A solar philanthropist
Solar energy for Haiti: The founder of Biohaus, Willi Ernst, took the money he made from the sale of his company to Centrosolar, and set up a charitable foundation. Its first major project is the development of a solar training center for future roofers, electricians, and sanitary installation specialists in Haiti.
Big policy push
The U.S. solar market: After two years of investing billions of dollars into solar research and deployment, U.S. President Barack Obama is strategizing ways to gain political support for his goals of boosting solar energy generation and reducing its installation cost to one dollar per watt.
BIPV to AIPV
SERIS Interview: Under the wing of the National University of Singapore, SERIS (Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore) aims to develop materials, components, processes and systems for photovoltaic electricity generation and energy efficient buildings. Stephen Wittkopf, Cluster Director for Solar and Energy Efficient Buildings, spoke to pv magazine about his vision for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
Expanding the laser tool box
Lasers in PV production: Lasers have the potential to become vital tools for many processes in the production chain of crystalline solar cells. Malte Schulz-Ruhtenberg of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, Germany, reports on research projects his institute is involved in and their results.
FIT capers and shaky confidence
UK: The UK had installed around ten megawatts of PV before the FIT was introduced last April 1. Since then, the country has made great inroads in terms of newly added capacity. Predictions are this could notably increase. But news of an early tariff review has attracted harsh criticism and left confidence shaky.
Gaining clarity
PV recycling: PV Cycle program updates from the 2nd International Conference on PV Module Recycling, which took place in January in Madrid.
Getting more out of the sun
Laser technology: Thin film cells can be manufactured quicker than crystalline modules, with about a third of the initial investment needed in comparison. With the advent of laser technology, the positive statistics can be further enhanced. Jan Wieduwilt of Trumpf explains the pros of laser.
Market see-saw
Ardour Solar Index: Mixed developments in European markets. Italy paints a possible boom-bust picture.
Masdar light
Masdar City: Taking place for the fourth time in mid-January, the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi once again attracted large numbers of visitors. Among the focal points were the plans for Masdar City to be powered exclusively by renewables.
Not falling through the cracks
Optical wafer inspection: Metrology systems are available in the market for the tedious task of detecting errors in wafers before they get forwarded onwards in the manufacturing line.
