Merchant solar
New business models: As global solar markets mature and reach more and more locations around the globe, opportunities for new business models open up. Among the most interesting of these is merchant solar, where projects sell the electricity they generate on the spot market.
Keeping PV components green
Sustainable PV: Just as module efficiency does not depend only on cell architecture developments, so too does sustainable solar come right down to the components. This is the case from solar glass through to backsheets. The use of fluoropolymers in backsheets supplied to the industry has some worried about toxicity issues when modules come to their end of life.
Jordan’s solar PV spring
MENA region: Jordan is rather belatedly undergoing a solar PV spring. The emerging question is whether this will last, and summer will burst into life, or whether the current momentum will soon subside, giving way to other forms of energy. There are signs indicating both.
“It’s a one-two punch”
Clean energy revolution: Tony Seba is a lecturer in entrepreneurship, disruption and clean energy at Stanford University. He spoke to pv magazine about the themes in his new book, Clean Disruption, which looks at how solar, electric vehicles and other exponential technologies are leading to a clean, knowledge-based energy era.
Global solar forecast 2015
The year ahead: PV installations in 2015 will likely reach 54.5 GW globally, led once again by China, Japan and the U.S., writes Raj Prabhu, CEO and cofounder of Mercom Capital Group.
Global FIT overview
Feed-in tariffs: Many countries around the world have tweaked their incentive schemes in the New Year.
Exhibiting newfound confidence
2015 trade show preview: Crystal balls run notoriously badly on solar power, but the unmistakable confidence that swept many of last years leading trade shows suggests that 2015s fairs will fare even better. pv magazine brings you the lowdown on what to expect at the main solar and renewable energy exhibitions this year.
Disruptive change
Future of utilities: Its with some pride that the PV industry can consider itself disruptive to the way that electric utilities do business. Certainly German utility Eon has responded drastically to the changing shape of its industry by spinning off its fossil fuel assets by 2016. And a report from Accenture showed that 61% of utility executives are aware that major revenue disruption is around the corner, up from 43% in 2013. Stephen Lacey from Greentech Media takes a look at what all this disruption actually means.
Disrupted utilities push back against solar
Australia: At the start of this year, cumulative PV capacity Down Under is close to 4 GW. For a country with a population of around 23.5 million, this is pretty impressive. It also means that PV is becoming a major disruptive force in the utility landscape. Utilities have some ability to put up informal barriers to unchecked solar adoption. Solar Business Services Nigel Morris spoke with solar installers right around the country to see what hurdles they face.
Disrupted utilities push back against solar
Australia: At the start of this year, cumulative PV capacity Down Under is close to 4 GW. For a country with a population of around 23.5 million, this is pretty impressive. It also means that PV is becoming a major disruptive force in the utility landscape. Utilities have some ability to put up informal barriers to unchecked solar adoption. Solar Business Services Nigel Morris spoke with solar installers right around the country to see what hurdles they face.
