Climate for technology
Module performance: Over the years researchers at TUEV Rheinland have tested and evaluated thousands of PV modules. Some of the individual tests performed only take a few seconds, while others (e.g. climate chamber related tests) take days or weeks to perform, but all are executed under well-controlled laboratory conditions.
“Increasing interest in HJT”
Heterojunction equipment supply: In December 2016, Germany’s Von Ardenne and China’s Ideal Energy announced a strategic partnership through which the two production equipment suppliers hope to advance their HJT-enabling technolgoies. With Von Ardenne bringing 40 years of sputtering experience to the young Shanghai-based PECVD supplier, the two companies see a mutual benefit in bringing their complementary technologies together. Kristin Lüdemann, VP crystalline PV spoke to pv magazine about the cooperation and the future of HJT.
What comes after PERC?
Upgrade cycles: Having conducted extensive along the PV value chain, and numerous interviews with equipment suppliers and PV manufacturers, Götz Fishbeck, CEO at Smart Solar Consulting, shares his conclusions regarding the future investment in novel cell technologies, and the outlook for additions of cell capacities.
A new era for US solar
PV landscape: It is a new era for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and the United States. Fresh on the heels of the election of climate denier Donald Trump, who disparages solar and wants to bring back the coal industry, SEIA has appointed Abigail Ross Hopper as its president and CEO, to fill the power vacuum left by the departure of long-time CEO Rhone Resch. A few weeks after the appointment was made official pv magazine caught up with Hopper, to test the waters regarding her priorities at SEIA and her thoughts about the U.S. solar industry and policy under the new presidential administration.
Bows to the string
Inverter design: It is taken as a given that developers of large-scale solar applications are increasingly at ease with using string inverters for their projects. But what has facilitated this evolution in the string inverter component, and what tangible benefits do string at scale actually offer?
Arctech Solar on track
Interview: As part of its continuing series of Solar CEO interviews, pv magazine recently caught up with Arctech Solar CEO Guy Rong to discuss the stunning growth of the tracker maker, based in Kunshan, Jiang Su Province, having expanded into Shanghai, New Delhi, Tokyo, Saramento and Madrid, China.
Europe’s energy valley?
Solar in Provence: Vice-President of the French giant ENGIE (ex GDF-Suez), Thierry Lepercq, reveals the contents of a major strategic study to pv magazine. If its recommendations are applied concretely, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region of France could become the California of Europe with regard to solar PV.
Strong and stable
Dutch PV opportunities: The Netherlands has been a latecomer to the renewable energy table. Still known as a gas-land, the Netherlands is among the bottom three worst performing countries of Europe when it comes to clean energy. But the country has found the way up and is creating the conditions for a stable and upward trend.
Building Big in MENA
New energy plans: United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia both announced in January new energy plans for their countries, targeting a large share of solar PV in their energy mix. pv magazine presents the latest update from both countries and provides a first estimate of what is possible and how much soon.
2017: A crucial year for Indian solar
Indian Installations: With 9 GW in installations lined up for 2017, it can no longer be denied that India is playing in the big leagues. Raj Prabhu, CEO and founder of industry analysts Mercom Capital provides some detail on what’s on the horizon for one of the world’s fastest growing markets.
