Building pillars of PV
Utilities in China: As China looks set to install up to 50 GW of PV this year, pv magazine examines the technology’s relationship with the country’s state utilities. Is the joint R&D venture between German equipment supplier Manz AG, Shanghai Electric Group and the Shenhua Group evidence that Chinese utilities are embracing a solar future?
Changing tides
Utilities and solar: An increasing number of U.S. utilities are embracing the low and predictable costs of utility-scale solar. But conflicts remain over distributed generation, and the real question is who will own the solar that is being built.
Cutting costs through competition
Solar as an asset: Growing competition in the solar asset management industry is resulting in lower operating and management costs for large PV plant or portfolio owners, thanks to more intense use of monitoring data and active analysis of O&M opportunities for cost savings.
Finding fault
O&M case studies: Two hypothetical scenarios and one actual case study of solar faults in the field serve as a reminder of both the importance of sophisticated O&M, and the need for a professional and proactive approach to PV maintenance.
Operating and maintaining good relations
Solar O&M in Latin America: Every region across the world can lay claim to its own idiosyncrasies and preferences when it comes to doing business. Latin America is in a rather unique position, in that it combines a highly educated populace and a complex political and cultural history. The lessons learned from EDF Renewable Services’ Chilean experience are therefore valuable to know when entering Chile’s solar industry, writes Nicolas Rossel.
High density solar
PV in urban Taiwan: Being a small and partially mountainous island, Taiwan’s ground-mounted solar sector is naturally limited. However, conditions are not necessarily more favorable for solar up on the rooftops of this crowded country, as Rhea Tsao of Taiwanese solar analysts Energy Trend explains.
Black is the new black
Wafer texturing: Though long known within the industry, until recently there had been little interest from PV manufacturers in black silicon processes. Now, with the growth of diamond wire sawing, the technology is making a comeback. pv magazine looks into black silicon’s sudden popularity among manufacturers, and the technology’s potential to bring about a resurgence in multicrystalline silicon.
Covering the bases
Interview: At September’s SPI show in Las Vegas, pv magazine had the chance to catch up on the latest in cell and module technologies from a leading manufacturer. Dong Shuguang, Executive President at GCL Systems Integration provides an update on the company’s latest drive to reduce costs and boost efficiency.
Polyolefin backsheets taking confident first steps
Next-gen backsheets: Polyolefin-based backsheet suppliers show why they think that their developments could help to reduce PV LCOE. They call for module manufacturers to make use of this technology and gain experience with polyolefin. This was one of the topics at this year’s EU PVSEC.
Let the sun, not profits, burn
Protecting your investment: A recent DuPont conference in Rome showed how the task of protecting longevity of solar investments is becoming more complex, particularly with how backsheets are creating more problems than expected, especially in hot and arid climates. Thinking in terms of $/kWh instead of $/W is one recommended way to maximize investment return.
