Solar Speaks – 08-2016
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Excerpt from the magazine
We are the technology driver
PV production equipment: Meyer Burger has established itself as one the largest technology providers in the solar space, with a suite of technology offerings across production processes. These include PERC upgrade tooling, SmartWire cell interconnection technology, a heterojunction platform and innovative diamond wire solution. But can the Swiss provider compete against the fast rising Chinese rivals? pv magazine spoke to CEO Peter Pauli.
Jul 19, 2016
Adding more strings to the bow
Stringer-tabber equipment: A new generation of stringers are delivering vastly increased throughput on limited fab floorspace. They are also embracing the shift towards four, five and even six busbars. But how can quality be maintained within this crucial process? pv magazine investigates.
Jul 19, 2016
Sufficient market to create an industry?
Brazil: Brazils current energy glut and political and economic difficulties have forced it to cancel one of its 2016 solar power auctions. Nevertheless, the industry hopes that in the October tender up to 2 GW of solar will be awarded. Meanwhile, of the 3 GW awarded previously, and which ought to go into operation between 2017 and 2018, only 700 MW are currently under construction.
Jul 19, 2016
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A question of quality for European manufacturers
Module production, Europe: In the wake of the third pv magazine Quality Roundtable at Intersolar Europe, pv magazine surveys European module manufacturers about strategy and quality. The question is, what makes Made in Europe attractive to buyers looking for modules for a PV array?
Jul 19, 2016
Trackers are clearly the best way to deliver improved IRRs
Tracking: Lead by the U.S. market and delivered through maturing technology, trackers have moved into the mainstream. With new opportunities, new market entrants have leapt into the space. Pivoting from CPV solutions, Chinas Arctech Solar is expanding into the Chinese and international markets with its tracking solution. Guy Rong, the President of Arctech Solar believes it is only the beginning.
Jul 19, 2016
A second half to remember
Cue: a collective sigh of relief. Solar’s silly season has passed. The eight-week crunch of three major solar events in quick succession – the SNEC, Intersolar Europe and Intersolar North America – is now behind us. And it’s summer, in the northern hemisphere at least, so time to take stock and get in some much-needed […]
Jul 19, 2016
Australia eventually the land of solar opportunity
Solar Down Under: The progress of Australias solar PV industry is multifaceted, with residential and commercial strength boosting storage adoption in many regions, but large-scale arrays are still relatively few and far between. Clear and consistent government incentives to support solar would be a huge help, but like many other countries, such stability has been hard to come by.
Jul 19, 2016
We produce standard wafers directly from the melt
Wafer technology: The production of PV wafers is a dirty and multi-step process. 1366 Technologies, from outside of Boston, Massachusetts, believes its Direct Wafer technology can simplify and dramatically reduce the costs of wafer production. But step change technology is never easy, particularly amongst the standardized PV landscape. Frank van Mierlo, the CEO of 1366 Technologies, says that the company is well on its way to realizing its ambitious goal.
Jul 19, 2016
Reasons for optimization
DC optimizers: Module level power electronics are squeezing more energy out of the solar array with every new iteration, with DC optimization a preferred choice for a great many regions and markets. pv magazine examines the latest trends and products shaping this space.
Jul 19, 2016
Mining with sunshine
Offgrid PV+storage: Over 30,000 modules mounted on dual axis trackers sit above the iconic red earth in remote Western Australia. With the closest town of 1,000 people 150 km away and the nearest sizeable city 900 km, the project is about as off-the-grid as it gets. But it could be pointing the way forward for industrial solar+storage applications in Australia and beyond.
Jul 19, 2016
Match product to project
Inverters: Huawei claims to have assumed the mantle as the worlds largest inverter supplier in terms of shipment volumes. William Zhou, vice president of Sungrow Power Supply, begs to differ. Zhou sets out why and makes the case for central inverters in a diverse marketplace.
Jul 19, 2016
On the road with pv magazine Where we’ve been: Intersolar North America, San Francisco Conflict? In the U.S. solar industry? An industry that has nurtured innovation, expansion and vast profits for the past few years? So it came to pass at the Intersolar North America exhibition, which opened to a rallying cry by the California […]
Jul 19, 2016
What we focus on is reliability
Perovskite: Its been a buzz technology of the last couple of years, perovskites in PV applications. However, much of the research community has struggled to meet the required material stability requirements of the solar industry. Chris Case, the CTO of perovskite developer Oxford PV, believes that his company has made serious headway.
Jul 19, 2016
Things are starting to recover
European markets: There are signs of rapid growth in the European storage market, and the PV market on the continent may be turning a corner. Ash Sharma, the senior director solar research at IHS Technology shares this and other insights, including a 10% module price decline looming large in the 2016 marketplace.
Jul 19, 2016
Europes leading show goes on
Intersolar Europe 2016: Battery storage was the main topic as Intersolar returned to its spiritual home of Munich again this year for the 25th iteration of the key solar event. Alongside the battery providers, key suppliers from across the PV supply chain were present and signs of opportunities on the horizon and beyond Europes borders delivered an event more upbeat than the contracting European market could have offered.
Jul 19, 2016
A light that never goes out
Brexit: The shockwaves and tumult caused by the unexpected decision by the U.K. to vote out of the EU are still being felt, and will be for a long time. With the dust barely settled, various agencies are already at work maneuvering their policies and outlook, with the countrys energy landscape at the sharp end. Solar, and renewables more widely, have opportunities amid the fallout.
Jul 19, 2016
The scale up has been stunning
EPC: Indias Sterling and Wilson has emerged on to the solar landscape at a rapid pace. Bikesh Ogra, the president of Sterling and Wilsons solar business, says that the companys long pedigree in electrical contracting and service provision has allowed it to grow quickly while bringing solar expertise into the team. Ogra believes that even some of the startlingly low bids in Indias solar tenders can be achieved.
Jul 19, 2016
