A compromise for the better? – 09-2013
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Taking it to the bank
Bankability books: Financing counts. Its a statement that would surprise few in the PV world, but getting project finance at the right price can make a big difference to a projects bottom line. But how to do it best? Putting together a watertight case for project components is at least half of the battle and a comprehensive approach to documentation can go a long way. Enter bankability books, an emerging way to put the crucial information on the pathway to bankability down on paper.
Sep 01, 2013
LEDs copy the sun
Metrology: Higher solar cell efficiencies are essential for further cost reduction of PV electricity. But the way efficiency is measured also has to keep up with the increasing requirements of the maturing PV industry. The CEO of Wavelabs, Dr. Torsten Brammer, and Christian Leers of Accelios Solar report on the benefits and challenges of replacing conventional Xenon lamps in solar simulators with LED technology.
Sep 01, 2013
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Two pillars maintain thin film presence
Industry ranking: Consolidation has continued to play out in the thin film sector, with the two thin film pillars First Solar and Solar Frontier maintaining the place of the technology in the broader PV market. Efficiency gains continue to be recorded and manufacturers operating at scale are realizing cost improvements.
Sep 01, 2013
A lesson in opacity
Dear readers, As expected, after weeks of tug of war, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and China’s Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng agreed in early August to a preliminary settlement in the antidumping case over the import of crystalline wafers, cells and ingots. Until the end of 2015 about 70% of Chinese exporting producers […]
Sep 01, 2013
From Ukraine, to US and beyond
Interview: Activ Solar, based in Vienna, Austria, has developed hundreds of megawatts of PV projects in the Ukraine. The project integrator is currently taking its next steps into the North and South American markets and to emerging regions. An interview with the companys chief operating officer Johann Harter.
Sep 01, 2013
When will PV equipment spending rebound?
PV equipment: With PV equipment spending at an eight year low, and backlogs almost fully depleted, understanding when new order intake will resume and capital expenditures (capex) will be released remain the key questions for all equipment suppliers. Finlay Colville, Vice President of NPD Solarbuzz elaborates.
Sep 01, 2013
A rollercoaster of changes ahead
Concentrated solar power: As a host of projects complete construction, concentrated solar power (CSP) will hit a record 3.2 GW of installations in 2016. With project development cycles ranging from three years to five years to complete after the initial announcement, and tens if not hundreds of megawatts coming online at the same time, CSPs project completion pipeline looks like a roller coaster. Edward Cahill, Research Associate and Matt Feinstein, Senior Analyst at Lux Research elaborate.
Sep 01, 2013
How precise should it be?
Quality control: For some time a good deal of discussion has been triggered by mobile test centers with which modules can be measured in large numbers directly on location. A debate between Erik Lohse, who offers such measurements, and Willi Vaaßen from the German safety standards authority TÜV Rheinland, on what such systems can do.
Sep 01, 2013
Global FIT overview
Feed-in tariffs: Ontario begins to wind down its domestic content requirements to comply with the WTO ruling against its discriminatory FITs. Germany announces another quarter of 1.8% degressions. Thailand forges ahead with new FITs to exceed previous solar capacity targets.
Sep 01, 2013
Another blow for the European solar market
EU-China trade dispute: The beginning of August saw a preliminary agreement in the trade dispute between China and the EU on imports of crystalline PV products. The compromise includes minimum import prices and a cap on imports, which apply until the end of 2015, creating a price cartel for a part of the market. A further weakening of the solar market, especially in Europe, is expected.
Sep 01, 2013
Islands of activity
Malta: A reliance on heavy oil imports for electricity production has seen Maltas electricity prices go through the roof. PV is therefore well positioned to make a large contribution across the archipelago nation. But a lack of space may put a break on its wide-scale application.
Sep 01, 2013
