The Outback flowers – 10-2016
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As Taiwan exports flag, domestic market picks up
Taiwan Industry: With prices for solar PV cells and modules plumbing new depths in the face of slowing demand and oversupply in global markets, Taiwans solar industry is in dire need of relief. Could Taiwans own domestic installations market provide a lifeline? In an industry facing chronic overcapacity issues and strong price pressure, 2016 is proving to be a particularly arduous year for Taiwans solar manufacturers. Sales are down and losses are mounting.
Sep 18, 2016
Testing high efficiency, in three questions
Cell and module testing: While there are different technological routes to high efficiency, many of them pose challenges to testing equipment providers. pv magazine assembled experts from five flash and test equipment providers to get a sense of the technology and business trends facing the segment.
Sep 18, 2016
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China 30 GW Market in 2016?
Chinese Market: China reports to have installed an enormous 20 GW so far in 2016, as a reduction to feed-in tariffs begins to take effect. A short-term drop in demand may rock the boat a little, but solar PV looks set to play an important role in the countrys energy future.
Sep 18, 2016
Peaks and troughs
Chinese market: June 30 marked a big day for Chinas PV industry, as the first of several planned reductions to solar FITs came into effect. A rush to get projects finished before this deadline resulted in a massive 20 GW of PV installations finished in the first six months of 2016 but whats next for PV in China? Vincent Shaw reports from Shanghai.
Sep 18, 2016
Solar power stored in plastic
Redox-flow technology: With a new variant of the redox-flow battery, a German company from Jena wants to cut todays power storage prices in half over the next three years. What will make this possible are so-called redox polymers, which are not only economical but also offer environmental benefits.
Sep 18, 2016
African opportunities
Sub-Saharan solar: Africa has long been considered an emerging market for solar PV developers, and recently some impressive projects have been announced. The Africa Energy Forum this June invited leaders from many African countries to London to present their energy plans and investment opportunities. pv magazine offers a country by country insight into the most recent developments.
Sep 18, 2016
Laser ablation of PERC solar cells
PERC ablation: Laser technology has become the dominant way to create openings on the back side of PERC PV cells, with no rival technologies at the moment relevant on the market. But new entrants are putting pressure on established laser makers in the worlds largest markets.
Sep 18, 2016
Trackers thaw solar freeze
Affordable tracker technology: Sun tracking arrays can yield as much as 25% more energy compared to a fixed tilt solar system. As the technology evolves to become both more efficient and affordable, solar is becoming viable in more and more global regions, even those with lower levels of sun.
Sep 18, 2016
Storage warming up in Australia
Battery Storage: A lot of ink has been spilled in recent months about Australias emergence as an early global testing ground for PV applications with battery storage. The excitement seemed to reach fever pitch this summer, when SolarCity CTO Peter Rive identified the country as a key future market in which batteries could affordably be deployed alongside rooftop PV systems.
Sep 18, 2016
Materials matter
PV manufacturing: As part of our focus on quality and reliability issues, pv magazine brings you an interview with DuPont research fellow Bill Gambogi and Director of Corporate Marketing Bob Olsen, who discuss the work DuPont is doing with materials and quality testing for the lifetime of solar projects.
Sep 18, 2016
Lithium competitor poised for growth
New battery chemistries: A new battery technology, the so-called saltwater battery made by Aquion energy, is poised to take the market for stationary storage systems by storm. Sales are already impressive, and demand continues to rise. Nevertheless, pushing lithium-ion batteries out of the market with this technology will be no easy task.
Sep 18, 2016
Cell interconnection techniques will have to change at some point
Interview: pv magazine caught up with Guy Beaucarne, whose team at Dow Corning has developed an electrically conductive adhesive especially for use in the PV Industry. The adhesive could lead to the creation of thinner cells, and significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of solar modules.
Sep 18, 2016
Solar shingles shine again
Rooftop applications: Great idea, huge potential market, tough nut to crack. Solar shingles have been spoken of and introduced to the PV market at various times over the past five years. But none have flown. pv magazine s Charles W. Thurston re-examines that market to see whether solar shingles can finally shine.
Sep 18, 2016
The lions roar
Renewable Energy India Expo: The 10th Renewable Energy India Expo presented a snapshot of the worlds most enigmatic solar market approaching a crossroads. Halls packed with people and largely Chinese firms suggest all is well for India in 2016, but analysts and experts taking a longer view warned of potential problems further down the line.
Sep 18, 2016
Bonding with solar and green Of hungry sharks, organic coffee and green bonds
Solar financing: The market for green bonds has exploded in 2016, with some estimates anticipating a total value of $100 billion before the end of the year. So far, solar businesses have been wary of these broadly scoped financial instruments. If the market continues to grow, however, their attraction may prove too strong for the industry to resist. Interview: Sean Kidney has a passion: saving the planet. As the CEO and cofounder of the Climate Bonds Initiative an investor-focused, not-for-profit organization he is probably as well-versed as anyone on the very earth he wants to save when it comes to the subject of green bonds. pv magazine talked to Kidney about where solar fits into the world of bonds that are colored green.
Sep 18, 2016
The great price decline, part II
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Of course, until it doesn’t. At the 12th Solar Power International trade show, held last month in the extravagant desert city, the trade show floor buzzed with announcements spanning much of the solar supply chain. From the rise of single-axis tracking to a host of 1,500 V components […]
Sep 18, 2016
Large-scale awakening
Australia: A 480 MW batch of government-supported projects is set to transform Australias PV power plant landscape forever. Prices have come down quickly, and big solars competitiveness with wind is approaching at pace. Merchant PV power plants may not be far away, while the rooftop segment stabilizes.
Sep 18, 2016
Chinas reaction to US anti-dumping tariffs
Cost vs efficiency: After a major rush for installations across China ended in June, manufacturing overcapacity has caused module prices to plummet. Now, with the government raising efficiency requirements, developers must make leading technologies more affordable, writes Corrine Lin of EnergyTrend.
Sep 18, 2016
