Reduced performance
Initial degradation:When monocrystalline cells are exposed to light for the first time, their efficiency decreases by up to five percent within the first few hours of operation. In some cases, customers unknowingly pay for higher efficiencies, but get less. A European standard stipulates that this should actually not happen.
Rising above the crowd
Branding: A powerful brand can be a decisive differentiating factor, driving customers to the brand and creating a powerful loyalty, which once established can last a lifetime.
Rotterdam Central project
Rotterdam Central Station: As part of a major refurbishment of Rotterdam Central train station, Dutch-based solar specialist Scheuten Solar has been selected to produce and install a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system.
See you in Hamburg
EU PVSEC: The 26th EU PVSEC will kick off the trade fair season in Hamburg after the summer break at the beginning of September. Around 40,000 visitors and over 950 exhibitors are expected. At the show plant builders will be showing off many of their latest developments for more efficient production and at the convention the particular focus this year is on improved crystalline cell technologies.
Small but beautiful
Belgium: Now its official. As of July 1, the government in Flanders made severe cuts in the subsidies for photovoltaic installations with outputs of more than one megawatt. Nevertheless, market participants continue to regard the small but impressive PV market in Belgium as attractive.
Smart energy
Interview: ProxEnergy is a young company that has been established by a man who has had years of experience in the solar industry. Knowing that current grids are not designed for bi-directional transport of electricity and information, the founder of the company felt it was important to think about energy transition. Frans van den Heuvel talks to pv magazine about his new setup and what he aims to achieve with the company slogan ‘Produce it-Control it’.
Solar PV competing in the energy sector
EPIA: PV price reductions over the last 20 years have been impressive and PV generation costs have the potential to decline by around 50 percent by 2020. A new EPIA analysis pointing to PVs increasing competitiveness shows that solar PV is not only desirable, but realistic and competitive. EPIA President Igmar Wilhelm elaborates.
Spot market for PV panels: Cautious optimism
Module prices: Despite global growth, many module manufacturers will have to accept sharply lower profits due to the decline in prices.
Storage systems bolster solar
Storage systems: Storage technology solutions are emerging in the U.S. solar market as something like the second punch in a boxers one-two knockout combination, delivering a hard-fought win for solar project economics.
Successful maverick
Solyndra: Their tube-shaped rooftop PV modules look very different from what the market is accustomed to. Besides efficiency gains, there are a multitude of benefits to their unique cylindrical design. After spending one billion dollars worth of venture capital in four years, Solyndra targets profitability by early 2012.
