter.
Robots take over
PV installation: Thanks to advances in robotics and related technologies more aspects of solar PV power plant installation can be done more efficiently.
A lesson in opacity
Dear readers, As expected, after weeks of tug of war, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Chinas Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng agreed in early August to a preliminary settlement in the antidumping case over the import of crystalline wafers, cells and ingots. Until the end of 2015 about 70% of Chinese exporting producers […]
Sleeping beauty
PV Investment Guide France: Investing in solar projects in France has become increasingly popular. Three experts, Xavier Daval, Paul Elfassi, and François Versini-Campinch, share their knowledge of the market with pv magazine.
A rollercoaster of changes ahead
Concentrated solar power: As a host of projects complete construction, concentrated solar power (CSP) will hit a record 3.2 GW of installations in 2016. With project development cycles ranging from three years to five years to complete after the initial announcement, and tens if not hundreds of megawatts coming online at the same time, CSPs project completion pipeline looks like a roller coaster. Edward Cahill, Research Associate and Matt Feinstein, Senior Analyst at Lux Research elaborate.
Taking it to the bank
Bankability books: Financing counts. Its a statement that would surprise few in the PV world, but getting project finance at the right price can make a big difference to a projects bottom line. But how to do it best? Putting together a watertight case for project components is at least half of the battle and a comprehensive approach to documentation can go a long way. Enter bankability books, an emerging way to put the crucial information on the pathway to bankability down on paper.
Another blow for the European solar market
EU-China trade dispute: The beginning of August saw a preliminary agreement in the trade dispute between China and the EU on imports of crystalline PV products. The compromise includes minimum import prices and a cap on imports, which apply until the end of 2015, creating a price cartel for a part of the market. A further weakening of the solar market, especially in Europe, is expected.
Two pillars maintain thin film presence
Industry ranking: Consolidation has continued to play out in the thin film sector, with the two thin film pillars First Solar and Solar Frontier maintaining the place of the technology in the broader PV market. Efficiency gains continue to be recorded and manufacturers operating at scale are realizing cost improvements.
Diverse dilemmas
Indian market update: Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group, provides an overview of current Indian solar policies.
When will PV equipment spending rebound?
PV equipment: With PV equipment spending at an eight year low, and backlogs almost fully depleted, understanding when new order intake will resume and capital expenditures (capex) will be released remain the key questions for all equipment suppliers. Finlay Colville, Vice President of NPD Solarbuzz elaborates.
