Preparation, automation, consolidation
The future for MLPE: After a year of relatively stable prices for inverters, the next few years are likely to see the return of fierce cost reduction – which could spell trouble for the module level power electronics (MLPE) space. However, growth in this segment is expected, so how are the market leaders balancing innovation and trend adoption while shoring up their bottom lines?
BYD strides forward with a high voltage battery storage system
pv magazine award: This storage system manufacturer from China has dared to venture into a technology new to the home sector, and has faced the efficiency test.
Surprising development
Battery prices: The storage industry, which is used to price cuts, does not have to panic as news of price rises and supply shortages filters through. But nevertheless, it will have to get used to a new reality, and to carefully consider changes in its sourcing.
Europe’s newest bull market
The Netherlands: After lagging behind the rest of Europe during the continent’s first solar boom, The Netherlands now has a new government, and an ambitious strategy for renewables. Rolf Heynen, Director of the Solar Solutions international trade fair, provides an update on the Dutch solar situation.
Reducing the footprint
Backsheet life cycle: As the PV industry comes under pressure to further reduce emissions from its manufacturing sector, Giorgio Longoni, Vice General Manager of Sales for Asia at Italian backsheet specialist Coveme, introduces a study comparing the contribution of different backsheet materials to a module’s overall carbon footprint.
Agfa upbeat for new mono-backsheet
Module technology: Agfa has developed a backsheet that consists of a single layer – an innovation that could well prove advantageous in the field, offering further opportunities to reduce delamination, lower LCOE, and result in boosted efficiency thanks to higher reflectivity.
Building the benchmark
pv magazine test: The new pv magazine test took off as expected, and many manufacturers have sent their modules to be tested. George Touloupas, Director of Technology and Quality at CEA, takes us through the latest results, and the new improved grading system.
Mind the gap
High efficiency cell technology: The slight performance advantage held by Taiwanese solar cell manufacturers appears to be coming to an end as Chinese tier-1 and tier-2 firms up their R&D spending in an effort to be fully vertically integrated. pv magazine looks at how this high efficiency technology race might impact the global PV industry.
Only PERC
Module technology: EGing has made the transition to using only passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) technology, leaving behind older cell concepts. The company has developed a frameless glass-glass p-type bifacial module called Janus-II, to be launched in January 2018.
Inspirational solar
Interview: Energy industry veteran and smartflower CEO Jim Gordon talks with pv magazine about his career path, and how the smartflower offers another way to deploy and experience solar.
