Articles written by Ralph Diermann

View article
Applications & Installations
Next2Sun Mounting Systems begins crowdfunding The German start-up provides mounting structures for bifacial solar modules as well as PV systems which can be installed as a fence to enclose pastures. Next2Sun Mounting Systems is offering 5% annual interest over five years.
Ralph Diermann
Feb 10, 2020
1
View article
Markets & Policy
The weekend read: Guilt-free solar flying? Synthetic kerosene produced from green hydrogen promises emissions-free air travel. That sounds good – and it does not even cost that much. But there is still much more work to be done. After all, only fuel-cell airplanes can make hydrogen-powered flight truly climate-neutral, and it will take some time before these aircraft are ready for widespread use.
Ralph Diermann
Dec 14, 2019
4
View article
Markets & Policy
EU Commission presents ‘historic’ European Green Deal plan Described as “historic”, the draft outlines the future climate protection course of the European Union. Overall, the EU should become climate neutral by 2050, and trigger €1 trillion in investment. €100 billion is expected to be made available for the transition. This is to be formalized in a climate law in the coming months. Although solar was noticeably absent in the draft, plans have been detailed by SolarPower Europe as to how it could be included.
Becky Beetz, Ralph Diermann
Dec 12, 2019
6
View article
Guilt-free solar flying? Synthetic kerosene produced from green hydrogen promises emissions-free air travel. That sounds good – and it does not even cost that much. But there is still much more work to be done. After all, only fuel-cell airplanes can make hydrogen-powered flight truly climate-neutral, and it will take some time before these aircraft are ready for widespread use.
Ralph Diermann
Dec 09, 2019
View article
Research & Development
Star Wars’ Death Star with PV modules could surpass global energy needs by 10 times EOn has calculated the number of PV modules that could theoretically be installed on the Imperial space station from the popular film series. It concluded that even a small version of the station would be able to provide enough solar power to supply 2.5 billion households on Earth.
Ralph Diermann
Dec 03, 2019
5
View article
Markets & Policy
Schletter Group ceases production in Germany In the future, the solar mountings manufacturer itself will only manufacture in China. The cooperation of the Schletter Group with specialized production partners in Germany and other countries will continue, however. With the end of production in Kirchdorf near Munich, jobs will be lost. The company is seeking proximity to the global growth markets.
Ralph Diermann
Nov 22, 2019
View article
Markets & Policy
Solibro ceases operations Insolvency proceedings have been opened against the assets of the German thin-film solar manufacturer. A proposed reorganization failed because investors did not provide sufficient capital. Some 180 employees will lose their jobs.
Ralph Diermann
Nov 04, 2019
4
View article
Markets & Policy
Ambibox reports efficiency world record for solar DC charging of electric off-road buggy A German start-up achieved more than 99% efficiency when charging a vehicle developed by the Bochum University of Applied Sciences with electricity from solar cells. Ambibox’s DC charging technology was used in a research project in the Australian desert.
Ralph Diermann
Oct 22, 2019
4
View article
Green and greener Solar and other renewables are gathering pace as an alternative to heavily polluting fossil fuels – but they also require resources themselves, and produce both carbon emissions and waste during their life cycle. Here pv magazine presents an inventory of PV’s environmental footprint, and the efforts to improve it.
Ralph Diermann
Jun 04, 2019