Empowering rural India
India: Solar energy is beginning to light the lives of tens of millions of Indias energy-poor citizens, said Indias Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the occasion of the inauguration of the countrys National Solar Mission in January 2010. The example of a small indigenous community in Wayanad, Kerala, illustrates how solar power can be an effectively light up the way to development and social change.
Enabling growth
Automation and robotics: Reducing the cost of labor is only one reason to further automate the processes of solar photovoltaic production. Currently, the quest for improved quality and increased production capacity is driving the global demand for automation and robotics.
Father Verspieren preaches the solar gospel
The story of solar electricity: The tenth part of our series with chapters from John Perlins book From Space to Earth tells the story of Dominique Campana, who developed the worlds first PV-powered water pump, and Father Bernard Verspieren, who initiated a PV water pumping program for Mali that became the model for the developing world.
From a large surface to pinpoint focus
Tracker drives: A crucial component in determining the economic viability of tracker systems are their drives. Only a handful of mechanical engineering companies worldwide, such as GFC AntriebsSysteme GmbH, Coswig, specialize in this field. GFC explains its importance.
Goodbye to heavy metals
EU environmental guidelines: New environmental constraints loom for the photovoltaics industry. Members of the European Parliament are now discussing recycling systems and directives to govern the use of carcinogenic substances like lead and cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment.
Growing end market demand
Ardour solar index: Positive data on end market demand is not enough to boost stocks, while feed-in tariff risk in Spain makes headlines.
Less iron, more transparency
Solar glass: A new float glass factory of F-Glass, a joint venture between Scheuten and Interpane, now makes very clear glass with low iron content. As a result, more sunlight is passed on to the solar cells and module efficiency increased. And as the glass is also coated directly in the production plant, production is also cheaper.
Manager for hire
Management: Most people would be scared off by a constant pressure to perform, new situations and uncertain future prospects. Bona fide interim managers, however, thrive in such situations. They think of it as a challenge, as independence, and an opportunity to make a difference. Their creed? Roll up your sleeves and get to it. More and more solar energy companies are using these modern nomads to meet the quickly changing demands of the market.
On an east-west course
Solar panel orientation: Roofs that face towards south present ideal surfaces for photovoltaic installations. Yet with the decline in the prices for solar systems, more and more plants are being built on roofs that face towards east and west.
Pores and pyramids, yield increasers
Anti-reflective solar glass: Solar glass is meant to protect modules from wind and weather. But it always reflects a small amount of sunlight, especially if the light hits the glass at a low angle. Anti-reflective coatings and structures can help, and increase module output, yet there remains no ideal solution for every application.
