Movers and shakers – 03-2014
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Hanergys GW ambitions for CIGS
Thin film: Chinese renewable energy player Hanergy sure knows how to grab a headline. But can it make good on its targets for thin film PV technology? Hanergy has acquired three CIGS companies that had been struggling to make good on ambitious plans and has now announced plans for a major build-out of the technology.
Mar 09, 2014
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PPA evolution propels commercial rooftop market
Rooftop PV: The large commercial rooftop solar market in the United States may not have expanded as rapidly as utility or residential installations in the recent past, but signs are that vertical integration and more standardized power purchase agreements could boost the segment.
Mar 09, 2014
Billions of dollars of off-grid opportunity
Australia: Major renewable energy projects are being developed which could potentially see billions of dollars of clean energy development on the fringes or outside of Australias two major electricity grids. The projects are being supported by a government agency and pv magazine has learned that large-scale PV developments make up the majority of the planned projects.
Mar 09, 2014
Solar PV shines a light in Africa
African market entry: Despite abundant renewable resources, exponentially growing electricity demand and a young demographic, developments in Sub-Saharan African renewable energy markets have been underwhelming. There are signs, however, that things are changing, writes Dr. Ioannis Papadopoulos of the renewables advisory team of global consultancy DNV GL (formerly GL Garrad Hassan).
Mar 09, 2014
High demand driving trade
Ranking silicon and wafers: The days of high overcapacity for silicon and wafer manufacturers are, due to the fast-growing global PV market, over for now. Because of strong demand, both IHS and GTM Research expect rising prices and capacity expansions throughout the sector.
Mar 09, 2014
More private enterprise
China: As export markets contracted, Chinas PV industry turned a corner and is now building the worlds biggest PV installation market at home. A revamped subsidy regime has made feed-in tariffs the centerpiece of Chinas promotion of solar power. The focus is now on long-term PV plant performance, distributed PV and less intervention by local governments.
Mar 09, 2014
Three years on
Dear readers, In the second week of February hopes were dashed that Tokyo, three years after Fukushima, would in future be governed by somebody who is critical of nuclear power. However, former TV presenter and cabinet minister Yoichi Masuzoe won the election for Tokyo governor by a wide margin. Mr Masuzoe agrees with government plans […]
Mar 09, 2014
Liebe Leserin, lieber Leser, Erfolg garantiert! Wirklich? Nein, das ist er natürlich nicht, gerade nicht in der jetzigen Marktsituation und angesichts der noch offenen politischen Diskussion. Doch wir wollten wissen, welche der Konzepte, die in letzter Zeit gehandelt wurden, wirklich Erfolg versprechen oder unter welchen Bedingungen sie das tun. Dazu haben wir eine Vielzahl von […]
Mar 09, 2014
Business model in stress test
Wholesale trade: The specialized PV wholesale trade stands at a crossroads in Germany. Will its expertise stay in demand because solar power systems are becoming a core component in the self-sufficient household and industrial sector? Or is it soon to become superfluous in a largely standardized mass market? Despite the wave of bankruptcies and acquisitions in the country, both models still seem possible.
Mar 09, 2014
MPPT charge controllers: a performance analysis
Charge controllers: Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controllers have recently become increasingly popular and not just for off-grid PV applications, write experts from the two companies Steca Elektronik GmbH and AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH.
Mar 09, 2014
What do customers want from PV suppliers?
Market survey: IHS has been conducting PV inverter customer surveys in the last three years. Their latest survey integrated questions on PV modules and energy storage. IHS analysts Cormac Gilligan and Sam Wilkinson give an account of the most important survey results.
Mar 09, 2014
CIGS from the Cape
South Africa: Regarded as one of the most promising emerging markets in PV, dozens of international companies are currently active in South Africa. In early February, Africas first pilot production for CIGS thin film modules opened in Stellenbosch near Cape Town, and pv magazine was invited along for a first look.
Mar 09, 2014
