Magazine Archive 09-2014

Innovate and prosper: It’s almost a mantra in parts of the PV industry. It’s also at the heart of what will continue solar’s march into and beyond competitiveness with our rivals in the thermal power sector and keep PV on the impressive learning curve that has served us so well. But then again, it’s easier […]

New cell types: As efficiency improvement potential for silicon cells continues its decline, a new material combination has appeared on the horizon. The hype surrounding the new development seems to be justified.

Feed-in tariffs: Germany rolls out its market premium price as an alternative to the standard FITs. Changes are also taking place in Australia, Italy, Slovenia and Michigan.

CEO Interview: Japanese CIS thin film producer and integrator Solar Frontier is evolving. Emerging from its parent, Showa Shell Sekiyu, the company is increasing its international footprint after two booming years supplying the Japanese market. Last month Solar Frontier appointed Atsuhiko Hirano as president and CEO. He spoke to pv magazine in Tokyo the week he took control of the company.

Ardour Solar Index: The trade war continues to weigh on the index performance. The next round of duties puts most names in red.

Manufacturing in Latin America: The emergence of a market for large-scale photovoltaic power plants combined with mandatory local content requirements in some countries, such as Brazil, has given rise to a host of plans to set up solar equipment factories throughout Latin America.

Industry ranking: Capacity additions and production ramps were not terms uttered often about thin producers in the recent years. But amongst the swirling winds of trade disputes, downstream integration, and steady technological progress, thin films are just about holding their own.

Monitoring: Synapse Wireless and Shoals Technologies Group introduced a cloud-based wireless system for real-time string-level monitoring of PV installations from cradle to grave.

Mounting Systems: The solar downturn of 2012 and 2013 claimed many victims. One of which, Germany’s Mounting Systems, was left looking for a buyer after parent company Conergy Group became insolvent. In December 2013, an agreement was reached for the Nordwest Industrie Group to purchase Mounting Systems. pv magazine met with Managing Director Stefan Spork on its re-emergence from financial insecurity onto the global stage.

Equipment manufacturers: Investments in production technology by equipment manufacturers are paying off as market supply and demand finally start to balance out in the PV industry