Magazine Archive 2017

Americas show roundup: It’s been a busy month, and indeed a busy year, for PV across the Americas. pv magazine was in attendance at key events across both continents, including the Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF Wall Street) in New York City, Intersolar North America in San Francisco, and Brazil Solar Power in Rio de Janeiro, and now brings the latest from all three leading markets.

Africa Energy Forum: Africa’s energy sector has generated headlines concerning both tenders and directly negotiated project deals. pv magazine explores the most promising solar PV markets on the African continent, and those that have also embraced policy work towards the development of their PV sector.

Global markets and manufacturing: Instability, uncertainty, a lack of visibility. Forecasting solar industry demand can be a tricky business. Edurne Zoco took over as joint research director for solar and storage at IHS Markit this year, and shares her insights into this year’s key trends.

Module manufacturing: JinkoSolar will partner with Marubeni to supply and construct the record-setting 1.177 GW Sweihan project. The vast PV power plant has smashed records for PPA prices and is setting a new standard for the MENA region, which is finally appearing ready to take off as a solar market. But how will the new project be executed? JinkoSolar’s Chairperson of the Board, Xiande Li spoke to pv magazine.

Sustaining the market: As the leading solar state in America, California’s behind-the-meter solar markets are seeing challenges as they explore new terrain. CALSEIA’s Bernadette Del Chiaro explains how the industry is navigating these changes, and what to expect in the future.

Mexico Auctions: Santiago Barcón is a columnist for Energía Hoy and an advisor to Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission. Barcón explains that between 30 and 40% of projects assigned in Mexico’s first and second auctions may not actually be built. In addition, Barcón states that the Mexican electricity system is now more open to renewables, despite problems of transmission and bureaucracy. As a very positive aspect, Barcón highlights the enormous potential of distributed generation in the Latin American nation.

Tracking: Utility-scale tracking appears to be commonplace in a growing number of markets. Thomas Conroy, the President of Array Technologies, says that tracking isn’t back, it never went away.

LONGi Solar interview: The Chinese solar module manufacturer’s global expansion hinges a lot on its ability to continue offering desirable, durable and highly efficient monocrystalline products and innovation, says Gerald Patrick Müller, VP Sales for Europe.

Sungrow interview: Derek Huang, Senior Sales & Marketing Director EMEA for Chinese inverter specialist Sungrow discusses the importance of the European market, the emerging repowering markets, and the growing acceptance of 1,500 volt technology.

EPC: In January, German utility spin off innogy SE acquired pioneering solar EPC Belectric. The purchase price was in the high double-digit euro range. The move brought financial strength to Belectric’s market offering, but was as much a bringing together of like-minded teams as it was a piece of prescient timing, explains Ingo Alphéus, the new CEO of Belectric Solar & Battery GmbH.