Magazine Archive 2014

CEO Interview: The list of PV pies in which SunPower has its fingers is a long one. From its project development, leases and loans in the downstream segment, to its unique cell architecture, Fab 4 capacity expansion plans and C7 LCPV system, SunPower is aiming wide while maintaining its place as one of the top-10 module producers, in terms of volume, globally. pv magazine travelled to SunPower’s San Jose base to meet with CEO Tom Werner.

Interview: Under the new ownership of Kawa Capital Management, Inc., Conergy managed to further develop its EPC activities, especially in Southeast Asia. pv magazine asked Marc Lohoff, Conergy’s CEO Asia & Pacific, about the company’s business model, new projects, and market expectations.

India: The 30% capital subsidy for rooftop PV has not been disbursed for over 18 months. As long as the dysfunctional subsidy is not removed, customers with projects viable without subsidies will defer installing PV. Dustin Zubke, a 2014 Thomas J. Watson Fellow, reports from India.

New markets: Susanne von Aichberger, Michael Barker, and Holly Hu, Market Analysts at NPD Solarbuzz, report on emerging solar PV markets.

New markets: Susanne von Aichberger, Michael Barker, and Holly Hu, Market Analysts at NPD Solarbuzz, report on emerging solar PV markets.

Industry investment: The sun shines on the solar sector as commercial and residential funds continue to raise record amounts. Raj Prabhu, CEO and cofounder of Mercom Capital Group, evaluates the global solar funding activities in the second quarter of 2014.

Industry investment: The sun shines on the solar sector as commercial and residential funds continue to raise record amounts. Raj Prabhu, CEO and cofounder of Mercom Capital Group, evaluates the global solar funding activities in the second quarter of 2014.

Off-grid PV Australia: With its wide open spaces and disparate remote and rural communities, there are many communities and commercial operations that can be served by off-grid PV in Australia. However, the growth of PV plus storage solutions has been patchy, with the pastoral sector (farming) relatively quick to adopt the technology while indigenous communities and mining operators lag behind.

Ardour Solar Index: US-domiciled constituents drove the positive performance of the index as Asian manufacturers face new trade duties.

Metallization technology: The last few months have seen renewed interest in technologies to replace the busbars on crystalline silicon solar PV cells with new forms of interconnection, all based on copper mesh. But many questions remain about this technology.