Looking forward – 08-2012
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Changing the phase of inverters
Inverters: Without new developments in inverters, solar power cannot be fed into the grid problem-free anymore. The electricity grid is changing and will continue to change. Inverters play a vital role. pv magazine joined the immense crowds at the inverter halls during Intersolar Europe to speak with manufacturers who gave us their two cents on the current situation.
Jul 26, 2012
Concentrated activity
CPV: Late last month Lux Research released a report into the high concentration photovoltaics (HCPV) market predicting a compound annual growth of 31 percent, to reach a market of US$1.6 billion in 2017. These figures represent a capacity of 697 MW, which pales in comparison when compared to the fixed panel PV producers. A group of companies in Californias San Francisco Bay Area are in a position now to take their products to market on a larger scale and to take advantage of this niche, which is best suited to areas with high direct normal irradiance (DNI).
Jul 26, 2012
Changing the phase of inverters
Inverters: Without new developments in inverters, solar power cannot be fed into the grid problem-free anymore. The electricity grid is changing and will continue to change. Inverters play a vital role. pv magazine joined the immense crowds at the inverter halls during Intersolar Europe to speak with manufacturers who gave us their two cents on the current situation.
Jul 26, 2012
Global feed-in tariff overview
Feed-in tariffs: The German Bundesrat has approved the new subsidies with no changes other than an easing of the self-consumption regulations. Italy passed its eagerly anticipated Conto Energia V. On July 1, Japan saw one of the most generous incentive schemes come into effect. Conversely, the rates in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Flanders (Belgium) took a nosedive after some heavy cuts by their respective governments.
Jul 26, 2012
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Indias domestic content requirement
India: With close to one gigawatt of installed PV capacity, India is now a significant global market. International manufacturers and investors are now recognizing the potential of the Indian solar Industry. Tobias Engelmeier, from Bridge to India, considers the likelihood of measures in the Indian market to protect domestic manufacturers and their likely impacts.
Jul 26, 2012
More market
Off-grid solar PV: In some off-grid markets, solar power is already more cost-efficient than electricity from diesel generators. More market segments will join the list with rising diesel prices. We asked some of the many off-grid experts exhibiting at Intersolar Europe to describe the current state of the market for PV stand-alone systems, what is important, where the barriers are, and what are the major trends.
Jul 26, 2012
Window of opportunity
CEO Interview: 2012 has been a busy year for Manz AG. Already this year the company has opened new manufacturing facilities in China, released a new wet chemical tool and transferred 118 CIGS experts from Würth Solar into its own operations. However as yet, it has not sold even one of its CIGS turnkey fabs and has seen a strong decline of revenue from its PV business in 2012. pv magazine spoke to CEO Dieter Manz to find out the companys strategy in these challenging times.
Jul 26, 2012
Still a growth market
Intersolar North America: Numbers were down but there was strong interest in installations and system providers at Intersolar North America held last month in San Francisco. While industry consolidation and challenging project finance remained a major theme, there were still positive signs with relatively steady market growth.
Jul 26, 2012
Steering through the standards jungle
Mounting systems: Solar power plants have to be able to withstand considerable wind and snow loads. They must be able to absorb these loads and dissipate them into the roof or the ground via the mounting system. This raises the question of what standards and basic conditions are relevant for mounting systems. Lydia Hannemann and Sandy Schnitzer of Mounting Systems analyze the most important prerequisites.
Jul 26, 2012
Solar superhero
Interview: Having been a world leader in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell efficiency since 1983, The University of New South Wales Martin Green is a true Solar superhero. Despite the fortunes of some of the Chinese c-Si waning in the light of rapidly falling prices, Green remains confident that PV will continue to develop and become a major energy source of the future. pv magazine met with the softly-spoken scientist to get his take on the current market and challenges currently facing the industry.
Jul 26, 2012
How to survive 20122014
Quality standards: As the global solar industry develops, corporate transparency becomes a necessity. Therefore test laboratories and certification bodies are in great demand. In an interview with pv magazine , Ulrike Therhaag, Director Solar/Fuelcell Technology at TÜV Rheinland Shanghai, discusses the situation in China.
Jul 26, 2012
Little black box
Junction box: Intersolar Europe 2012 presented the opportunity to look into the black boxes of the solar industry: junction boxes and the cables and connectors that fuse the entire system in harmony. New products were presented, some older products saw improvements and the question of integration came up.
Jul 26, 2012
Sino-American harmony
GT Advanced Technologies: Silicon production machine manufacturer GT Advanced Technologies joined the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy to oppose the petition for tariffs on PV cells and modules imported from China. A case study in solar innovation and cross-border value creation.
Jul 26, 2012
Amidst difficulty lies opportunity
Intersolar Awards: 93 companies from 50 countries submitted their products for consideration for the fifth Intersolar Awards. The winners who bagged the top spots were not only deserving with their innovations but also commendable for setting the direction the industry should go in order to overcome the obstacles in its path.
Jul 26, 2012
A view on post-FIT PV
Intersolar Europe: Consolidation of the market is evident. Far less visitors and exhibitors traveled to Munich this year. At the same time Intersolar Europe showed the way towards a post-FIT PV with new storage solutions, new business models for direct marketing of solar electricity and further cost reductions and product optimization.
Jul 26, 2012
Upgrade for the US grid
Transmission lines for solar: While hundreds of megawatts of new solar power projects have been approved by U.S. states and municipalities in recent times, the question of where associated transmission lines will be sited still hangs over some of these developments like the Sword of Damocles, a problem that could crash down with a terminating effect on a project.
Jul 26, 2012
Lying in wait
SE Asia: The region has been identified as one of the emerging solar markets of the future. With the IMF reporting economic growth at a rate of 6.5 percent per annum, electricity demand is also growing. However, cumulative installed PV capacity and support schemes are comparatively negligible. Despite this, many companies are lying in wait, preparing their plans, ready to pounce as soon as the markets are ripe.
Jul 26, 2012
Chin up
Dear readers, Are the current prospects for the industry really as bleak as the dark cloudy skies over Berlin? For weeks now the list of reported insolvencies has continued to grow – apart from module manufacturers like Abound, Konarka, Global Solar, Inventux or Sovello, even leading machine manufacturers like Centrotherm have been hit. What’s more, […]
Jul 26, 2012
Value of fluoropolymer-based backsheets
Backsheets: For most photovoltaic modules available on the market today, there are two primary protective layers the glass on the sun-facing side of the module, and a fluoropolymer-based backsheet. Between the two, the backsheet has a demanding role as Honeywells Jim Bratcher explains.
Jul 26, 2012
Value of fluoropolymer-based backsheets
Backsheets: For most photovoltaic modules available on the market today, there are two primary protective layers the glass on the sun-facing side of the module, and a fluoropolymer-based backsheet. Between the two, the backsheet has a demanding role as Honeywells Jim Bratcher explains.
Jul 26, 2012
