Northern hot spot – 11-2010
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Excerpt from the magazine
I came, I installed I left
Shell Solar: Thousands of solar power systems were installed by the former Shell Solar in a bid to provide the average South Asian with uninterrupted electricity for their daily needs. The joy of green energy quickly turned to anger. What these people did not count on was Shell Solar bailing out and leaving them in the lurch.
Nov 17, 2010
Yes we can
Dear readers, The mood of a winner looks somewhat different. The political headwind for renewable energies and photovoltaic technologies in the still most economically powerful country in the world, the U.S., is becoming more turbulent. Needless to say, voters in the midterm elections put numerous conservative congressional representatives and governors into office who have a […]
Nov 17, 2010
Beyond the horizon
Emerging markets: The international PV industry is primarily focused on businesses in the industrialized countries. According to a new study by A.T. Kearney, the emerging and developing nations along the earths sunbelt, with their rapidly growing economies, offer the greatest solar growth potential. However, the industry is still shying away from jumping into the new world.
Nov 17, 2010
Outsourcing and streamlining
CEO-Interview: Solon, one Europes largest PV manufacturers, experienced a difficult economic situation at the beginning of the year. Chief Executive Officer, Stefan Säuberlich, talks about the problems that the Berlin-headquartered company solved and how he advertises the companys products.
Nov 17, 2010
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Faster, larger, easier
Ground-mounted installations: Time is money, so connecting up megawatt parks to the grid has to become faster. Smart ways to secure modules help accelerate the process. GPS-controlled ramming robots and giant modules are further aids to speed up future ground-mounted installations.
Nov 17, 2010
A time of change
CEO interview: In 2008, Global Solar Energy became one of the first companies to reach volume production of CIGS cells. pv magazine spoke with CEO Jeff Britt, the companys former Chief Technology Officer, to find out about Global Solars changing strategy in response to the evolving solar landscape, its efforts to increase its bankability and his view on the building-integrated PV (BIPV) market.
Nov 17, 2010
Discreet wiring
Back contact cells: The first solar cells with contacts located on their back side were made in the mid-1970s. Although they offer many advantages, only a few models have been able to really conquer the market up to now. Now, cooperation between Solland Solar and Schott Solar is supposed to change that.
Nov 17, 2010
A successful partnership
Glass meets solar: With the successful closure of two trade fairs pertaining to two mega-industries – glass and solar – the outcome between the two is potentially harmonious. Both industries have only to gain from one anothers strengths, should they choose to see it that way.
Nov 17, 2010
End of the close season?
Social responsibility: The solar industry has to get used to stronger public headwinds when it comes to socially acceptable production standards. What is known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will play a more important role for photovoltaics companies going forward. But the question remains does CSR pay?
Nov 17, 2010
With time and patience
China: With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown, says a Chinese proverb. Investing in China indeed seems to require a great deal of patience, but it is still not clear how the country wants to develop its domestic PV market. What should foreign investors be prepared for? And to what extent can the wind industry serve as a guide?
Nov 17, 2010
Northern domestic action
Ontario: The Canadian Province of Ontario, with its FIT program, is considered the draft horse of the North American PV market. A domestic content provision is to keep the value creation within the province. Already dozens of international companies have settled in the province within just a few months. One unanswered question is, however, for how long the high subsidies can be paid, and whether the high price market is, in the long, run competitive.
Nov 17, 2010
Light efficiency
Laser manufacturing: Lasers are vital tools for producing thin film modules. In particular, high-performance ultra short pulse lasers, which create pulses of a few picoseconds, allow for increased throughput and optimal processing results. Jan Wieduwilt of Trumpf GmbH explains their benefits.
Nov 17, 2010
