[November 2011 Issue]

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

MARKET UPDATE

German Solar Installations Undergo End-of-Year Resurgence, Straining Supply Chain
Production Cutbacks Insufficient to Prevent Solar Module Inventory Buildup
Third Quarter 2011 Funding and M&A Activity for Solar
Micro-Inverters and Power Optimizers Grow 500% in 2010
PV Market Facing a Paradigm Shift
Large-Scale Energy Storage Technologies to Capitalize on Renewables

COVER STORY

Building a Profitable Business Model for CIGS Thin-Film PV
After many years of buildup, CIGS companies are finally approaching commercial readiness only to discover that the PV industry is at a significant crossroads. Many of these companies were founded during a time when conventional silicon PV costs were high and European subsidies were generous.
-By Vincent Kapur

GLOBAL LEADERS IN PV

SolarWorld AG: “Folowing Others Has Never Been Our Way.”
COO Boris Klebensberger talks about SolarWorld’s strengths differentiated from the competition and strategies for the key markets of Asia and the U.S.A.
-By Jeanny H. Lim

VIEWPOINT

Meeting the Needs of Advanced Photovoltaic Manufacturing
The world of PV manufacturing is a diverse one. There are new tools, processes andmaterials being introduced on a constant basis. Many have noted that grid parity is the majorgoal for the PV industry. Grid parity is a poorly-defined term, but inherent in the term is anacknowledgement that alternative approaches exist at lower costs. The implication is clear, improving the cost-effectiveness of PV is essential.
-By Alan Levine

POLICY & LEGISLATION

Let’s Talk about Solar Subsidies in Context
Renewable energy subsidies have been the target of many media outlets and lawmakers recently, especially in the wake of the highprofile Solyndra collapse. Because of the complicated landscape of the energy industry, however, subsidies are vital.
-By Blair Kendall

GLOBAL MARKET REPORT

Changing the Face of Cities in Taiwan
An oddity exists in Taiwan: energy imports are roughly 99% even though the island receives ample sunshine thanks to being part of the Sunbelt Region. This peculiar situation is changing, with the movement for the transition to a clean energy society rapidly growing.
-By Dr. Dino Ponnampalam