Light in the jungle
Off-grid PV: In Laos a German entrepreneur is making electricity affordable for the inhabitants of remote villages. The solar electricity model, which uses Pico lamps from the company Phocos, is now gaining attention in other countries as well.
Through thick and thin?
Chinas PV industry: Using the example of Suntech Power Holdings, Dirk Kayser and Li Shi analyze the risks of managing government-industry relationships in China.
The backbones of BOS
PV components: Solar junction boxes, cables and connectors may not be as glamorous as the sleek multi-jointed robots that have begun to invade the PV industry, but recent advances in safety performance, cost reduction and ease of installation are bringing new focus on these critical components. Such advances were widely displayed at the recent Intersolar North America trade show in July.
Supply disruption
Chinese factory gate prices: The era of low-cost Chinese solar modules in Europe ends as antidumping tariffs drive up pricing.
Super-charged silicon
Interview: Martin Green, a solar scientist who has been revolutionizing the technology since founding the Solar Photovoltaics Group at the University of New South Wales in 1974, met up with pv magazine at SNEC in China.
Storage to the fullest
Battery systems: In Germany there is a lot of hype about electricity storage systems for grid-connected solar plants. The pv magazine overview of 176 systems shows the state of development. There are big differences between the devices when it comes to price, dimensioning and economic efficiency.
Solar funding remains timid, but downstream roars
Venture capital: Venture capital (VC) funding was unimpressive in the second quarter of 2013, totaling US$189 million in 19 deals compared to $126 million in 26 deals in the first quarter of the year. Despite that, downstream companies picked up right where they left off in the quarter before, recording their most successful quarter to date. Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group, elaborates.
Solar for more than a thousand islands
Indonesia: With over 238 million people, the generation capacity growth of electricity has lagged behind the pace of demand growth leading to power shortages and low levels of electrification. But now, things are starting to get concrete on the solar front in the archipelago with the government making solid plans for PV.
Safe with lithium
Battery safety: In Germany there is a discussion brewing about the safety of storage systems. However, it is also possible to operate them safely.
Protecting intellectual property in China
China: Intellectual property and copyright protection remain key issues for foreign PV suppliers doing business in mainland China.
