Solar superhero – 06-2012
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Bigger than ever
SNEC: Despite worldwide overcapacities, the financial crisis, cutbacks to feed-in-tariffs and hefty U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese PV imports, the mood at the 6th SNEC in Shanghai was driven by growth opportunities and lively business and the show was bigger than ever.
Jun 04, 2012
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Finely-tuned for performance
Tracker Market Overview: For a segment of the solar photovoltaic systems market whose future is constantly being called into question, the tracker segment remains surprisingly resilient. It might be a niche market, but it is now a global one. This years annual tracker market overview highlights new competitors, new products, as well as the re-emergence of dual-axis tracking, and some new performance data.
Jun 04, 2012
Domestic Content FIT eligibility
Ontario: Just how important is home advantage to players in the renewable energy sector? It could be a game changer, according to Japan and the European Union, both of which have brought complaints against Canada for violating the rules of fair competition.
Jun 04, 2012
A diversity of new processes
New deposition methods for CIGS solar cells: This article by Peng Shou (CNBM), Jimin Ma (CEO of Sol Array), and Paul Beatty (CTO at Sol Array) reviews and compares the technical and commercial merits of recent lower cost deposition methods for solar cells using quarternary compound semiconductors such as copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), including new types of sputtering and printing.
Jun 04, 2012
Market change
Italy: Already at the last Solarexpo in Verona the Italian government managed to shock the countrys PV industry. At that time it announced Conto Energia IV, which provided for substantial cuts in subsidies for solar electricity. Now the government has even topped that and just before Solarexpo 2012 it presented an even more drastic Conto Energia V for discussion.
Jun 04, 2012
The Indian case
Indian manufacturing: The rise of the Asian solar cell and panel producers could not have happened without the aid of European solar equipment suppliers. All these companies have enjoyed huge sales and orders as Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese and of late Malaysian and Indian companies have added and continue to add massive capacities.
Jun 04, 2012
The CMOS moment in solar
Applied Materials in China: At the Applied Materials 2012 Solar Innovation Summit in Xian, China, the manufacturer of equipment for the semiconductor and solar PV industries discussed its business strategy as well as the dynamics of the Chinese photovoltaics industry.
Jun 04, 2012
Tempe, we have a problem
First Solar: In a ruthlessly competitive market, quality is paramount. As thin film giant First Solar embarks on a program of radical restructuring and with new CEO James Hughes at the helm, the last thing it needs is its product underperforming in the field. But that is exactly what the U.S. company had to face throughout 2011, with the issue continuing to impact the companys balance sheet in 2012 also. Is the issue resolved? pv magazine investigates.
Jun 04, 2012
Energy independence
Off-grid PV: Phocos designs and manufactures solar charge controllers for off-grid solar systems as well as power-saving DC appliances such as lamps and cooling devices. The following article from Phocos describes four different applications of the plug and play Pico light and power system.
Jun 04, 2012
From power converter to energy manager
Self-consumption: Inverter manufacturers are responding to this new market segment. Some are equipping their devices to control electrical loads. Some are even including weather forecasts. Others are building complete systems and integrating battery storage systems. All in an effort to increase the rate of self-consumption.
Jun 04, 2012
More than green dreams
South Africa: As the PV industry feels the negative reverberations in Europe as a result of the cuts to the feed-in tariffs, South Africa has new PV plans in the pipeline and seeks to further the growth of solar generated electricity and aid its manufacturing sector.
Jun 04, 2012
Gigawatt dreams
Indian market update: After over two years of policy deliberations and growing pains, India is finally seeing solar installations in meaningful numbers. However, financing is proving to be a big problem on the back of low bids. Quality issues are also being raised. Raj Prabhu, Managing Partner of Mercom Capital Group provides an update.
Jun 04, 2012
Intersolar 2012
Intersolar Europe: With the goal of attracting 80,000 visitors from around 150 different countries, Intersolar Europe is continuing to pursue its ambitious mission to attract all the worlds PV decision makers to one location. But with around 2,000 exhibitors expected, how to make the most of your time at Intersolar is tricky. pv magazine has some hot tips as to how to optimize your Intersolar experience.
Jun 04, 2012
The potential for CIGS to cut costs
CIGS: Cost per watt is becoming increasingly important, in a savagely competitive module market. Thomas Umschlag, Sales Manager for Thin Film Solar at equipment manufacturer Manz argues that CIGS technology is able to deliver sufficient reductions, when the process is managed at every step along the way.
Jun 04, 2012
The whole package
Interview: Vice President of LGs EU solar group, Michael Harre provides pv magazine with his perspective on what influences end-customers PV system purchasing decisions. In addition to direct consumer advertising, he outlines LGs strategies to creating and maintaining installer relationships, and the different regional approaches required.
Jun 04, 2012
The slow move
Renewables Indonesia: The worlds fourth most populous country still has some 70 million people without any access to electricity. The natural conditions are present for a viable photovoltaics market, but the push for renewables has remained lackluster. The Renewables Indonesia 2012 that took place in Jakarta hoped to speed things up.
Jun 04, 2012
Setting the solar story straight
Solar Superheroes: So often the same old arguments are rolled out against PV, yet equally as often, theyre just not correct. They are based on stereotypes, old information and data that does not stand up against the facts. Taking things into its own hands, pv magazine has decided to challenge these arguments and set the solar story straight.
Jun 04, 2012
The solar window
BIPV: U.S.-based company New Energy Technologies, in collaboration with NREL scientists, has recently completed the successful fabrication of the largest-ever organic photovoltaic (OPV) module developed at NREL. The company claims the achievement represents an important step in the ongoing development of its SolarWindow technology and one which could pave the way for innovative BIPV applications.
Jun 04, 2012
Solar Superhero is the better choice
Dear readers, Talk about perfect timing! As though “Angry Franky” himself was behind the stage far away at SolarWorld headquarters in Bonn. Last October the demand made by several U.S. module manufacturers, under the leadership of SolarWorld Industries America for the introduction of U.S. duties on imports of Chinese crystalline cells and modules, stirred up […]
Jun 04, 2012
Opening for business
Japan: The Japanese PV market has commonly been regarded as a closed shop. However, new data has revealed that this has been changing with an increase in imported PV modules. With the implementation of a new feed-in tariff (FIT) program to start in July 2012, major global PV players established their sales offices in Japan and we may see many more imported PV modules in Japan.
Jun 04, 2012
The Indian case
Indian manufacturing: The rise of the Asian solar cell and panel producers could not have happened without the aid of European solar equipment suppliers. All these companies have enjoyed huge sales and orders as Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese and of late Malaysian and Indian companies have added and continue to add massive capacities.
Jun 04, 2012
