Magazine Archive 2012

Storage conference: Just how important is energy storage today in light of a future that includes a large proportion of solar and wind power in the energy mix? The answer was discussed in some depth at the first International Summit for Storage of Renewable Energies in March. pv magazine was on hand to report on the technologies, the research required, the business cases today and in the future, along with the challenges ahead.

Solar module design: This article proposes a new crystalline module design that makes use of the integration potential of polymers.

Group purchasing: Combining buying power is attractive for consumers, developers, and manufacturers because it enables economies of scale. Small firms can enjoy big-company clout – and pricing – when they join forces in a solar purchasing group.

Eco lodges as models: Residents of the off-grid village Akwidaa in Ghana are impressed by the PV panels at the nearby eco lodges. Though they pin their hopes on getting “real” electricity from the grid, they are excited about the prospect of an NGO solar project.

New deposition methods for CIGS solar cells: This article by Peng Shou (CNBM), Jimin Ma (CEO of Sol Array), and Paul Beatty (CTO at Sol Array) reviews and compares the technical and commercial merits of recent lower cost deposition methods for solar cells using quarternary compound semiconductors such as copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), including new types of sputtering and printing.

SNEC: Despite worldwide overcapacities, the financial crisis, cutbacks to feed-in-tariffs and hefty U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese PV imports, the mood at the 6th SNEC in Shanghai was driven by growth opportunities and lively business and the show was bigger than ever.

Global market update: Markets and customer segments are changing. NPD Solarbuzz’s Michael Barker elaborates.

Chinese factory gate prices: Europe dropped further to US$0.80 per watt, China dropped below US$0.77 per watt.

Ontario: The Local Content Assurance Bureau and Intertek have partnered to conduct the province’s FIT.2 audits.

Ontario: Just how important is “home advantage” to players in the renewable energy sector? It could be a game changer, according to Japan and the European Union, both of which have brought complaints against Canada for violating the rules of fair competition.