Doubling down on quality
PV+Test: Four more modules made by Chinese manufacturers have undergone the Solarpraxis/TUV Rheinland module test. The manufacturer JS Solar has proven that China is capable of producing high quality modules. The other two manufacturers, however, underscore the fact that this is not always the case.
Extending the limits
Silver pastes: A committee of the industry association Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) is looking at how to reduce the amount of silver used in photovoltaic cells. Stephan Raithel of the SEMI PV Group as well as Weiming Zhang and David P. McMullen of Heraeus Precious Metals report on the goals, the approaches, and the achievements.
Faith and financing
Chile: In October, pv magazine attended the inauguration of Chiles biggest PV plant. At 1.4 MW, the project may seem trivial compared to the large-scale plants in operation across the globe. However, for Chile it represents the start of what will hopefully become a burgeoning solar industry. That is, if the faith and financing hurdles can be overcome.
For Taiwan, China, Japan and EPC hold the key
PV Taiwan: More solar cell exports to Japan, greater collaboration with mainland China and developing Taiwanese expertise in engineering, procurement and construction were among the topics dominating this years PV Taiwan trade exhibition.
Global FIT overview
Feed-in tariffs: The Bulgarian industrys woes continue as the government makes more cuts, this time introducing sweeping retroactive measures. Austria has shunned larger plants, Brussels and Wallonia in Belgium are awarding less green certificates, and Cyprus, Lithuania and Switzerland have all cut their financial support for PV.
Intense struggle for market shares
Industry ranking: New markets are opening up for inverter manufacturers. But this also changes the balance of power among competitors. Newcomers are putting pressure on the business of established manufacturers. Market researchers and analysts assess developments among inverter manufacturers and provide an outlook.
Persistence required
Silicon industry: Companies must invest in efficiency and innovative production lines in order to survive the price war. This adds to existing overcapacities and therefore exerts downward pressure on prices again.
Protectionism is spreading out
India: Bridge To India analyses the recent Indian antidumping probe launched against solar modules produced in China, Taiwan, Malaysia and the United States.
Recapping the expo and conference season
Global market update: Storage solutions and higher efficiency? Never mind those, exhibition season was all about the margins, as Lux Research analyst Matt Feinstein discovered.
Rising global demand
Module prices: Now, tier-1 manufacturers are also affected by price decreases. Crystalline PV modules saw a stronger price decrease than thin film panels.
