GLOBAL MARKET REPORT

Conutry PV Factsheets Part-2: Greece, Netherlands, Poland, Italy
This three-series country factsheets give an overview of the PV market situation for each of the participating countries. Each fachsheet consists of National Data, PV Industry Survey Results, Barriers and Recommendations, and Results and Future Developments. This second of three articles discusses the PV market in Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Italy.
- By PV Legal

Basic Pillars of the Greek Legal Framework for PV
The Law Firm ‘Metaxas & Associates’ was assigned by five biggest Greek companies in the photovoltaic sector to deliver a legal opinion on the introduction of specific economic incentives to PV investors, who choose locally produced equipment.
- By Metaxas & Asociates

The U.S. PV Market: Manifold Opportunities for Inverter Manufacturers
According to IHS iSupply, the United States was the third largest market for new PV installations in 2011, reaching a total capacity of 2.6 GW. If this upward trend continues, the U.S. will approach the size of the leading German market soon.
- By Dr. Alex Levran

FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT

Solar Call: Q1 2012 Roundup
In the first quarter of 2012, ‘Solar Stock Index’ underperformed the S&P 500 slightly, with the Solar Stock Index declining 2% while the S&P 500 increased almost 12%. Within the aggregated index, however, all sectors of the value chain increased stock prices except for cells/ modules companies.
- By Jack Calderon, Chaim Lubin

Power Purchase Agreement: Solar Financing Solution at Zero Up-Front Cost

Many organizations are opting for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to finance solar energy projects. This article takes a closer look at a few examples of different municipal projects that were able to benefit from being financed through a PPA.
- By Joseph Harrison

POLICY & LEGISLATION

Critique of the Proposed Changes to the German Solar Feed-in Tariff
Solar PV is of critical importance for energy independence and national security for Germany. The proposed changes to the solar policy in the nation would significantly reverse the progress and achievements made thus far.
- By Florian Schubert

Grid Parity Is a Misleading Idea
Paul Gipe is an award-winning veteran in the work of developing renewable energy policies in North America. He introduces himself as an advocate for the responsible development of renewable energy and shares his thoughts about renewable energy policies with InterPV magazine.
- By Stella Y. Lee

VIEWPOINT

5 Reasons PV Modules Fail Product Certification Testing the First Time
Certification testing laboratories test products according to applicable standards and requirements to verify they are compliant. Testing and product certification are generally seen as the final hurdle before releasing a product to market.
- By Sunny Rai

KOREA INSIGHT

Korea Strengthens Its Competitiveness in Renewable
Energy Testing and Certification Korea Testing Certification (KTC) was appointed as a testing institution for crystalline solar modules. Its equipment and labor force are satisfying the requirements of the appointment.

Korea Takes a Step Forward in Adopting RPS

An agreement ceremony, which promotes the renewable energy supply expansion and the willingness of the promotion of the related industries through RPS system in Korea and abroad, was held.

CELL &  MODULE

Hyundai Heavy Industries: Strengthening Its Core Competencies for Solar
In this interview with InterPV magazine, Dr. Lee Choong-dong explains Hyundai Heavy Industries’ strategies to thrive in such a competitive solar marketplace.
- By Jeanny H. Lim

The Application of ETFE in the Crystalline Silicon PV Module
The material of Ethylene-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene (ETFE) for PV module has excellence of light transmittance and ageing resistance ability which could take place of photovoltaic glass.
- By Rufeng Dou

Shenzhen Sacred Solar Technology: Focusing on Opening Up New Markets
Seeing the trend of rapid development of solar energy industry with farsightedness and insight, Michael Wei (Wei Haigui), the owner of Shenzhen Sacred Solar, decided to devote himself to what he thinks a briliant industry.
- By Jeanny H. Lim

PRODUCTION & INSPECTION

Making PV as Cost-Efficient as Fossil-Fuel Fired Plants
Juan Laso, Founder and Managing Director of T-Solar, told how T-Solar actively contributes to the reduction of costs in the generation of power using photovoltaic solar energy.
- By Stella Y. Lee

POWER SYSTEM

Arcs in Photovoltaics
Safety and quality standards have been continuously updated in order to ensure that todays PV systems are as safe and reliable as possible. It is vital that these standards continue to evolve and that any potential system weaknesses continue to be identified and resolved. One current topic of discussion is the occurrence of arcs in PV systems and the ways to eliminate this risk.
- By Thomas MUhlberger

DESIGN & INSTALLATION

Measuring Global Solar Irradiance
Solar radiation drives almost every dynamic process on the Earth’s surface and above, from ocean current circulation to weather, climate and life itself. However, it is only recently that it has become widely used as an energy source for the production of electrical power. But what is solar radiation? How is it measured? What is a pyranometer and how does it work?
- By Clive Lee

PV & LIFE

Anthem Energy Co-op
This is a story about creating a community energy organization. The goal from the outset was to try and create the largest most energy efficient solar community in the world. This article will give you some insight to the co-op, how it has evolved and some lessons Founder of Anthem Energy Co-op Troy Huntley has learned.
- By Troy Huntley

CASE STUDIES

Protecting Solar System: Security Options Available
California continues to lead in renewable energy including solar energy. Solar panel theft is becoming a problem in the state and across the U.S.A.
- By REC Solar

EXPO PREVIEW

Intersolar Europe 2012
Intersolar Europe, one of the world’s largest exhibitions for solar industry, once again opens its doors at the grounds of ‘Messe Munchen’ in Germany.