The glass is more than half full
Turkey: At the end of last year the Turkish government adopted a law on subsidies for renewable energies. According to the new law the subsidy for solar electricity will amount to a total of 13.3 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour. However, the subsidy is not regarded as huge breakthrough. Nevertheless, an increasing number of solar companies are setting up business in the country, as evidenced by the Solarex trade exhibition.
The power flower
Offshore renewable energy: Offshore renewable energy platforms are a common sight, especially the speed at which the wind energy sector has developed and the platforms that have popped up far out at sea. Solar energy has not gone that far offshore yet but developments are emerging. Hann-Oceans Hexifloat is an offshore solution that promises to tie in four of natures power suppliers, solar, tidal, wave and wind, with solar leading the way.
The recall
Module replacement: First Solar brought thin film modules on the market which showed a significant drop in performance after just a few weeks. They are currently being replaced, which is a test of nerves for the company, the installers and plant operators.
The second edition of the PV Roadmap
Roadmap for PV: Industry collaboration is a must to reduce costs. The Roadmap, a product of the last twelve months, paves the way for this.
The sum of small parts
Solar roof tiles: Small, building-integrated solar modules which resemble tiles have been niche products for a long time. Their high cost of manufacture and assembly has always hindered their entry onto the market, but manufacturers keep trying their luck with new products all the same.
Thin film takes the steering wheel
Thin film: The ultimate success factor for any PV technology to be competitive is the value of electrons it delivers. The most common determining metric here is levelized cost of electricity, calculated based on the present value of all costs required to produce electricity from a photovoltaic panel and also on the present value of expected energy production over the life of the PV system. Oerlikon Solars Chris OBrien elaborates.
360 degrees capture
Sphelar: The idea behind Josuke Nakatas spherical cells was to capture light from all directions, thus optimizing the potential of a solar cell. Sphelar has developed over the years, reaching higher efficiencies and varied application potentials; and now, mass production interest is starting to emerge. Nevertheless, can the niche product really survive the market demands?
A wave of lawsuits
Spain: A wave of lawsuits against the Spanish Government is welling up after the authorities applied retroactive tariff adjustments to existing photovoltaic systems. But the industry is still optimistic about the future. Solar panels on industrial roofs are gaining momentum. And a regulation for self consumption is on the horizon.
All you need is light
West Africa: From humble beginnings to larger plans, non-governmental organizations like Energy for Opportunity, or EFO, are seeking to bring more solar power to African countries.
Chinas FIT-fed boom
China: The country should be the perfect place for BIPV or Building Integrated Photovoltaics. Not only is China the production and export champion in photovoltaics, but its building drive dwarfs any other market around the world.
