Market change
Italy: Already at the last Solarexpo in Verona the Italian government managed to shock the countrys PV industry. At that time it announced Conto Energia IV, which provided for substantial cuts in subsidies for solar electricity. Now the government has even topped that and just before Solarexpo 2012 it presented an even more drastic Conto Energia V for discussion.
Moderate drop in prices
Module prices: Average prices have now fallen below the 1.00/Wp mark in all categories.
More than green dreams
South Africa: As the PV industry feels the negative reverberations in Europe as a result of the cuts to the feed-in tariffs, South Africa has new PV plans in the pipeline and seeks to further the growth of solar generated electricity and aid its manufacturing sector.
Opening for business
Japan: The Japanese PV market has commonly been regarded as a closed shop. However, new data has revealed that this has been changing with an increase in imported PV modules. With the implementation of a new feed-in tariff (FIT) program to start in July 2012, major global PV players established their sales offices in Japan and we may see many more imported PV modules in Japan.
PVs next steps
Ghana: As is the case with photovoltaics in a number of African countries, Ghana is taking the next step towards introducing initiatives to encourage its growth. But the official expansion targets lag far behind the possibilities.
Rationalization
Ardour Solar Index: Industry heavyweights join the consolidation parade. The sector remains out of favor as fundamentals drag.
Setting the solar story straight
Solar Superheroes: So often the same old arguments are rolled out against PV, yet equally as often, theyre just not correct. They are based on stereotypes, old information and data that does not stand up against the facts. Taking things into its own hands, pv magazine has decided to challenge these arguments and set the solar story straight.
Sino-African solar relations
Chinese PV firms in South Africa: Africas renewable energy potential has attracted the interest of many Chinese energy companies ready to develop new power plants and invest in local renewable energy technology manufacturing opportunities.
Solar Superhero is the better choice
Dear readers, Talk about perfect timing! As though Angry Franky himself was behind the stage far away at SolarWorld headquarters in Bonn. Last October the demand made by several U.S. module manufacturers, under the leadership of SolarWorld Industries America for the introduction of U.S. duties on imports of Chinese crystalline cells and modules, stirred up […]
Switch from p to n
PV technology: A lot of research is being conducted on n-type silicon-based photovoltaic technologies. The results look promising and it might take a large slice of the market pie in the years to come.
