A Teutonic shift – 02-2018
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Excerpt from the magazine
Flexible sector coupling
Fuhs: We are happy that in cooperation with Energy Storage Europe we can present this energy storage special edition. For us at pv magazine it is a step to even more detailed coverage of energy storage and related topics on all of our platforms. Mingers: And for us, the new issue fits perfectly with the strategy […]
Feb 28, 2018
Debrief: 4 key questions facing the storage industry
Storage trends: In the run-up to Energy Storage Europe, pv magazine asked industry experts the key storage topics they were most interested in. Their responses were reflective of their own perspective and position throughout the value chain, but nevertheless a theme emerged, with recurring questions arising over and over again. These were those questions …
Feb 28, 2018
Energy storage highlights
Ranking: At the Energy Storage Europe trade fair in Düsseldorf, 24 exhibitors submitted proposals that our highlight jury ranked in the following categories: relevance to industry, USP, market impact, contribution to energy transition, and innovation. Here, we present the top 10, as chosen by our experts. The submissions of exhibitors at Energy Storage Europe for the first […]
Feb 28, 2018
Combined gas and battery grid services power plant
Younicos managed to interest and convince the jurors with its simple concept. Their rankings ranged from first to 16th, and so for the average overall juror rankings and proposals, this led to the top position in this highlights feature. Younicos submitted a project in which the company, together with the Technische Werke Ludwigshafen, developed a […]
Feb 28, 2018
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Multi-string three-phase battery inverter technology
Highly rated by several of the jurors, E3/DC made it into second place overall. If you look at the individual highlight categories, the manufacturer of small and medium-sized storage systems scored particularly high for innovation. The company, already well known for its residential storage system, has submitted a new technology for a DC-DC converter for […]
Feb 28, 2018
Large-scale storage solution
In 2017, SMA introduced its large-scale turnkey solution Medium Voltage Power Station to the global market, and now the company reports it has concluded contracts with a total capacity of 400 MW. One container has an output power of 5.5 MW. Unique to this solution is that the Sunny Central Storage with grid forming capacities acts just […]
Feb 28, 2018
Power electronics for battery inverters
According to Fraunhofer ISE, the Cell-Booster and the power electronics for the project “Netefficient” permit high efficiencies on the one hand, and small construction volumes on the other. The cell booster converts the typical 48 volt output of a low voltage battery with an efficiency of 97% to 700 volts, as required for example by a […]
Feb 28, 2018
Scalable Methanation plant
You would be forgiven for not knowing of methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus – a small green bacterium – but it is the basis of this energy storage highlight. Electrochaea uses it to convert hydrogen to methane. With this submission it reaches first position in the categories innovation and contribution to the energy transition, which together lead to […]
Feb 28, 2018
Large-scale storage business model in the distribution grid
German EPC Smart Power is working on a promising solution for making large-scale storage systems usable in the distribution grid despite regulatory hurdles. According to the numbers given by the company, this approach can totally make sense. The utility Stadtwerke Trostberg Energieversorgung is charged €113/kW peak load at the transformer station to the 110 kV grid. […]
Feb 28, 2018
Storage in rural distribution networks stabilized the grid
Tunduma, a small Tanzanian town at the border with Zambia, is connected to a 220 kV transmission grid. The grid is characterized, writes Abo Wind, by “large distribution networks at 33 kV supplying thousands of small transformers.” The overhead lines are working at maximum capacity, leading to high losses and a drop in voltage of almost 20%. […]
Feb 28, 2018
10 MW-storage plant with black start capability
Northern German utility Wemag made headlines several years ago with what was then the largest battery storage power plant in the country. In 2014, 5 MW went online for marketing in the primary control energy market. In 2017, this battery storage power value was extended to 14 MW and made black start capable. Now it has a […]
Feb 28, 2018
Adjustable water heater with further functionality
A solution that allows homeowners to use excess solar power via a heating element does not seem like big news at first glance. Such devices have been available for some years, controlling residential rooftop solar so that no current flows into the grid, but surplus is used to warm up the hot water boiler with […]
Feb 28, 2018
The water battery
Max Bögl has built wind turbines with embedded tanks for a water reservoir. The wind turbines are located on a hill about 80 km from Stuttgart. The lower reservoir is down in the valley. One reason to build hydro storage co-located with wind is, according to Max Bögl, that spatial demand for the upper reservoirs is […]
Feb 28, 2018
Organic redox flow battery
Jena Batteries is developing a redox flow battery that uses organic electrolytes instead of vanadium-containing electrolytes. It is more environmentally friendly, because it is free of heavy metals and hazardous acids, the company says. In addition, there is no fire risk. One of the big questions facing redox flow technology is how it can be […]
Feb 28, 2018
A new concept gains traction
Flexible sector coupling: To date, the energy transition has unfolded primarily in the electricity sector. This limitation should be overcome by sector coupling, which is basically electrification of the mobility and heat sectors. But this alone does not offer a complete solution. Sector coupling must be flexible. To this end, a Berlin-based startup is developing a colossal steel storage tank, and battery storage facilities are being built in Canada along a highway.
Feb 28, 2018
Don’t worry, but keep asking
As both energy storage makers and car manufacturers keep close track of the prices of key raw materials for lithium-ion batteries, the question of their availability is thrust into the limelight. Meanwhile, the recycling industry is gearing up to provide alternative supply chains.
Feb 28, 2018
Flow battery breakthrough?
Lithium alternatives: Redox flow technologies have grown quite mature, but despite some big letters of intent, the industry is still waiting for the technology’s major breakthrough. Experts who will present at Energy Storage Europe address the big questions the technology must answer as it flows into the mainstream of energy storage.
Feb 27, 2018
Driving long-term growth
IHS Markit Senior Market Analyst, Solar & Energy Storage, Julian Jansen notes that 40% of the total energy storage pipeline aims at solar plus storage projects. He explains how this combination is developing into a surprisingly good working business model for storage. It can radically change the energy supply landscape for good.
Feb 27, 2018
Masked surprises
Energy storage is a highly dynamic market. Nevertheless, it is not always easy to pick out the most interesting news from developments that have not been widely reported. In the pv magazine roundtable discussion, we found three of the major themes: They are dealing with business models beyond frequency regulation.
Feb 27, 2018
Refreshing restraint
Many minds far sharper than my own have revelled at the opportunity to deconstruct U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions, words, and demeanor at every turn this past year. His capacity to disappoint is legend. His capacity to positively surprise is, well, a little less explored. And while the Trump Administration’s pursuit and ultimate imposition of […]
Feb 14, 2018
Vulnerable solar markets, and what makes them tick
Part III*: Low tender bidding for solar projects in Latin America is common, with low bids celebrated despite the risk of poor quality and unprofitability. There is no cushion in the margin of these projects to account for the many risks of project development. Unless governments in these regions are willing to guarantee returns, the biggest risk for Latin America is low bidding – though historically unstable economies and governments in many countries are reasons for concern.
Feb 14, 2018
Stepping into the sun
Mediterranean markets: Blessed with high insolation levels, Italy, Greece, and Spain rocketed to the top league of global PV markets in the earlier days of the industry. Spain became the world’s largest market in 2008 at 2.5 GW of annual installations, Italy’s Conto Energia scheme pushed the country to be number 2 in 2011, at 6 GW of new installations, and demand in Greece exceeded 1.1 GW in 2012.
Feb 14, 2018
China’s shipment shuffle
Module shipment rankings: While global module shipment rankings remained broadly stable in 2017, China saw something of a reshuffle. Growing demand for mono-Si products pushed Longi up to first place, while JinkoSolar remains the global leader. Independent analyst Corrine Lin brings further insight.
Feb 14, 2018
Land of ample opportunity
Japan update: While geographical restrictions mean the sun is slowly setting on utility-scale PV, a new auction system and updated renewables guidelines mean there are ample opportunities elsewhere for Japanese solar. Indeed, the rooftop sector, with prospects of self-consumption and storage, will see the market continue to shine.
Feb 14, 2018
Foggy days ahead for Indian solar
Solar duties: India is planning to impose a safeguard duty this year to protect its domestic solar manufacturing sector. Many in the industry earnestly believe that if such duties were to be imposed, then a slowing down in market growth would be inevitable. However, the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) believes this will not be the case. Either way, this duty has created unwanted uncertainty in the market.
Feb 14, 2018
Tracking disruptive technologies
China road trip, pt III: 2017 was a big year for China’s PV industry, with the 50 GW+ installation figure exceeding expectations. Against such a backdrop of growth, excitement for pv magazine’s third China road trip grew as we finalized details to visit key suppliers and see firsthand what developments might be in store for this year. Taking in n-type cells and modules, bifacial double glass modules and trackers developed specifically for such technology, this was Eckhart K. Gouras’ journey.
Feb 14, 2018
Low PPAs just the beginning
8th World Future Energy Summit: Few solar events can rival the litany of high level attendees, the scale of projects, the glitz and production, and the sheer volume of announcements of the Abu Dhabi-based event – January 15 – 18. Host Masdar was front and center of proceedings as solar in the region moves beyond record-setting prices towards the building of an industry.
Feb 14, 2018
Endless potential
Netherlands solar installations: In January the annual Dutch Solar Trend Report was presented. The market in the Netherlands has grown remarkably. In 2017, 853 MW were installed, an increase of 60% over the previous year. Expectations for 2018 are even higher, and rightly so, since the report showed a potential of 500 – 700 GW.
Feb 14, 2018
Five key questions facing rooftop solar in 2018
Rooftop PV: Distributed solar can arrive in many forms, from the typical small array installed on a family home, to vast, multi-megawatt installations atop large warehouses and factories. Each market sector faces its own challenges and opportunities, and pv magazine has identified five key questions that could well shape these various rooftop sectors throughout 2018 and beyond.
Feb 14, 2018
Adapt and integrate
Mounting and BIPV: Solar mounting systems are being used in new and unusual ways for building-integrated photovoltaic projects, ranging from rooftop to wall and to awning installations. As the market slowly moves from select government buildings, educational campuses and corporate flagships to the mainstream commercial segment, the mounting systems required for BIPV will become more standardized, more readily adaptable, and less expensive, manufacturers say.
Feb 14, 2018
An arm and a leg
Robotics in PV: The momentum of China’s solar growth appears unstoppable, driving the hunger for faster, qualitative automated solutions for the domestic PV manufacturing industry. Thus, most new solar manufacturing facilities or production upgrades are equipped with nearly fully automated lines.
Feb 14, 2018
Made in Germany
PV equipment supply: While the bulk of the world’s solar module manufacturing is now located in China, supply of production tools has remained largely the remit of European, and particularly German, engineering companies. pv magazine investigates whether this dominance can continue as China’s equipment providers begin to step up their game.
Feb 14, 2018
Scaling up MLPE
Module-level power electronics: Technology that many thought of only as a handy way to overcome rooftop shading is now branching out further and more deeply into large-scale solar installations. pv magazine asks SolarEdge Founder and VP of Marketing and Product Strategy Lior Handelsman why the solar industry is now beginning to embrace MLPE at scale, and what the benefits and implications can be for system owners.
Feb 14, 2018
Chipping away at coal
Monocrystalline growth: At last month’s World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, pv magazine interviewed Max Xia, Overseas Marketing Vice President at LONGi Solar Technology Co., Ltd., the global leader in the production of monocrystalline ingots, wafers, cells, and modules. Even after mono’s success story in the past two years, Xia sees tremendous growth ahead, so much so that he envisions solar PV challenging coal’s dominance in his home country China in as little as five years’ time.
Feb 14, 2018
Twenty years of industry leadership
Trina Solar: As part of the December 2017 China road trip, pv magazine spoke with Rongfang Yin, Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing, at Trina Solar’s headquarters in Changzhou. Yin provided insights into how Trina Solar evaluates foreign markets, also as possible production hubs for its solar panels.
Feb 14, 2018
Europe’s solar moment
European PV: Europe is having a moment. Bolstered by newfound economic strength in times of geopolitical uncertainty, there is a tangible sense of unity on the continent. And it is not only in the economic sphere that Europe is bouncing back – the EU is silently making important strides in clean energy that will positively shape solar’s future for decades to come, writes SolarPower Europe Senior Political Communications Advisor Kristina Thoring.
Feb 14, 2018
New year, new rules
Poland’s PV prospects: Last year brought no breakthrough in the Polish renewable energy sector. Of several auctions promised in 2017, only one was conducted at the end of June. Auctions scheduled for September and October did not take place. Auctions to be held in 2018 are supposed to proceed according to slightly different rules: A bill to amend the RES Act is in public consultation and new auctions will not be held until it passes the full legislative process. Piotr Mrowiec, of Rödl & Partner Poland, sums up the Polish PV industry in 2017 and outlines the legal framework for those considering investment in PV systems in 2018.
Feb 14, 2018
Going with the flow
Japan storage market: Poised to grow by more than 4 GW over the next seven years, Japan’s distributed storage sector represents a potentially lucrative market for both domestic and international players. Winning supply contracts is one thing, but winning the trust of a demanding population represents an even loftier challenge even for some of the world’s biggest storage companies.
Feb 14, 2018
South Australia’s big battery delivers
Utility-scale storage: The 100 MW Hornsdale Power Reserve was delivered by Tesla in under 100 days – a good thing as the company would’ve picked up the tab if it had failed to do so. But the project is also delivering grid services and demonstrating arbitrage trading at a pace and scale that is changing minds about the potential of utility-scale storage and the role of synchronous generation on Australia’s National Electricity Market.
Feb 14, 2018
Back for 2018: pv magazine Energy Storage
Special publication: Published in collaboration with Energy Storage Europe, the latest pv magazine Energy Storage special is a 32 page publication that will address some of the more technical, innovative, and upstream issues currently shaping the battery storage landscape.
Feb 14, 2018
A smart home, simply
Interview: Energy monitoring solutions are becoming smarter and more user-friendly with each new iteration. One particularly disruptive innovation comes from Belgium’s Smappee, which touts itself as the Shazam of home energy management. Company CEO Stefan Grosjean explained to pv magazine what that means.
Feb 14, 2018
48 hours in … Tokyo
About The megapolis of Tokyo ranks fourth in the world for the number of skyscrapers, has a metropolitan area larger than any other city on the planet, and effortlessly manages to combine a head-spinning mix of futurism and tradition in one easily-traversed cityscape. While the neon-lit billboards blaring obscure-sounding advertisements high overhead certainly fit the […]
Feb 14, 2018
