Contactless prowess – 06-2011
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360 degrees capture
Sphelar: The idea behind Josuke Nakatas spherical cells was to capture light from all directions, thus optimizing the potential of a solar cell. Sphelar has developed over the years, reaching higher efficiencies and varied application potentials; and now, mass production interest is starting to emerge. Nevertheless, can the niche product really survive the market demands?
May 30, 2011
Glass with extra potential
Glass for BIPV: Glass is the substrate of choice for the PV industry. But some glass suppliers are exploring opportunities to supply PV-integrated glazing, where printing solar cells is compatible with the production of colored and other forms of decorative architectural glass.
May 30, 2011
Women, wind, stones and solar
Smart grids: South Korea plans to build a nationwide smart grid to reduce energy imports, sustain economic development, and support the countrys ambitious carbon reduction goals. The smart grid roadmap includes five principle areas of research and development, and the test bed site spans an entire province: the island of Jeju.
May 30, 2011
Optimum optics
Optical inspection systems for cell production (inline): These systems work without contact, are quick and can provide vital information to solar producers. Despite the prowess these systems have, there are still certain issues in need of rectification. How does one assess these systems?
May 30, 2011
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ID, please
Radio Frequency Identification: RFID is an excellent real-time tracing tool that improves the management of the supply chain by enhancing its productivity, accountability and inventory management, not only on the shop floor, but also in large-scale on- and off-grid power plants. Highly reliable, industrial RFID provides 100 percent process traceability, as IAITO Infotechs Anand Shenoy explains.
May 30, 2011
Remote sunshine
Burma: SunEnergy Power International or SunEPI as it is known sought to bring energy to communities that are in need worldwide. The non profit public benefit companys Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Walt Ratterman saw renewable energy sources as the solution using the bottom-up approach. One of the countries, among more than 30, that saw changes to its communities was Burma. Walts daughter Briana Ratterman tells pv magazine more about powering people in the remotest areas with sun energy.
May 30, 2011
Take control
Process control: Important tools to reduce the balance of system costs in PV manufacturing are the use of advanced optical defect inspection systems and surface metrology systems, in combination with a comprehensive process control methodology, explains Pieter Vandewalle of KLA-Tencor Corporation.
May 30, 2011
No more flying blind
Yield forecasts: Recently experts have been able to precisely predict just how much solar electricity transmission system operators will be able to reckon with the next day. This represents an important step toward better integration of photovoltaic plants into the electricity grid.
May 30, 2011
Somewhat stiffer opposition
Dear readers, What a fast-paced media world: although the nuclear drama in Fukushima continues, just a few weeks later the death of Osama bin Laden and the arrest of IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn have pushed this topic out of the top news. But where do things stand in terms of the political aftershock? Were the […]
May 30, 2011
First steps
Ghana: Despite an inexhaustible amount of sunlight, photovoltaic technology in Ghana, as in many other African countries, has thus far stood in the shadows. However, gradual changes appear to be underway. Now, even on-grid PV is supposed to be advanced with a new energy law and feed-in tariffs.
May 30, 2011
A wave of lawsuits
Spain: A wave of lawsuits against the Spanish Government is welling up after the authorities applied retroactive tariff adjustments to existing photovoltaic systems. But the industry is still optimistic about the future. Solar panels on industrial roofs are gaining momentum. And a regulation for self consumption is on the horizon.
May 30, 2011
Growth predicted
Residential solar leasing: The U.S. residential solar market is benefiting from solar leases and power purchase agreements. According to predictions, these types of financing programs will help to push the industry forward. Here, pv magazine looks at the most important market players and analyzes their solar offerings. Financing hurdles are also discussed.
May 30, 2011
Completely rounded
Polysilicon: The conversion of the gas trichlorosilane to high-purity polycrystalline silicon is a complex process. With sophisticated automation technology, not only can the process be reliably operated, but the quality of the end product can also be improved. Ute Forstner, Peter Holzapfel and Rainer Mahler from Siemens AG elaborate.
May 30, 2011
The art and science of high-efficiency solar cells
Conference on Silicon Photovoltaics: Silicon PV is set to continue to dominate the solar cell manufacturing industry for the next ten years. It will hold that position due to its ability to eke out continued conversion efficiency improvements and cost reduction.
May 30, 2011
Financially exposed
Solar Industry Summit UK: The first Solar Industry Summit UK took place last month. While UK PV has made great strides, the industry has been left in limbo after the government announced its fast track FIT review. With many companies left financially exposed as a result, this topic cast a shadow over the event.
May 30, 2011
Power homes
Building integrated PV: Great architecture is usually found on buildings in which money is no object. This also applies for showcase building integrated photovoltaics. But there are also many examples of how ordinary houses can be well designed with BIPV. Among these are two energy-plus buildings.
May 30, 2011
The knowledge factory
Polysilicon production: The Siemens process has been the forerunning technology in the polysilicon production world for the last years. Even with the advent of fluid-bed reactors and vapor-to-liquid deposition, the Siemens process remains the unrivalled popular method. Thus, it was with great interest that pv magazine toured the Schmid Silicon Technology (SST) pilot plant in Schwarze Pumpe, in the east of Germany. SST has their own method; one apparently ready to challenge the rest of the techniques.
May 30, 2011
Its all about quality
Process and quality management systems: Factory-wide automation of process and quality control is an emerging trend in PV fabs around the world. Driving the trend is the need to improve yield, produce higher efficiency cells more consistently, and cut manufacturing costs.
May 30, 2011
Intersolar preview
Intersolar preview: From June 8 to 10 of this year, Munich, Germany, welcomes the international photovoltaic world again for Intersolar Europe. Expecting a turnout of 75,000 visitors, organizers Solar Promotion, are confident that the unstable political situation in Europe is not going to dampen the spirits.
May 30, 2011
Perspectives and challenges
4th General Assembly of VDMA Photovoltaic Equipment: Leading German photovoltaic suppliers discussed the latest trends in the photovoltaic supplier industry. Besides cost aspects for equipment makers and their customers, market development, technology trends and the actual R&D policies were topics of the convention. Florian Wessendorf from VDMA talks about the highlights of the assembly.
May 30, 2011
PV glass potential
PVGU: Pythagoras Solar recently installed, as part of a solar window pilot project, two of the worlds first transparent photovoltaic glass units (PVGUs) on the U.S.s tallest building. The aim is to evaluate whether photovoltaic glass unit technology can become an established part of the BIPV industry. Following initial feedback, Pythagoras is confident it can be.
May 30, 2011
Reinventing stringers
Stringers: Conventionally, soldering (stringing) surely forms part of the first stage of module production. This article suggests that making stringing the last stage in cell production could open up new fields of learning, ones that are significant for cost and quality, and may increase productivity.
May 30, 2011
Portraying development from a product point of view
Interview: With increasing importance being placed on optical inspection in the bid to raise quality, the systems that are already in the market are offering more. pv magazine spoke with KLA-Tencor ICOS Divisions Senior Marketing Director, Pieter Vandewalle, on what the inspection and metrology tools supplier has on its plate and in the works.
May 30, 2011
Quality panes
Solar glass: Modules should be cost-effective and durable. How difficult it is to achieve this becomes very obvious when taking a look at the requirements that module manufacturers place on their glass manufacturers. Glass manufacturers, on the other hand, also have requests of the module manufacturers.
May 30, 2011
