Energy lies
Dear readers, And so it came to pass once again. In early October an outcry reverberated through Germanys media. The reason: From next year, average electricity prices for household customers will increase by approximately one cent. And renewable energy is to blame. For years, sun, wind & co. have served as political scapegoats for high […]
Fiercer global competition
Ranking inverter manufacturers: The two top dogs SMA and Power-One continue to dominate the inverter market. However, due to increasing competition and the rise in significance of non-European markets, above all Japan, China and the U.S., the balance of power is beginning to change.
Fretting over junction boxes
Junction boxes: The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) sent out a warning in February this year declaring certain installed module types as potentially flammable. Poor contacts in the circuit boards of junction boxes were cited as one of the reasons for this public warning. The safety of solar modules was called into question, giving solar skeptics a field day.
Low cost solar industry 2.0
Latin America: For firms in Latin America, the huge amount of second-hand machinery now available on the market offers a great opportunity to start up low-cost industrial projects able to compete strongly on price. However, global overcapacity and as yet scant local demand mean that initiatives of this sort are still small-scale and few and far between.
Mono-Multi debate dominates PV tech trends
PV equipment: With solar PV equipment suppliers pushing for increased adoption of next generation high-efficiency concepts, the fundamental issue remains end market adoption of mono or multi PV panels and the requirement of upstream PV manufacturers to move away from proven c-Si multi manufacturing processes says Finlay Colville, Vice President of NPD Solarbuzz.
On the upside
Ardour Solar Index: Strong investor sentiment amid several secondary equity offerings. More Chinese government support reinvigorates the Index rally.
Price movements level off
Module prices: Prices are generally stable. How can Asian manufacturers continue to stand out from the competition?
Pushing the BIPV envelope
Building integrated photovoltaics: Despite universally positive forecasts, the reality for BIPV has been one of low market share, insipid growth and perceived expense. But with new environmental directives on the horizon and a handful of innovative technologies improving efficiency and lowering costs, is BIPV poised to enter the mainstream?
PV developers basking in the Latin American sun
Latin American market: With energy demand typically growing at an annual rate of 4 to 6%, Latin American countries require hundreds of new megawatts of power capacity to be installed each year. Carlos Albero and Ragna Schmidt-Haupt from global renewable energy consultancy GL Garrad Hassan examine the bright opportunity for PV there, exploring how developers are navigating different policy and market conditions across the region.
