States seal the deal – 10-2011
Already a subscriber?
Login
Excerpt from the magazine
Prudent expansion
EU PVSEC interview: Hanwha SolarOnes Chief Strategy Officer and Board Secretary took time out of his busy schedule at this years EU PVSEC to sit down and talk to pv magazine about the Korean photovoltaic module manufacturers strategy for weathering the current solar market storm, and its future developments.
Sep 28, 2011
From service provider to partner
Optimal logistics opportunities: With global business an increasing reality for PV, the role of logistics is transforming from service provider to true partner. Holger Meyer from Hellman Worldwide Logistics makes the case for integrated partnerships to move plant, products and business in the right direction, at the right time.
Sep 28, 2011
Applications & Installations | Product News | Production Technology Production Technology/DuPont Microcircuit Materials Low temperature processing Production Technology/Dow Chemical Company Growing material solutions Dow Chemical Company introduces the diamond wire ingot squaring coolant that improves wafer manufacturing efficiency: the ENLIGHT DC-8300 Coolant. This is the latest innovation from Dow that can help improve performance and/or […]
Sep 28, 2011
Subscribe now for instant access to this issue and every published issue since 2016.
Subscribe
A bet on the future
Dominican Republic: Up to now, solar power has had little history in the Caribbean region. Now, Isofotón is taking a big first step by developing a 50-megawatt plant in the Dominican Republic. The Kirchner Solar Group is also planning a large-scale project on the island. Since the economy of the Dominican Republic is growing rapidly, with 7.8 percent growth last year, more and more international businesses are seeking to open up trade in the country.
Sep 28, 2011
Tracking shadows
Cloud surveillance: A criticism commonly leveled at renewable energy producers is that the electricity they supply is variable and intermittent. However, the ability to make accurate short-term output forecasts can help to overcome this perception and ensure stability of supply. Satellites are used to make longer-term weather and, in particular, cloud forecasts for PV plants, but within short timeframes satellites lack the resolution to do so accurately. A new project bringing together researchers, a plant owner/operator, grid operator and state and national government agencies hopes to overcome this hurdle, and track and predict the shadows cast by cloudy skies.
Sep 28, 2011
A new trend in the offing
Croatia: The sun-drenched land of Croatia has an attractive solar feed-in tariff. Until now, however, only a very few photovoltaic systems have been installed. How are local conditions in Croatia a year prior to the countrys projected entry into the European Union? What opportunities does the market offer, and what of the risks? Answers from the Croatian business consulting firm Borovac-Knabe & Partners.
Sep 28, 2011
Thinking beyond the Noors and Shams
Interview: The MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries have received prominent limelight due to some prestigious project announcements like Shams and Noor. Nevertheless, in order for the systematic and proper development of solar energy in the region, there is a need for structure. Emirates Solar Industry Associations President Browning Rockwell explains the market and the necessary steps to take.
Sep 28, 2011
The newcomer
PV plans in Serbia: At the end of July, the Serbian parliament adopted a new Energy Bill, which is one of the requirements the country must meet to gain European Union candidate status. Now, the country has four solar power plants with 13 megawatts of installed power in the pipeline.
Sep 28, 2011
Future comes into focus
Forum Solarpraxis: As the PV market matures, new aspects of the industry are emerging and coming into focus. One of these is the end-of-life issue regarding PV modules, in particular collection and recycling. Increasingly becoming a hot topic, it is one of the themes that will be discussed by a panel of industry experts at this years Forum Solarpraxis, on November 17 and 18, in Berlin.
Sep 28, 2011
Venture capital seeks solar selectively
Venture capital: More than 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in venture capital flowed into the solar sector this year so far, but what the top line figure does not show is how very selective investors have become when it comes to young solar PV companies.
Sep 28, 2011
Safety with system
Mounting systems: PV systems have to meet investors needs, keeping the return on investment attractive. The push for the lowest watt peak price installed is in full swing. On the other hand, serious consequences due to shortcomings in system integrity and quality of mounting components can emerge five to ten years after installation and destroy the investment. Renusols Stefan Ast elaborates.
Sep 28, 2011
Dealing with high voltage stress
Performance drop: Modules are not usually tested to determine whether potential-induced degradation (PID) could jeopardize their performance. As experts continue the discussion what conditions actually cause the effect to occur, some module manufacturers are beginning to act. Those who want to be on the safe side can buy modules designed to be resistant to the effect.
Sep 28, 2011
New markets, new strategies
Interview: Hitherto focused on Europe, which accounted for 66 percent of its revenue in 2010, Suntech Power is diversifying its strategy, betting big on the U.S., Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. In an exclusive interview, Shi Zhengrong, founder and CEO, talks to pv magazine about the companys latest plans.
Sep 28, 2011
Price war in Hamburg
EU PVSEC: Cold, hard winds blew off the harbor as the 26th EU PVSEC came to a close in Hamburg. Many reported slow business and observed massively slashed module prices from Chinese manufacturers: an opportunity for the increasing competitiveness of solar electricity on the one hand, but a challenge for the innovative ability of the industry and the survival of European module and cell manufacturers on the other.
Sep 28, 2011
Big Greek PV plans
Greece: With plenty of sunshine, generous and uncapped feed-in tariffs (FITs) and many islands relying on expensive diesel for electricity, Greece would seem to provide fertile grounds for photovoltaic (PV) growth. Based on these conditions, Lux research recently named it as one of the top-three most attractive countries for residential PV. However, regulatory bottlenecks and an almost-complete financial meltdown have cast a shadow over Greeces PV progress.
Sep 28, 2011
Entrepreneurial parallels
Solar Power International 2011: Executive Director of Solar Energy Trade Shows LLC, Brian Tully talked to pv magazine about the eighth annual SPI tradeshow and conference, which, in addition to a new location, includes an advisory council, outdoor exhibition space and Earvin Magic Johnson.
Sep 28, 2011
Potent cocktail
Solar incentives in the U.S.: Solar manufacturers and project developers often point out and complain about the hodgepodge of regulations across the United States that make this market more complex and challenging to tackle. Yet state policies have been the key driving force behind the solar energy boom in recent years.
Sep 28, 2011
A green contradiction
Solar parks: On one hand, renewable energy is much needed and solar holds massive promise. On the other hand, land is needed to construct projects large enough to be able to produce the electricity needed to meet demand. But when solar parks creep into areas of nature conservation, there is a conflict. Is a solar park in a protected nature zone a contradiction of green beliefs?
Sep 28, 2011
Waiting for what?
Dear readers, Fifty years ago the Irish writer Samuel Beckett created an ingenious parable about long, senseless and futile waiting in “Waiting for Godot.” Parallels can be seen in the current market situation for photovoltaic technologies. “Never before has photovoltaic technology been so inexpensive, but the majority of buyers are still waiting,” is how one […]
Sep 28, 2011
Tracking goes large
Trackers: Large-scale power plants present a growing opportunity for tracking. Its a global trend, driven not only by government incentives and subsidies, but economic realities too. The worlds leading tracker vendors are addressing this market opportunity as it unfolds.
Sep 28, 2011
Time to shine
South Africa: Despite abundant sunlight and a desperate need for new forms of energy, the South African renewable energy market, and in particular photovoltaics, has not taken off. However, there are new plans in place, which may just kick-start the industry and provide much needed solar support.
Sep 28, 2011
