Its just a question of time
Interview: In his new book, The Economic Competitiveness of Renewable Energy, Winfried Hoffmann, former president of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), provides a unique economic and industrial point of view about the current state of global energy, the increasing impact of solar and the impending paradigm shift that photovoltaics has triggered.
A transformative tipping point
Ranking inverter suppliers: The shifting sands of the global inverter landscape have shuffled the pack a little, but with SMA a familiar face at the top of the tree albeit with a drastically diminished global market share just how tumultuous has 2014 been for the worlds leading inverter suppliers?
An ultra-mega opportunity or a headache?
India: In September, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy published plans to develop large-scale and ultra-mega solar power parks totaling 20 GW of capacity over the next five years. The draft policy contains no domestic content requirement. So after the governments decision against antidumping duties on solar components imported from China, Taiwan, Malaysia and the US, Indias solar industry is wondering whether domestic content requirements will be incorporated into public tenders, or where the 20 GW worth of modules is going to come from.
Between a ROC and a hard place
UK market update: April sees large-scale UK solar shut out from the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) scheme a program that has helped push PV beyond 5 GW of installed capacity this year. How will the incoming Contracts for Difference (CfD) program fare, and are residential and commercial ready to take up the slack?
Bi-facial to mainstream
Equipment supply: Although times are undoubtedly tough for PV equipment vendors, a range of next-generation technology is making its way on to the market. Bi-facial cell and module technology is a part of this, with equipment supplier Schmid saying that line upgrades could see cost-effective bi-facial production on multicrystalline lines currently in production.
Casualties of the solar trade war
Polysilicon in the US: With a long history, massive scale and cost advantages, polysilicon is a strong industry in the United States. However, it is under threat by Chinese tariffs. Will the US polysilicon industry be a casualty of the solar trade war?
Equipped for the long game
CEO interview: Clean energy manufacturing group Meyer Burger has generated a few solar headlines in recent weeks as the company stabilizes following an industry-wide downturn. pv magazine caught up with CEO Peter Pauli to discuss current market challenges, Meyer Burgers strategy for growth and its technological developments.
EU PVSEC 2014: Crystalline efficiency in focus
EU PVSEC: Amsterdam played host to Europes leading scientific conference for PV technologies in 2014. The accompanying trade show was a minnow compared to those of years past, however a range of technologies designed to push c-Si cell and module efficiencies north were on display.
European survival strategies
Module prices: Are new business models the solution to the crisis in Europe?
Finding the money to finance distributed solar
India: Distributed solar has great potential to rapidly alleviate electricity shortages and strengthen the resilience of power generation in India. However, this would require a great deal of funding. A range of new financing models has emerged in recent years which could play a major role in expanding distributed solar in India. David Fullbrook of DNV GL identifies several new financing models, which, given the policy context, could have a big impact.
