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Solar systems with dual personalities
Hybrid modules: A crop of startup companies in Silicon Valley are developing hybrid systems that can deliver solar electricity and heat to residential and commercial customers. As yet, the technologies are unproven; nonetheless, they promise savings in the long term.
Jan 17, 2011
Chinas construction boom: a big opportunity for BIPV?
econet china: From green building to promoting efficiency and sustainability in the Chinese photovoltaic industry. A new initiative spearheaded by German industry and the German Chamber of Commerce in China seeks to market German photovoltaic technology and know-how to the Chinese photovoltaic industry.
Jan 17, 2011
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Crash in its infancy
France: With new installations totaling 500 to 550 megawatts, 2010 was the most successful year in the history of the still young French solar market. Now, however, the French Government is putting further growth on hold. During a three-month suspension of installations, it will revise the regulations for incentives. An annual cap of 500 megawatts and new incentives for systems building integrated or not are under debate.
Jan 17, 2011
ROK wants to rock the solar scene
South Korea: Sandwiched between China, the 2010 photovoltaic manufacturing leader, and Japan, which had the largest solar market outside of Europe in 2009, the Republic of Korea (ROK) or South Korea, as it is popularly known, is now ramping up solar cell and module production. By lowering trade barriers, investing heavily in renewable energy and building on current production strengths, the ROK hopes to take center stage.
Jan 17, 2011
Different system concepts
Roof-integrated systems: On slanted roofs, solar panels can replace conventional roof tiles and shingles. Manufacturers of insulation systems and module makers both offer systems for the roof-integration of photovoltaics. A number of new systems simultaneously perform multiple building functions.
Jan 17, 2011
Sublime solar skin
Building integration: Suspended 100 meters in the air, French consulting engineers SECM have constructed a winding roof with 800 glass photovoltaic modules on top of a new eco high-rise on the edge of Paris. This was then ingeniously placed on the movable so-called spider brackets.
Jan 17, 2011
Tin and zinc sprinkled dream
CZTS: Reports streamed out of the IBM labs confirming the arrival of this new absorber for thin film solar cells. Research work into the copper-zinc-tin-sulfur/selenium (CZTS/Se) combination has been on-going for years now, but its value, cost-effectiveness and green mark remain shadowy. Whether the newbie in the thin film photovoltaic scene lives up to its hype remains to be seen.
Jan 17, 2011
Solar mission
Dear readers, Does solar electricity or other renewable energies lead to a better world? Certainly not by themselves. A person who sleeps under plastic sheeting along stinking dumping grounds or highways, scoops drinking water from smelly ditches and is glad if they get to eat a daily bowl of rice has other concerns. In the […]
Jan 17, 2011
Road to the Solar Mission
India: India is considered one of the most promising solar markets in the world. However, there are quite a few hurdles to straddle before reaching the finish line set by the governments ambitious expansion plans for photovoltaics. One issue is combining lower costs and quality assurance, a problem on full display at the Intersolar India in Mumbai.
Jan 17, 2011
Firm on flat roofs
Flat roof installation: Lighter, faster, cheaper a growing number of companies are developing installation systems for flat roofs that remain stable with little deadweight and do without roof penetration. Now, the focus is on speeding up installation and reducing material costs. Plastics offer interesting benefits in this respect.
Jan 17, 2011
Robotically boxed
Automated junction box assembly: With increasing pressure on manufacturers to cut costs and thus drive prices for solar modules down, one solution that has lent a hand is automation of the production line. One of the last stations, the junction box assembly stop can now also run on auto-pilot mode. There are reasons that point towards automation of this station and others that convince firms that some steps still need hands.
Jan 17, 2011
