Lying in wait
SE Asia: The region has been identified as one of the emerging solar markets of the future. With the IMF reporting economic growth at a rate of 6.5 percent per annum, electricity demand is also growing. However, cumulative installed PV capacity and support schemes are comparatively negligible. Despite this, many companies are lying in wait, preparing their plans, ready to pounce as soon as the markets are ripe.
More market
Off-grid solar PV: In some off-grid markets, solar power is already more cost-efficient than electricity from diesel generators. More market segments will join the list with rising diesel prices. We asked some of the many off-grid experts exhibiting at Intersolar Europe to describe the current state of the market for PV stand-alone systems, what is important, where the barriers are, and what are the major trends.
Ready for the storage phase
Interview: pv magazine spoke with Mastervolt Internationals CEO Hans van Nikkelen Kuijper on the companys strategy in the changing inverter market and its road map for the future.
Resolving ambiguity
Ardour Solar Index: Investors dip a toe as some uncertainty wanes. Consolidation continues to grip the sector.
Sino-American harmony
GT Advanced Technologies: Silicon production machine manufacturer GT Advanced Technologies joined the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy to oppose the petition for tariffs on PV cells and modules imported from China. A case study in solar innovation and cross-border value creation.
Smart grids and smart cities
UrbanTec China: The sustainable development of mega-cities was the leading topic at the inaugural UrbanTec China exhibition and conference in Beijing.
Smart grids and smart cities
UrbanTec China: The sustainable development of mega-cities was the leading topic at the inaugural UrbanTec China exhibition and conference in Beijing.
Solar kibbutzim
Israel: At this years CleanTech summit and exhibition, organized by Mashov Group in Tel Aviv, Israels PV industry looked forward to when PV electricity production will become competitive without subsidy.
Solar superhero
Interview: Having been a world leader in crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell efficiency since 1983, The University of New South Wales Martin Green is a true Solar superhero. Despite the fortunes of some of the Chinese c-Si waning in the light of rapidly falling prices, Green remains confident that PV will continue to develop and become a major energy source of the future. pv magazine met with the softly-spoken scientist to get his take on the current market and challenges currently facing the industry.
Steering through the standards jungle
Mounting systems: Solar power plants have to be able to withstand considerable wind and snow loads. They must be able to absorb these loads and dissipate them into the roof or the ground via the mounting system. This raises the question of what standards and basic conditions are relevant for mounting systems. Lydia Hannemann and Sandy Schnitzer of Mounting Systems analyze the most important prerequisites.
