Leadership drives innovation
Leadership can take many forms. And it’s entirely necessary in fast moving industries like PV. Whether it’s in driving solar to new groups of consumers or enhancing their end experience, bringing holistic solutions to industrial or utility players, or forging collaborations between researchers and those that will apply the latest technology in scale applications, leadership […]
Upstream down, downstream up
PV has long endured boom-bust cycles driven by high subsidies, and cuts. Italy and Spain were examples of this, but pale in comparison to China, which embarked on the greatest demand destruction events in the history of PV.
Greetings from the madhouse …
So ended a recent e-mail from a good friend in the PV industry, a pioneer with over 30 years of experience. It was regarding an exchange about current market developments and the sharp price declines over the past few weeks and months – not a bad analogy! But the influence on global brand development has […]
India’s trade war
India is currently the second-largest market in the world for PV module demand, and with China’s domestic demand frozen since the 31/5 notification, China’s total module demand in 2018 will likely only achieve 32-34 GW. This will allow India, which may surpass 10 GW in annual demand, to reach 13% of global PV demand this year. As a result, the future trend of India’s trade war has become an influential factor in the global PV industry.
Inverter suppliers must innovate to survive
While PV inverter shipments are forecast to reach over 96 GW (AC) in 2018, market volatility is an ever-present feature of the global market, writes Cormac Gilligan, Research Manager for Solar and Energy Storage at IHS Markit. Installation declines in major markets like China and Japan, tariffs being proposed on Chinese products in the U.S, goods and services tax (GST) in India for all inverters being imported, and an ever-increasing global competitive landscape as Chinese suppliers are forced to rapidly internationalize are common market challenges.
Notes from the Solar Underground
Concern about tariffs, trade wars, and the future of PV deployment following the changes in China’s policies hung over the annual Intersolar North America conference, held in San Francisco each July. Attendance was flat over the previous year, as was the number of exhibitors. Stretching the exhibit over three floors also gave the impression of lighter attendance from previous years.
What does it have to do with the price of PV in China?
Following China’s announcement to drastically reduce solar PV installations from over 50 GW in 2017 to reach no more than 30 GW in 2018, profound effects reach all markets. pv magazine assembles expert opinion to provide an anaylsis.
How can a home furnishing company succeed in solar?
Having entered the solar space four years ago with residential rooftop kits, Ikea added storage to its product mix in 2017. pv magazine caught up with Signe Antvorskov Krag, Global Development Leader IKEA Home Solar Business to discuss business models, its role in the industry, and how it intends to execute the next stage of its plan: energy communities.
“We have a clear goal”
With its TrinaPro solution launched back in March of this year, and the first project now underway – a 250 MW plant in Shaanxi Province, being developed under China’s Top Runner Program – Trina Solar is expanding beyond module supply. pv magazine spoke with Rongfang Yin, Trina Solar’s Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, about the solution and the company’s plans for further development.
New company, new investor, new product
After a management buyout in 2016, Isovoltaic is bringing a new-look backsheet onto the market – through its carve-out Solinex. It claims the new backsheet delivers superior performance including low water vapor transmission, high acetic acid permeability, high hydrolytic stability, and high reflectivity. CEO Thomas Rossegger provides insight into the process and the innovative approach to encapsulation.
