Utilities make the connection – 11-2017
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Excerpt from the magazine
The law’s an asset
Argentina market update: Argentina has taken a number of steps in recent months to make solar more attractive. While the utility-scale segment is expected to receive further support thanks to the third round of the RenovAr program, distributed generation (DG) and private PPA businesses may benefit from new regulations set to be issued in the coming months. The country is now better positioned to achieve its ambitious target of sourcing 20% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2025.
Dec 01, 2017
Let the sun, not profits, burn
Protecting your investment: A recent DuPont conference in Rome showed how the task of protecting longevity of solar investments is becoming more complex, particularly with how backsheets are creating more problems than expected, especially in hot and arid climates. Thinking in terms of $/kWh instead of $/W is one recommended way to maximize investment return.
Dec 01, 2017
Ribbon warriors
European manufacturing: In 2007 U.S. specialty metals and PV ribbon manufacturer Ulbrich decided to fund an Austrian startup from the state of Burgenland with a compelling business plan to produce advanced PV ribbons in the heart of Europe. Now 10 years later, the success of this venture was cause for celebration at Forchtenstein Castle in Burgenland. In addition to celebrating a decade of Ulbrich of Austria, participants were treated to an informative one day Photovoltaic Module Conference.
Nov 21, 2017
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Storage growth signals
HEM in Europe: The home energy management (HEM) market is only just emerging in Europe. Storage system providers and HEM specialists have been the most active so far, but energy suppliers and heating manufacturers are now aligning themselves to enter the space in greater numbers. Energy consultants Delta-ee examine the emerging market for these systems in Europe.
Nov 21, 2017
Black is the new black
Wafer texturing: Though long known within the industry, until recently there had been little interest from PV manufacturers in black silicon processes. Now, with the growth of diamond wire sawing, the technology is making a comeback. pv magazine looks into black silicon’s sudden popularity among manufacturers, and the technology’s potential to bring about a resurgence in multicrystalline silicon.
Nov 21, 2017
Hungry for renewables
Solar in Spain: 2020 is around the corner. In order to comply with the European objectives and after five years of standstill, Spain has tendered 8 GW of renewables in only three months. The announced drop in the retribution parameters forecast for that year not only jeopardizes the 4 GW already granted to PV, but also the solvency of old installations.
Nov 21, 2017
Tapping stored potential
UK energy policy: PV capacity growth in the U.K. has slowed significantly in 2017, and solar was entirely overlooked by the government in October’s Clean Growth Strategy announcement. However, a glimpse of hope is currently emerging via co-locating existing and new PV projects along energy storage. Are such hopes justified, and where should the U.K. solar market focus?
Nov 07, 2017
A new outlook for the energy transition
Global energy economy: At the 2017 Solar Power International show in Las Vegas, DNV GL presented its expansive global Energy Transition Outlook (ETO) report. The report plots the major reorganization of the world’s energy system, finding that wind and solar will each contribute one third of all electricity supply by 2050. The bad news is that, despite the shift we’re likely going to miss current climate goals. DNV GL Energy CEO Ditlev Engel and Solar Segment Director Ray Hudson spoke to pv magazine.
Nov 07, 2017
Polyolefin backsheets taking confident first steps
Next-gen backsheets: Polyolefin-based backsheet suppliers show why they think that their developments could help to reduce PV LCOE. They call for module manufacturers to make use of this technology and gain experience with polyolefin. This was one of the topics at this year’s EU PVSEC.
Nov 07, 2017
Covering the bases
Interview: At September’s SPI show in Las Vegas, pv magazine had the chance to catch up on the latest in cell and module technologies from a leading manufacturer. Dong Shuguang, Executive President at GCL Systems Integration provides an update on the company’s latest drive to reduce costs and boost efficiency.
Nov 07, 2017
High density solar
PV in urban Taiwan: Being a small and partially mountainous island, Taiwan’s ground-mounted solar sector is naturally limited. However, conditions are not necessarily more favorable for solar up on the rooftops of this crowded country, as Rhea Tsao of Taiwanese solar analysts Energy Trend explains.
Nov 07, 2017
Operating and maintaining good relations
Solar O&M in Latin America: Every region across the world can lay claim to its own idiosyncrasies and preferences when it comes to doing business. Latin America is in a rather unique position, in that it combines a highly educated populace and a complex political and cultural history. The lessons learned from EDF Renewable Services’ Chilean experience are therefore valuable to know when entering Chile’s solar industry, writes Nicolas Rossel.
Nov 07, 2017
Cutting costs through competition
Solar as an asset: Growing competition in the solar asset management industry is resulting in lower operating and management costs for large PV plant or portfolio owners, thanks to more intense use of monitoring data and active analysis of O&M opportunities for cost savings.
Nov 07, 2017
Building pillars of PV
Utilities in China: As China looks set to install up to 50 GW of PV this year, pv magazine examines the technology’s relationship with the country’s state utilities. Is the joint R&D venture between German equipment supplier Manz AG, Shanghai Electric Group and the Shenhua Group evidence that Chinese utilities are embracing a solar future?
Nov 07, 2017
An NEG-proof boom
All Energy Australia 2017: There is no doubt that the Australian PV market is booming. With installations set to hit all-time highs in 2017, and the major constraining factor in the marketplace being the availability of trained labour, the solar future looks bright. But on the eve of significant and long-term success, the federal government has thrown a spanner in the works with a new National Energy Guarantee (NEG).
Nov 07, 2017
India’s silent revolution makes some noise
Renewable Energy India Expo: The breathtaking scale of India’s solar expansion over the past 24 months has captured headlines around the world. The recent Renewable Energy India Expo laid bare the growth and opportunities apparent in this soaring market, which has matured from quiet evolution to rapid transformation.
Nov 06, 2017
A divided industry
U.S. solar tariff: The current trade petition filed by Suniva, joined by SolarWorld and belatedly supported by First Solar, has divided the U.S. solar industry into angry for/against camps. The most significant damage done by the petition may be to industry relationships.
Nov 06, 2017
If it looks like a duck …
… swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Solar is that duck: an energy source that enjoys massive public support; can be installed at mega or micro-scale; can thrive without subsidies; can be counted upon all year round; and can power homes, businesses, remote communities, and support […]
Nov 06, 2017
