Magazine Archive 02-2014

Japan: The Basic Policy Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has compiled and released a draft of a new energy policy. Reflecting these “Opinions on the new Basic Energy Plan”, the government plans to approve a new “Basic Energy Plan” in a Cabinet meeting. A report by Izumi Kaizuka of RTS Corporation.

Smart city: On one of its former factory sites southwest of Toyko, Panasonic is taking the lead in a project to build a smart and sustainable city. The Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town is designed to be home for approximately 34,000 people in a community equipped with integrated information and energy technologies. The aim is to deliver a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions and provide natural disaster resilience, with PV, lithium-ion batteries and smart home energy management systems at its core.

Battery storage: 2013 saw the emergence of a number of battery storage solutions on to the PV market. Inverters are also being produced that are “battery ready.” These battery systems can offer households the opportunity to utilize more of the PV electricity produced on their roof. And new research is showing how batteries can also support electricity grids at the same time.

Interview: What are the most important aspects of risk assessment? How are economic and political changes impacting bankability checks? pv magazine spoke with Matthias Jäger, Head of Risk Advisory & Services, Allianz Climate Solutions GmbH in Berlin.

Cables & Connectors: PV solar cables and connectors are becoming increasingly safer and more resistant to environmental elements causing material degradation, while BOS architecture is offering these components ever more shelter from the storm.

PV+Test 2.0: The Hanwha module that had to overcome the new, more stringent PV+Test test criteria scored well when it came to PID resistance, the warranty terms and conditions and documentation. There were two weak points that the manufacturer has already responded to.

Storage market: The grid-connected energy storage market will increase from 340 MW in 2013 to more than 6 GW in 2017, according to IHS. The US is set to lead the sector.

Interview: NEON ENERGY president Konstantinos Georgiadis explains to pv magazine how the company’s holistic approach to the PV industry has enabled it to explore international expansion and deliver an integrated, 360-degree service to its clients.

Feed-in tariffs: A number of countries’ FIT schemes have slightly degressed heading into 2014. Also, Indonesia has opened bidding to take part in its new FITs.

Japan: A booming PV market can create opportunities for manufacturers, particularly if they are local. But it can also cause complacency when it comes to aggressive cost reductions. Solar Frontier is clearly benefiting from the boom in Japan, surprising some by rivaling more established domestic producers to become the country’s third-largest supplier in 2013, according to IHS figures. Long-term success will require the company to retain its focus on cost and road map execution and correctly judge the timing of its move into emerging markets.