Rejuvenation – 06-2013
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Solar convenience
Off-grid: The falling costs of solar components and some innovative thinking is seeing off-grid solutions shine some light in provincial communities. But phone charging and refrigeration are also important services that PV can power, as SolarKiosk is beginning to demonstrate.
Jun 10, 2013
China remains crucial in trying times
SNEC: Slim margins, difficult payment conditions and uncertainty cast by the Sino-EU trade dispute were all prominent factors at the 2013 SNEC trade show. However despite the challenges, the worlds biggest trade show demonstrated how China truly remains a crucial player in the global PV industry.
Jun 10, 2013
Turning point
PV at the crossroads: The PV industry has taken a beating in the last couple of years. Nevertheless the widespread consolidation, despite being painful, could be a blessing in disguise. The strongest will survive, and some manufacturers coffers may be slowly filling, with new markets evolving. Is this the turning point for PV?
Jun 10, 2013
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Third party logistics specialists target solar
Logistics and supply chain: As margins in the solar industry remain under pressure and consolidation gathers pace, companies are looking even harder for ways to cut costs. Aside from technical specifications and labor costs, experts claim there are huge savings to be made in solar equipment logistics and after sale service, especially as traditional business to business models are eroded by bankruptcies, mergers and more sales directly to end-users as manufacturers go downstream.
Jun 10, 2013
Emphasis on customer service
Interview: Solar wholesale dealer AS Solar, with headquarters in Hanover, Germany, has been in the photovoltaic technology business for more than 10 years. pv magazine spoke with managing director Thomas Rust, who has 20 years of PV experience, about the companys strategy in difficult times.
Jun 10, 2013
Revamping designs
Trackers: The global tracker market has come a long way since 2004 when SunPower installed the worlds first large-scale tracker installation, the 10 MW Bavaria Solarpark. Today international tracker manufacturers are hard at work to differentiate themselves from the rising competition by refining design advantages, improving warranties, and cutting prices as more educated customers become more demanding.
Jun 10, 2013
Investments instead of protectionism
Dear readers, In the last week of May the photovoltaics industry made media headlines. During the first European visit of the new Chinese premier Li Keqiang to the German chancellery the pending EU penalty duties against imported Chinese solar products was the overriding topic. German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that everything should be done […]
Jun 10, 2013
Overnight inverter giant
Industry consolidation: The inverter space has seen some consolidation, but not at this scale. In late April it was announced that Swiss-based power and automation conglomerate ABB was going to acquire number two ranked inverter manufacturer Power-One. While the move has yet to pass regulatory and shareholder hurdles, it looks set to shake up PV.
Jun 10, 2013
Unbowed by doom-mongers
Intersolar Europe: The numbers may be down after a turbulent year for the solar industry, but with the focus shifting to downstream markets and energy storage, and with representatives from more countries than ever, the increasingly diverse nature of Europes most important solar shindig once again ensures it is a must-see event. Intersolar Europe will be held June 19 – 21, 2013, in Munich, Germany.
Jun 10, 2013
