Burning ambition – 09-2012
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Now thats smart
Intelligent grid: For some time now, experts have been saying that it is theoretically possible to obtain 100 percent of required power from renewable energy sources. In the heart of Berlin, a so-called micro smart grid is poised to provide evidence for this. But the project has placed researchers in uncharted scientific territory.
Sep 04, 2012
PV meets the machine age
Automation: In an industry that is now very much focused on higher returns at the lowest cost of production, PV producers are under pressure to increase cell efficiencies, reduce materials consumption, and increase yield and throughput fuelling innovation in automation tools and technologies.
Sep 04, 2012
Boxes in the market
Market overview junction boxes: pv magazine presents a market overview on the different junction boxes available on the market today. While not all junction box manufacturers could be captured in this overview, those represented provide an insight into the nitty-gritty of these essential components.
Sep 04, 2012
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Delivering finance
Interview: Data from the California Solar Initiative (CSI) indicates that as of April 2012, solar leases accounted for 75 percent of residential installations in the market, tracked by the CSI. Since 2007 Clean Power Finance (CPF) has been active in facilitating finance for residential solar leasing and third-party financed solar. pv magazine spoke with CPFs Kristian Hanelt, to find out more about financial innovation in the sector.
Sep 04, 2012
Closing the gap
Ranking: Many large thin film manufacturers disappeared from the global solar stage last year. For the survivors it will nevertheless be difficult to continue to compete on the market as the cost advantage offered by thin film has meanwhile virtually vanished in comparison with crystalline technology.
Sep 04, 2012
Profitable without subsidies
Italy: By mid-July, the limit had been reached the energy agency Gestore dei Servizi Energeticis official counter for the subsidy budget for photovoltaic installations had exceeded the 6 billion mark. Thus, the new Conto Energia V subsidy legislation will automatically enter into force at the end of August, bringing with it major cuts in the feed-in tariff for solar electricity.
Sep 04, 2012
Renewable energy dynamics
Energy storage: Energy storage economics and electricity prices are inherently linked to each other. The decision to invest in energy storage will be partially driven by the idea to save on electricity bills or to assure power quality. Florian Schubert from Renewable Analytics explains the dynamics behind energy storage.
Sep 04, 2012
The rocky road to an approval
Building-integrated PV: Safety is an important issue for building owners. Moreover, the question arises as to whether solar PV modules integrated into the facade or roof are equivalent to approved building components. The German authority for civil engineering DIBt provides verification.
Sep 04, 2012
In search of copper
Raw materials: With the international price war at full tilt, any way to lower costs is of central importance to the photovoltaics industry. Copper is one of the most expensive base metals in the world, and the potential for cost cutting along the whole value chain is huge.
Sep 04, 2012
Reasonable diversification
Centrotherm: Centrotherm had filed for insolvency protection proceedings under its own administration on July 10, 2012. pv magazine spoke with Tobias Hoefer, the expert for reorganization on the board of centrotherm photovoltaics AG and responsible for the insolvency protection proceedings, and also spoke with Chief Technology Officer Peter Fath.
Sep 04, 2012
The next big thing: Vanadium
Raw materials: One of the worlds newest super powers is not on the map yet, has not been recognized by the United Nations, and will not make an appearance at Comic-Con International. Its name is vanadium (chemical symbol: V), and it is a grayish-white, ductile and tensile metal that has unexpectedly become one of the most precious commodities on the planet.
Sep 04, 2012
Life after 1603
Tax investing: The last solar projects developed using the popular federal U.S. Treasury cash grants are finishing up. Can the U.S. solar market keep up its momentum by attracting corporate financiers as those grants fade away? Here is what the signs show so far, and what corporate investors might mean for the market.
Sep 04, 2012
An island of activity
Taiwanese polysilicon: With some Chinese PV players facing tough opposition on a political level in markets like the U.S. and a PV trade complaint also being filed in the EU, some may see it as Taiwans time to shine. Optimism is certainly evident as pv magazine speaks to some of the industrys major upstream players, but also discovers that some industry-wide problems have not passed the island economy by.
Sep 04, 2012
Paving the way to acceptance
Quasi-mono standards: The SEMI standards for quasi-monocrystalline silicon wafers can create a clear pathway for market acceptance of the technology and facilitate growth. The SEMI PV Groups Stephan Raithel and LDK Solars Yuepeng Wan and Linyan Liu explore the potential of the technology and why standards could be valuable.
Sep 04, 2012
An island of activity
Taiwanese polysilicon: With some Chinese PV players facing tough opposition on a political level in markets like the U.S. and a PV trade complaint also being filed in the EU, some may see it as Taiwans time to shine. Optimism is certainly evident as pv magazine speaks to some of the industrys major upstream players, but also discovers that some industry-wide problems have not passed the island economy by.
Sep 04, 2012
Benefits beyond electricity
Intersolar Award winner: A school PV project in North Carolina has provided an example of what PV can deliver, both to a school and local community, but also in financial support to the school during challenging financial times. ESA Renewables Brittany Szafran sets out what makes the award-winning installation special.
Sep 04, 2012
300 GW/a: PV as a global energy pillar
Interview: While 300 GW per year (GW/a) may give hope to a PV industry facing many challenges, Christian Breyer believes that achieving the number is vital in realizing a worldwide energy transition. With colleagues at the Reiner Lemoine Institut, Breyer is creating a multifaceted model for a 100% renewable future and pv magazine found out what it would mean for PV.
Sep 04, 2012
Aluminum as an option
Solar cables: As a result of constantly rising copper prices installers are making increasing use of aluminum cables. Aluminum cables can represent a sensible and economical alternative. However, other rules apply when it comes to assembling and installing aluminum cable. Thus, for example, other clamps are required.
Sep 04, 2012
Inside the Taiwan Miracle
PV Taiwan: The challenges facing the solar industry are no secret with low prices across the industry sending some solar manufacturers reeling. This only adds to PV Taiwans significance. PV Taiwan, held on October 3 to 5, is Taiwans premium solar PV trade expo, bringing together hundreds of countries from all the top solar producing regions, especially the worlds numbers 1 and 2, China and Taiwan.
Sep 04, 2012
The compromise
EEG amendment in Germany: It took a long time, but after the compromise agreed upon by the mediation committee, the German Parliament and Federal Council adopted a slightly improved draft law just before the summer break. pv magazine recaps the new regulations that retroactively entered into force as of April 1.
Sep 04, 2012
300 GW a year: Power in numbers
The 300GW/a initiative: While the production side of the current PV industry sags under the weight of surplus supply, talk of long-term optimism and big goals for future capacity may seem to be nothing but hot air. However in an energy market where things are changing rapidly, pv magazine is tackling the idea of whether 300 GW per year (GW/a) of installed PV generation can be added globally in the year 2025 and beyond.
Sep 04, 2012
Solar financiers demand more data and insurance
Solar financing: Dustin Kahler, Vice President of renewables finance at Wells Fargo predicts that the U.S. solar finance market will scale with the sophistication of data. Speaking to a small audience at the recent Intersolar North America, he suggested that lower cost more widely-available funding for solar projects is being fostered today by a growing use of bankability exercises in the industry.
Sep 04, 2012
Join forces for 300 GW/a
Dear readers, The USA against China, China against the USA, the European Union against China, China against the European Union – the chain reaction triggered by the U.S. trade restrictions against Chinese PV imports were foreseeable and are counterproductive. The solar industry is tearing itself apart and solar electricity will certainly not become more competitive […]
Sep 04, 2012
Flat roofs, a grey area
Assembly: The boom in low-ballast, on-roof mounting systems for flat roofs continues unabated. These mounting racks are placed directly on the waterproofing membrane without being bolted down. But what happens if water suddenly penetrates the roof? Another unanswered question is how to prevent damage to the roof skin.
Sep 04, 2012
Plugging in pay-as-you-go
Off-grid metering: With PVs competitiveness with diesel generation a reality in certain parts of the developing world, delivering off-grid solutions is a business opportunity that can have a transformative effect. pv magazine can exclusively reveal a new pay-as-you-go business model that is emerging as an effective way of delivering off-grid PV power and facilitating the maintenance of installations.
Sep 04, 2012
From coin cell to giant
Lithium batteries: The technology is well known and there are enormous quantities of lithium batteries for laptops and mobile phones in use. While these batteries can also be used to store solar power, new developments are looking more promising for the near future.
Sep 04, 2012
Strong, sustainable development
Interview: With its high solar radiation and growing demand for energy, North Africa is set to become a big future solar market. pv magazine spoke with expert Badr Ikken, Director and cofounder of Moroccan-based National Institute IRESEN about the current situation in the region, and its potential.
Sep 04, 2012
A giant leap towards the future
CIGS thin film: With a total budget of more than 10 million, the European Unions Scalenano project aims to increase Europes competitiveness in photovoltaic technology through the development of low cost and highly efficient manufacturing processes for CIGS thin film solar cells.
Sep 04, 2012
