Global PV markets

The photovoltaic cell and module manufacturing industry in India has developed from less than 200 megawatts (MW) in 2007, to around two gigawatts (GW) in 2011. Bridge to India estimates that it will see “significant” growth over the next few years.

In an interview with pv magazine Arturo Herrero, chief marketing officer at JinkoSolar talks about how the company has managed to, fairly successfully, weather the 2011 solar storm. He also talks frankly about the recent Haining situation and adds his thoughts to the U.S.-China trade dispute.

U.S. thin film photovoltaic module manufacturer, Stion, has secured US$130 million in equity investment. Among other plans, it will establish a Korean subsidiary and manufacturing facility.

Solar Millennium AG is the latest victim of the weak solar market conditions. Just this afternoon, it announced that it has filed for the opening of insolvency proceedings.

The dramatic struggle over the British Government’s dramatic feed-in tariff (FIT) cuts continued today, with the High Court ruling that they were illegal. The slashing of the FIT came into effect on December 12, 11 days before the official consultation period on the policy closed.

A new report on India’s solar market forecasts that as much as 33.4 gigawatts of both off- and on-grid solar will be installed in the country by 2022. While the National Solar Mission (NSM) aims to install 20 GW, it is believed there are “huge” off-grid opportunities. Furthermore, Rajasthan is expected to become the country’s solar hub.

The PV Taskforce at the Roofting Center, located in Washington D.C., has released a draft report into photovoltaic roof racking. It attempts to bring the photovoltaic and roofing community together, in order to formulate criteria and recommendations as to the most effect roof racking for photovoltaic systems.

According to various media, India is considering following in the footsteps of the U.S. and launching its own investigation into Chinese solar imports.

Some in the industry can be surprised when public or academic reports predict photovoltaics playing a small role in the world’s future energy mix, on the basis of cost. It is often repeated that the technology is just too expensive. But recent research from Queen’s University and Michigan Technological University has shown that the price of photovoltaics is often vastly overinflated in these studies.

When Intersolar India closes its doors today, both the exhibitors and visitors should be very satisfied. The great expectations in the Indian solar market seem to have mobilized a number of smaller Indian companies, in addition to the big Indian and international players present there.