A safe pair of hands – 08-2014
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The solar trade war rages on
Trade war: The U.S. has imposed heavy preliminary antidumping duties on imports of solar cells and modules from China and Taiwan, which add to already substantial anti-subsidy tariffs imposed in early June. It is unclear what the full impacts of these duties will be, but changes are already being reported in the U.S. market.
Aug 10, 2014
We are focused on the levelized cost of electricity
CEO Interview: The list of PV pies in which SunPower has its fingers is a long one. From its project development, leases and loans in the downstream segment, to its unique cell architecture, Fab 4 capacity expansion plans and C7 LCPV system, SunPower is aiming wide while maintaining its place as one of the top-10 module producers, in terms of volume, globally. pv magazine travelled to SunPowers San Jose base to meet with CEO Tom Werner.
Aug 10, 2014
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Spanish cuts signal regressive PV approach
Spain: The countrys ministerial cabinet recently approved a law that aims to implement previous PV guidelines. The law, PV advocates argue, brings legal uncertainty, scares investors and punishes existing installations. Arguably, Spains latest policy mandate changes the countrys renewable energy landscape entirely, bringing it to a fundamentally new level. The countrys ministerial cabinet recently approved a law that aims to implement previous PV guidelines. The law, PV advocates argue, brings legal uncertainty, scares investors and punishes existing installations. Arguably, Spains latest policy mandate changes the countrys renewable energy landscape entirely, bringing it to a fundamentally new level.
Aug 10, 2014
Solar goes public: The rise of yieldcos
Yieldcos: This summer has seen solar project developers join independent power producers in forming yieldco vehicles to hold solar and other renewable energy plants, large and small. By doing so, these companies are securing lower-cost capital as part of an ongoing reduction of costs in the solar industry.
Aug 10, 2014
Great potential for improvement
Balance of system costs: BOS costs are being systematically reduced, as was demonstrated at Intersolar North America, mainly by eliminating metal, weight and volume, by streamlining and integrating physical connectivity, and by designing housings for universal component acceptance.
Aug 10, 2014
Challenges beyond duties in India
SolarTech 2014: A solar summit in New Delhi last month brought together Indian PV manufacturers, distributors and developers to discuss some of the challenges standing in the way of the country meeting its vast solar potential. pv magazine reports on the hopes and frustrations.
Aug 10, 2014
We are more flexible as a pure downstream player
Interview: Under the new ownership of Kawa Capital Management, Inc., Conergy managed to further develop its EPC activities, especially in Southeast Asia. pv magazine asked Marc Lohoff, Conergys CEO Asia & Pacific, about the companys business model, new projects, and market expectations.
Aug 10, 2014
Billions of opportunities going begging
Off-grid PV Australia: With its wide open spaces and disparate remote and rural communities, there are many communities and commercial operations that can be served by off-grid PV in Australia. However, the growth of PV plus storage solutions has been patchy, with the pastoral sector (farming) relatively quick to adopt the technology while indigenous communities and mining operators lag behind.
Aug 10, 2014
Its unstoppable
The history of solar energy: John Perlins latest book, Let it Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy, is a new expanded edition of his 1980 classic, A Golden Thread: 2500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology. pv magazine spoke to Perlin about fascinating new discoveries, what people today can learn from the solar engineers of ancient times, and the prospects of solar for future generations.
Aug 10, 2014
Solar goes public: The rise of yieldcos
Yieldcos: This summer has seen solar project developers join independent power producers in forming yieldco vehicles to hold solar and other renewable energy plants, large and small. By doing so, these companies are securing lower-cost capital as part of an ongoing reduction of costs in the solar industry.
Aug 10, 2014
PV financing opportunities in Brazil
Brazil: Despite boasting solar radiation in the range of 2,154 kWh/m2 in the northeast to 1,898 kWh/m2 in the south, Brazil has yet to seriously integrate PV energy generation into its power matrix due to volatile energy prices, risk averse local financing and an embryonic international banking market. However, opportunities to develop PV projects exist, writes Rosa Tarragó of Sowitec.
Aug 10, 2014
A dysfunctional subsidy
India: The 30% capital subsidy for rooftop PV has not been disbursed for over 18 months. As long as the dysfunctional subsidy is not removed, customers with projects viable without subsidies will defer installing PV. Dustin Zubke, a 2014 Thomas J. Watson Fellow, reports from India.
Aug 10, 2014
Its time for results
It will surprise few in PV to hear that energy is a political issue. Given that it keeps hospitals functioning, schools open and traffic lights on, it’s apparent that electricity is a public good. But it feels too often that we in solar are waiting for a political decision to be handed down; for the […]
Aug 10, 2014
No longer the introvert
Inverters: Although inverters play a key role in all PV systems, the technology rarely impacts the ebb and flow of global market forces like modules do. But as price pressures move along the solar value chain, are inverter suppliers primed to seize the opportunity to reshape the solar market in their own image?
Aug 10, 2014
The sun of its parts
Off-grid India: In India, solar off-grid systems are a backup against daily power cuts, offering clean energy 24 hours a day. The Indian solar off-grid market is growing fast, providing an affordable and reliable fail-safe against the daily power cuts that regularly bedevil cities, towns, and villages. And in rural regions, where there is often no grid access whatsoever, solar solutions are proving invaluable.
Aug 10, 2014
Playing politics with PV
Australia: In the first half of 2014, Australia installed around 320 MW of solar PV and the Australian Solar Council expects the figure at years end to reach around 700 MW. High electricity prices and ample sunshine make conditions perfect for PV, so this should be a given, but there are forces at work against PV Down Under, and they are taking aim at a range of policies and institutions.
Aug 10, 2014
No longer the introvert
Inverters: Although inverters play a key role in all PV systems, the technology rarely impacts the ebb and flow of global market forces like modules do. But as price pressures move along the solar value chain, are inverter suppliers primed to seize the opportunity to reshape the solar market in their own image?
Aug 10, 2014
Eastern promise
Romania project review: Romanias Giurgiu region in the countrys south is home to three utility-scale solar PV projects developed by Austrias Green Source and LSG Group. pv magazine caught up with the developer to learn more about the challenges, technical specifications and opportunities of the Romanian PV market.
Aug 10, 2014
Spanish cuts signal regressive PV approach
Spain: Spain: The countrys ministerial cabinet recently approved a law that aims to implement previous PV guidelines. The law, PV advocates argue, brings legal uncertainty, scares investors and punishes existing installations. Arguably, Spains latest policy mandate changes the countrys renewable energy landscape entirely, bringing it to a fundamentally new level. The countrys ministerial cabinet recently approved a law that aims to implement previous PV guidelines. The law, PV advocates argue, brings legal uncertainty, scares investors and punishes existing installations. Arguably, Spains latest policy mandate changes the countrys renewable energy landscape entirely, bringing it to a fundamentally new level.
Aug 10, 2014
