Mono-Multi debate dominates PV tech trends
PV equipment: With solar PV equipment suppliers pushing for increased adoption of next generation high-efficiency concepts, the fundamental issue remains end market adoption of mono or multi PV panels and the requirement of upstream PV manufacturers to move away from proven c-Si multi manufacturing processes says Finlay Colville, Vice President of NPD Solarbuzz.
A place to recharge
Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa: Located in Chiles stunning Atacama desert, the Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa is part-powered by an off-grid solar system installed by Germanys Kraftwerk RPS. pv magazine caught up with Kraftwerks Managing Director, Dr. Karsten Schulte, to discover more about this groundbreaking venture.
Fretting over junction boxes
Junction boxes: The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) sent out a warning in February this year declaring certain installed module types as potentially flammable. Poor contacts in the circuit boards of junction boxes were cited as one of the reasons for this public warning. The safety of solar modules was called into question, giving solar skeptics a field day.
Fiercer global competition
Ranking inverter manufacturers: The two top dogs SMA and Power-One continue to dominate the inverter market. However, due to increasing competition and the rise in significance of non-European markets, above all Japan, China and the U.S., the balance of power is beginning to change.
Energy lies
Dear readers, And so it came to pass once again. In early October an outcry reverberated through Germanys media. The reason: From next year, average electricity prices for household customers will increase by approximately one cent. And renewable energy is to blame. For years, sun, wind & co. have served as political scapegoats for high […]
Down Under in flux
Australia: With state-based feed-in tariffs almost gone, the Australian PV market is in a transition phase. The market seems to be delivering ongoing demand, however dark clouds in the form of changes to government policy loom.
Chiles merchant solar economics
Chile: Chile is emerging as what may be the first major merchant market for solar power in Latin America, thanks to the confidence of a few developers, the power demand of mining companies, and the financial support of multilateral banks. But the limited capacity of the electricity grid could pose some problems.
Capacity for growth
PV investment guide Mexico: David Pérez Navarro of Eclareon, and Horacio M. De Uriarte and Lorenza Langarica OHea of Mijares Angoitia Cortes Y Fuentes outline Mexicos burgeoning PV potential.
At the inflection point
Silicon industry: Polysilicon prices are stabilizing, but manufacturers are still not turning a profit. That could gradually change as more and more companies collapse under the industrys deadly competition. But for U.S. companies slapped with high Chinese antidumping tariffs, the crisis is likely to continue.
