Double-edged sword – 11-2016
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Excerpt from the magazine
Make solar great again
U.S. manufacturing: In the most recent election, Populist candidates issued thinly veiled calls to return to an America that makes tangible goods. But can solar be part of a manufacturing renaissance in the United States? And what would be needed to make solar in America?
Nov 03, 2016
Silicone and glass-glass PV modules
Interview: In the new environment of crushed prices, quality and durability are as important as ever as a means for PV module makers to differentiate their product. In light of these factors, Rogier Reinders, Head of Marketing for Europe at Dow Corning, has provided pv magazine with some insight into the advantages of silicone as a key material in glass-glass PV modules.
Nov 03, 2016
Solar record-breakers 1/1 ANZEIGE Comité para el desarrollo de la industria solar Chile
Middle East: Solar prices keep falling, they keep calling, and true to form the markets keep answering. Interestingly, it is the Middle East markets that are making headlines with the lowest priced bids for solar energy projects. The question is, are these projects viable?
Nov 03, 2016
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GPM utility scale report
Grid Parity Monitor: PV utility-scale systems continue their track to generation parity, but must compete with increasingly lower wholesale electricity prices. The third edition of the Grid Parity Monitor (GPM) series, shortly to be released by Creara, focuses exclusively on the utility-scale segment and PV competitiveness within wholesale electricity markets.
Nov 03, 2016
New Europe
European markets: Mature PV markets are steady, reliable, and straightforward to forecast. Until theyre not, that is. Within what could be called greater Europe are some little examined markets on which its worth casting a light. And while its not all good news, there are some unexpected bright spots both rebounding, and emerging afresh.
Nov 03, 2016
Korea trajectory
Hanwha Q CELLS South Korea production facility: Adding gigawatt-scale cell capacity in a time of global market oversupply could be considered inopportune, but is investment in high-tech, high-efficiency PERC cell technology ever something to shy away from? pv magazine went along to Hanwha Q CELLS new cell production facility in Jincheon, South Korea, to ask such a question.
Nov 03, 2016
Blue skies & satellites
Weather monitoring: The impact of weather on solar power arrays can be substantial, once the effects of clouds, dust, pollution, wind, humidity, rain, snow, and hail are added together. As the solar industry matures, more attention is being paid to monitoring such weather factors, for use in both performance analytics and in maintenance assessments.
Nov 03, 2016
Sensor sensibility
Smarter maintenance: From capex to opex, the focus for downstream developers is shifting. The ability to collect detailed data to enable proactive maintenance is proving a powerful tool for fleet owners and O&M providers. pv magazine investigates some of the key technology enabling the shift and allowing faults to be corrected, before they become a problem.
Nov 03, 2016
Data in action
Operations strategy: Data is big business for solar these days, with operators recording everything from tracker movements to the weather. But acquiring data is only half of the story: How can you be sure to turn it into meaningful results? Tor Blackstad, CEO at GreenPowerMonitor sheds some light on what can be achieved with effective data management.
Nov 03, 2016
Rapid change a constant
“Our aim is to have leading market share in two to three years.” It’s a bold statement, but not entirely surprising. Inverter supplier Huawei unveiled the ambition at the 2016 All Energy trade show in Melbourne, where the company launched in the Australian market. “We have a Huawei representative office with 5,000 staff and we […]
Nov 03, 2016
Fake it until you make it
Indian manufacturing: Perhaps the most dynamic solar market this year, the Indian PV sector could experience growing pains if steps are not taken soon to stem the countrys overreliance on cheap components – predominately sourced from China. But as with any teenage phase, the road towards independence and self-reliance is not always straightforward, as pv magazine discovers.
Nov 03, 2016
Stored potential
Batteries for Japan: Japans residential solar sector has been gradually expanding for years, but the market may be on the cusp of rapid growth. The governments plan to eliminate net primary energy consumption in all newly constructed homes by 2030 as well as a subsidy of JPY 50,000 ($485) /kWh for homeowners who install lithium-ion batteries could drive demand for rooftop solar panels and energy-storage solutions to previously unseen levels by the end of this decade.
Nov 03, 2016
The new normal of low module prices
Module and cell prices: Rapid price declines have been the major trend in the latter stages of 2016. Undoubtedly the dynamic will have profound impacts across the market. pv magazine investigates the causes, the effects and the new normal of low-cost PV.
Nov 03, 2016
