Latin sunrise – 04-2012
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Fertile grounds for growth
Sri Lanka: Boasting 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, Sri Lanka is a very attractive location for solar investment. Add to that the growing energy demands of this island nations growing population and an ever-increasing standard of living; Solar Bankers share the possibilities and challenges in this fertile market.
Apr 01, 2012
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Out of the shadows
Concentrated photovoltaics: CPV is not a new technology, but it is beginning to have its place in the sun as a bankable form of solar power generation. In the MENA region and places with higher direct irradiation it is growing and companies are beginning to fill the CPV supply niche. But are there sufficient advantages for CPV to emerge, out of the shadows?
Apr 01, 2012
From land to water
Floating PV systems: Photovoltaic systems have been successfully deployed on land and in space for many years, so it was only a matter of time before water-based PV systems emerged on larger scales. Over the past five years, a myriad of floating systems have evolved in varying degrees for use in ponds, reservoirs, canals, rivers and oceans.
Apr 01, 2012
Solar spring
Japan: One year after Fukushima the Japanese photovoltaics market is ready for a new launch. At the beginning of March this could be seen at PV Expo 2012, Japans largest solar trade exhibition. This year it is expected that new systems with an output of 2.5 gigawatts will be installed, more than twice as much as in the previous year.
Apr 01, 2012
Pyranometers, reference cells: the difference
Utility-scale PV: Even tiny changes in predicted output can have a big impact on a utility-scale power plants bottom line. As such, a small reduction in uncertainty can make a big difference. The best way to accurately determine PV efficiency is explored in this article, the first part of a two-part series, from PV Evolution Labs, which compares pyranometers and reference cells.
Apr 01, 2012
Is grid parity just around the corner?
Levelized cost of energy: Shalom Goffri, Associate Director at Navigant Consulting, believes that PV prices are still too high to achieve grid parity without incentives. However, he says that with new, sustainable markets, it could be as little as five years before grid parity without incentives is reached.
Apr 01, 2012
Caught in the crosshairs
Global market overview: 2011 was a year of extremes for the PV industry: record installations; a dramatic fall in module prices; and a plethora of companies closing their doors. According to Mercom Capital Groups Raj Prabhu, 2012 will remain challenging, with the industry having been firmly caught in the cross hairs of Europes economic crisis. Continued oversupply and less installed capacity are also to be expected.
Apr 01, 2012
Out of the shadows
Concentrated photovoltaics: CPV is not a new technology, but it is beginning to have its place in the sun as a bankable form of solar power generation. In the MENA region and places with higher direct irradiation it is growing and companies are beginning to fill the CPV supply niche. But are there sufficient advantages for CPV to emerge, out of the shadows?
Apr 01, 2012
Out of the shadows
Concentrated photovoltaics: CPV is not a new technology, but it is beginning to have its place in the sun as a bankable form of solar power generation. In the MENA region and places with higher direct irradiation it is growing and companies are beginning to fill the CPV supply niche. But are there sufficient advantages for CPV to emerge, out of the shadows?
Apr 01, 2012
Out of the shadows
Concentrated photovoltaics: CPV is not a new technology, but it is beginning to have its place in the sun as a bankable form of solar power generation. In the MENA region and places with higher direct irradiation it is growing and companies are beginning to fill the CPV supply niche. But are there sufficient advantages for CPV to emerge, out of the shadows?
Apr 01, 2012
Out of the shadows
Concentrated photovoltaics: CPV is not a new technology, but it is beginning to have its place in the sun as a bankable form of solar power generation. In the MENA region and places with higher direct irradiation it is growing and companies are beginning to fill the CPV supply niche. But are there sufficient advantages for CPV to emerge, out of the shadows?
Apr 01, 2012
Fukushima calling
Dear readers, Lessons learned from Fukushima? If one takes a look at the current plans of the German government to cut subsidies for the photovoltaics industry, then it is doubtful. Berlin decided to abandon civilian use of nuclear power this past June and Chancellor Angela Merkel repeatedly makes overblown statements about the transition towards renewables. […]
Apr 01, 2012
New arrivals transforming the market
PV inverter market: Inverter shipments reached an almost unbelievable 26 GW in 2011, according to preliminary results from IMS Researchs Quarterly PV Inverter Tracker which collects sales and shipment data from 45 major manufacturers. IMS Researchs Ash Sharma looks at what 2012 has in store and which new arrivals are worth keeping an eye on in the near future.
Apr 01, 2012
A solar-panel glass ceiling?
Women in PV: Its often said about the PV industry that its one where business is done differently. In terms of its people this could be more of a case of what it isnt, rather than what it is. PV in fact can be seen as pushing against the following energy industry stereotype: that its people are largely white and most definitely male. But does this mean that PV is an industry where women are automatically a part of the workforce? pv magazine investigates.
Apr 01, 2012
Ground-fault protection
Electrical standards for PV systems: In part one of this series we looked at the background and scope of the U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC). We continued with a survey of 2011 NEC coverage of solar PV systems. Article 690 starts with 23 basic definitions, followed by general installation requirements for all non-utility solar PV systems. In part two, we continue with Section 690.5, Ground-Fault Protection.
Apr 01, 2012
Unique challenges on the subcontinent
Project development India: Solar development in India is a bit of a paradox. On one hand, it is like the Wild West of American folklore, where anything goes. On the other, the solar market in India is one of the most rigidly planned markets in the world, and developers must be on top of their game to turn a profit. Astonfield Renewable Resources Sourabh Sen looks inside the intriguing and extremely promising market.
Apr 01, 2012
Racking & receptors buoy tenKsolar
System efficiency: Relative newcomer tenKsolar, of Minneapolis, is offering a unique wave-shaped photovoltaic array of flat plate modules paired with reflectors that the company claims will generate the highest density energy output of any solar array on a commercial flat roof.
Apr 01, 2012
