Global feed-in tariff overview
Feed-in tariffs: The drastic cuts to the incentives in Germany have been passed into law, with the cuts to rooftop and BIPV having already taken effect and the cuts to ground-mounted installations looming. Japan is also enacting changes to its incentive scheme and Ontario recently conducted a two year review of its scheme.
Global market ebb and flow
Global market update: Lux Researchs Matt Feinstein talks about the incredible growth and thereafter the unexpected reductions that call for serious rethinking.
Global opportunities
Trackers: Manufacturers are keeping up a remarkable pace in reducing the costs of single- and dual-axis tracking systems to compete with fixed systems. This trend among both new and established suppliers is expected to meet demand in emerging PV markets, resulting in a positive prognosis for solar tracker sales in the coming three years. Just where the markets are and how costs are being cut are explored within.
Green school at the tip of Manhattan
Building integrated PV: Battery Park City School in Lower Manhattan, open since September 2010, was the first institution to conform to the New York City School Construction Authoritys Green Schools Guide.
Logistically speaking
Logistics: From raw polysilicon to power generators: it takes a tremendous amount of effort to produce a high-quality PV module. Thus, it is rather embarrassing when it reaches the end customer cracked, scratched, broken or with the invisible enemy, micro-cracks due to bad logistics.
Mapping the way forward
6th PV Fab Managers Forum: The latest SEMI PV Roadmap, which attempts to throw some light on the way forward for both industry suppliers and stakeholders, was presented in Berlin in March. This year the Roadmap effort had more participation from non-European fabs and a focus on several cost-reduction strategies.
New hooks for Britains roofs
Mounting systems: Solar PV mounting equipment designed specifically for U.K. roofs enables installers to mount panels more efficiently thus reducing installation time and several companies are pitching in with their solutions. pv magazine discusses the developments with mounting system providers and designers to find out the progress being made and moves towards a national standard under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Night shifts possible
Grid management: In Germany, inverters of large PV power plants could play a key role in the grid integration of renewables by feeding reactive power into the grid, thereby stabilizing voltage, increasing grid capacity and reducing the need for new power lines.
Outback applications
Australia: A lot has been made about PVs ability to cause utilities and grid administrators headaches. However, in the wide open spaces of Australia, these same utilities are starting to look to PV as being a valuable ally in meeting some of the challenges that they face in supplying power to remote and rural locations. pv magazine heads off the beaten track to see how PV is increasingly being put to work amongst the red dirt of the Australian outback.
Poised for (PV) takeoff
China: This oriental land is poised to become the biggest PV market, according to many. In March, three key solar events took place in Shanghai. While Chinas promising prospects were discussed regarding future development, it is clear the country still has a long way to go before it can fully realize its potential. The most critical issues are policy and grid development.
