Calculating the cost
Tracker maintenance: Trying to chase down O&M costs for trackers is a bit like a trip down Alice’s rabbit hole. The rich landscape of detail that materializes tends to obscure the original mission. pv magazine digs into the quandary to investigate whether the numbers stack up.
An industrial strategy for solar in Europe
Solar Power Europe op-ed: Dr. Christian Westermeier, President of Solar Power Europe discusses European solar, and how best to support the growth of a significant and sustainable market on the continent.
Goal-fired generation
India market update: The Indian National Solar Mission’s 100 GW solar target requires support from both the storage and DG sectors. Akhilesh Magal from the Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute examines these thus far under-developed markets.
A slow yet inexorable advance
Distributed generation in Latin America: The improvement to, or introduction of, legislative frameworks favoring distributed generation is advancing at an unceasing pace in Latin America. Countries that already have legislation in place now want to get more power, and those who do not have it are quick to take their first steps to democratize energy. Subsidized electricity rates and difficulty in finding financing remain the biggest obstacles.
Balancing act
Solar and nuclear: Can high levels of solar and wind coexist with nuclear generation on the grid? The answer is more complicated than you might think.
Grow, Canada
Alberta, Canada: A new pro-solar program in Canada’s Alberta province could pave the way for PV to follow in the deep footsteps of wind power. But are Albertans ready to embrace the possibilities and opportunities at their fingertips?
Wholesale market crisis
Electricity market: Sustained low wholesale power prices are driving coal, nuclear and even gas plant retirements, pushing independent power producers into the red, and spurring reforms of wholesale market structures. But even PV is not immune to these trends. pv magazine looks at the implications for the solar industry.
Limited supply, rising prices
Modules in the US: Regardless of its outcome, the Suniva trade case is already having profound effects on supply, demand and pricing for PV modules in the U.S., writes Camron Barati, IHS Markit analyst, North America Solar.
Getting into good habits
Remote habitation: Installing off-grid solar PV applications in many of the world’s remotest regions is not as straightforward a task as the beaming smiles of villagers may make it seem. But understanding the difficulties facing the remote habitation category are as crucial as overcoming them.
