Magazine Archive 04-2014

Cost reduction: Photovoltaics may become a terawatt-scale renewable energy technology within a decade. To get to that level and be able to grow further, low cost alone is not sufficient. It is necessary to address other growth factors in time, argues Wim Sinke.

Modules prices: Modules are generally available – but not necessarily when it comes to inexpensive alternatives.

Haiti: The international childcare efforts of NPH have alleviated the suffering of thousands of Haitian children and families. Their incredible work has been supported and augmented by a recent solar PV energy program, as Willi Ernst of the Biohaus Foundation for Environment and Justice explains.

PV Expo Tokyo: It is all systems go for Japan’s PV market, which is rapidly maturing and heading even further downstream, according to the wide range of exhibitors and visitors to whom pv magazine spoke at this year’s show.

Panama: The Central American country is preparing to launch public tenders after it passed its first law promoting solar energy last year. Although the remuneration has yet to be specified, over 200 MWp have already received provisional authorization.

Ardour Solar Index: Strong 2014 outlooks drive the index to three year highs. China confirms its push for 14 GW in 2014.

Feed-in tariffs: More bad news for solar in Australia. Japan, Slovenia and the United Kingdom stay the course with only minor adjustments. And Minnesota kicks off its Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program.

Cuba: As part of a drive to produce 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, Cuba’s government aims to attract $3 billion of foreign capital. Meanwhile, the forthcoming reform of the country’s foreign investment act could cut much of the current red tape. Finally, although Cuba’s renewable energy legislation has already been more than a year in the making and still lacks specific targets for the various technologies, everything indicates that it will prioritize distributed generation.

Turkey: With the country’s solar potential continuing to excite international players, pv magazine asks whether the PV market has enough lift to avoid the political turbulence that is growing in the country.