Caution: roof avalanche
Snow: Snow on photovoltaic arrays can be dangerous. Melting snowdrifts can slide off roofs unexpectedly in mini avalanches, especially at middle altitudes. Spaces between panels, reinforced snow guards and module heating systems can help solve the problem.
Clean and green mass production
Triple Green, part 1: The solar industry is under heavy pressure to reduce costs. Every gram of material and every joule of energy used in making cells, modules and components is being checked. Effective environmental management helps a company reduce its spending on the basis of sustainable criteria. In this way, solar power can really go green. Part 1 of the series on sustainable PV production.
Creating electricity, letting light through
Transparent modules: Not too long ago, transparent modules were still hidden in the shadows. Now, demand is rising and manufacturers are developing new models. Light-shadow structures are becoming more varied and sophisticated.
Hopes for 2010
Module prices: As anticipated, prices fell slightly in December. Since the beginning of 2009, spot market delivery prices of crystalline modules have thus dropped by approximately one-third.
Increasing optimism
Ardour Solar Index: Positive demand data and improving visibility into 2010 provide strong tailwinds.
Laundry by the sun
Smart grids: When green electricity gets sold at the wrong time, producers feel the bite. Suppliers sometimes even have to pay to unload their electricity on the power exchange. After all, the amount of solar and wind power flowing into the grid is increasing often at times when nobody wants it. If the available energy is to be used sensibly in the future, improved consumption planning is key. New ideas are currently being tested in a number of model regions.
Less hum, more efficiency
Inverter technology: Inductors smooth output voltage and current in inverters. They have to be small and lightweight, and inverter efficiency depends not least on inductor quality. Inductor manufacturers have thus begun to cater to the special demands of the photovoltaic industry in recent years.
New green decade!
Dear readers, We saw recently at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen how difficult it is for the world community to pull together on climate protection. Still, the new decade will be a period of energy and resource efficiency and renewable energy. Of that I am firmly convinced. Because how can we hope to save […]
New Orleans goes solar
Solar Louisiana: Which state in the U.S. has the best solar policy? If Louisiana is not the first state that comes to your mind, you are probably not alone but not necessarily right either. pv magazine visited the state in November to see what the future of solar might look like there.
Not a sticky matter
Adhesives: Theyre a key technology for making photovoltaics cheaper and more reliable. More and more PV manufacturers are asking adhesive providers for customized solutions for their production lines. Most of these manufacturers, however, still lack knowledge about using them to their advantage. A visit to the Sika laboratory.
