Magazine Archive 11-2014

Cables and connectors: Cables and connectors are continuously being improved to advance system efficiency, assure safe installations, speed up installation and increase flexibility.

Spain: Sönke Schlaich of the international law firm Rödl & Partner reviews the retroactive reduction of feed-in tariffs in Spain and the guarantees protecting investor rights under the Energy Charter Treaty and comes to the conclusion that investors have a chance to seek indemnity.

Corporate funding report: Solar funding is reaching new heights towards the end of the year. Raj Prabhu, CEO and cofounder of Mercom Capital Group, reviews the financing activities of the third quarter of 2014.

Central America: While often overlooked in favor of Chile, Mexico and Brazil, Central America’s solar markets are growing rapidly. Like the rest of Latin America the region has its own set of challenges and complications, but strong market drivers ensure a bright future.

From his adoptive home in the U.K., American author Bill Bryson made the observation that Europeans are particularly good at living up to their stereotypes. To illustrate, in his book Neither Here Nor There, he published the following joke: “If Europe was in heaven then the French would be the cooks, the British the police, […]

Retroactive FIT changes in Europe: Feed-in tariffs have been the cornerstone of promoting renewable energy in Europe. Recently, however, European governments have turned hostile towards them and some have cut tariffs for renewable energy projects retroactively. What are the latest developments, and what is realistically possible to expect regarding tariff subsidies in Europe?

NYSE Bloomberg Solar Energy Index: Policy headlines impart uncertainty on global volume growth. Asian market leaders make statements regarding subsidies.

Californian solar: New rooftop solar permitting guidelines may hasten California’s one million solar rooftops goal – the aim of the aptly titled Million Solar Roofs initiative. Brian Nese of Stoel Rives law firm dissects the state’s current latest round of legislation – the AB 2188 – and in doing so assesses what its immediate effects may be.

First Solar/skytron: At Intersolar Europe, First Solar announced that it was to acquire Germany’s monitoring platform and service provider skytron energy. Almost immediately questions were raised as to how skytron will operate as a service provider to third parties outside of the First Solar family. Skytron energy’s managing director Stefan Degener says that, on the contrary, skytron can now leverage First Solar’s strength and knowledge to grow.