[February 2012 Issue]
BUSINESS IN BRIEF
MARKET UPDATE
Is It Time for a Shift in Focus?
Signs of the Solar Shakeout within CIGS
No Sign of ‘Solyndra Effect’ Yet
World’s Most Efficient Polycrystalline Module Is Dutch
Chinese Tier 2 PV Module Utilization Fell to Record Low in Q411
COVER STORY
What Is a Good PV Policy?
Not all policies have been equally effective in supporting PV developments. The success of such efforts depends not only on policy choice, but also on policy design and implementation.
- By Anna Leidreiter
GLOBAL LEADERS IN PV
JinkoSolar: Global Network Plus Local Service Strategy
CEO Kangping Chen talks about JinkoSolar’s market strategy and competitive edges that differentiate the company from its competitors.
- By Jeanny H. Lim
GLOBAL MARKET REPORT
China PV Suppliers Prepare for Challenges
China suppliers of solar panels and power systems are preparing for a challenging business period.
- By Global Sources
Evolution of Europe’s Future Energy Mix and PV’s Role in It
Encouraging PV development will also play a major role in the EU effort to create a smart, sustainable economy for the future─one in which high-tech innovation creates jobs and social cohesion.
- By EPIA
Changes to the 2012 International Codes: Impacts on Photovoltaic Installations
The International Code Council (ICC) develops a family of model codes, many of which are widely adopted across the United States. Some of the new model codes include provisions related to photovoltaics.
- By Larry Sherwood
Solar PV Buying Decision Made Easy
By focusing on more consistent consumer education tools, we have the potential to better organize demand which drives faster adoption of distribute solar energy systems. This, in turn, can lead to reducing current industry over-supply conditions.
- By Doug Payne
EU PV Market: Trends and Developments
For the first time ever, Europe added more PV than wind capacity during the past year. Europe has taken advantage of providing 70% of global operating PV systems which over a half are in Germany.
- By Aitor Manero
VIEWPOINT
PV in the UK: Is This the End of the Road?
It has been a turbulent time for the U.K. PV industry thus far. At the time of writing, the industry is going through an unprecedented period of transition that could potentially see the growth and profitability of the past 18 months derailed.
- By Lee Summers
The Time for Solar Energy Culture Is Now
Paolo Pietrogrande, Chairman of Element Power Solar, is pretty confident that solar both hardware and software are mature and coming available. He has underscored the need to achieve solar ‘cultural-ware’.
- By Paolo Pietrogrande
CELL & MODULE
Black Silicon Antireflection Technology
Natcore black silicon products with inexpensive one-step method reduces light reflection from silicon wafers to less than 2% and could reduce manufacturing production cost and capital costs. The antireflection process turns silicon wafers black thus allowing them to absorb 98% of solar radiation, compared to the typical 95% possible by current solar PV cells.
- By Dennis J. Flood
PRODUCTION & INSPECTION
Breakthrough Furnace Can Cut Solar Costs
A game-changing Optical Cavity Furnace developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory uses optics to heat and purify solar cells at unmatched precision while sharply boosting the cells’ efficiency
- By NREL
POWER SYSTEM
Driving Higher PV Inverter Efficiencies with Customizable System-on-Chip
The article explores innovative design techniques and the usage of customized system-on-chips to develop and bring to market cost and power sensitive, nextgeneration PV string and microinverters.
- By Rufino Olay
Novel Circuit Topology and Modular Design Approach for Large Commercial and Utility-Scale Inverter Systems
Inverters are also responsible for a maximum energy harvest under different conditions while keeping AC losses as low as possible. How can maximum power conversion rates be achieved?
New Generation Grid-Inverter
Inverters are a key element for energy conversion of the viability of photovoltaic systems. The new REFUsol 333K central inverter reduces overall system costs due to its higher input and output voltages
DESIGN & INSTALLATION
First-in-Nation Solar Registration Offers Model for Expansion
Eleven days from solar application to install. Seems like a dream for solar installers? Well, it’s not.
- By Andrew Savage
Overcoming Challenges of Desert Military Base Installation
Baker Electric Solar, a full-service solar integrator, partnered with Blue Oak Energy, a renewable energy engineering design firm, to bring solar energy to the new Bachelor Enlisted Quarters complex at the U. S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, the U.S.A.
- By Brian Miliate
On a Farm, Everything Is a Product of the Sun
To offer English farmers suitable technology at a fair price, the Mole Valley Farmers Cooperative has added photovoltaic systems to its range of products.
- By Richard Batty
A Configurator for PV Installation
The demand for small industrial as well as residential rooftop installations is growing worldwide. The planning of such roof projects requires a detailed study based on multiple parameters. Siliken has created a tool which carries out this project in five simple steps, offering all of the necessary materials for installation at the same time.
CASE STUDIES
Solar-Powered Bike Port
SANYO-Powered solar bike port helps Boulder’s Casey Middle School gear up for district’s first LEED certification.
- By Terri Steele
PV &LIFE
How to Build a Solar Workforce: Lessons from America’s Finest City
According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight: Q1 2011 report, the U.S. solar energy industry continued to be one of the fastestgrowing sectors of the economy in Q1 2011 and is expected to continue to grow. But what happens when there is a growing industry and not enough skilled workers to fill the positions?
- By Barbara Fanning
Utilizing Solar Power in the Application of Video Surveillance
MicroPower Technologies, a creator of the power-efficient, totally wireless video camera technology, is now showcasing its wireless solar IP cameras.
- By Kirsten Garvin
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