Introducing the high-level photovoltaic simulator PVS from Spitzenberger & Spies. The amount of generated energy of a solar panel field (and therefore the profitable efficiency) mainly depends on varying weather conditions such as cloudiness and adverse weather situations. To achieve the maximum energy rate at heavily varying irradiation, modern intelligent solar inverters are used. The… Read more »
Why Europe’s PV industry should encourage Chinese collaboration Since 2011, Europe’s photovoltaic industry has been in the midst of a crisis. Companies across the solar value chain are struggling, forcing layoffs and lowering growth projections over the coming years. By promoting tariffs and policies that aim to encourage the development of Europe’s PV industry by eliminating… Read more »
A privately-held Swiss corporation that is a pioneer in the field of software solutions for the renewable energy sector, Vela Solaris AG is one of the leaders in the global market, combining software innovation with expertise in renewable energy – with a particular focus on solar. We caught up with the company’s visionary Managing Director,… Read more »
The sun may provide us with unlimited free energy, yet the solar modules that capture its rays and turn them into power have a shorter lifespan than their source. At some point they reach their end of life and have to be disposed of as electrical waste in line with applicable legislation. This produces a… Read more »
The German family-owned company VON ARDENNE develops and manufactures advanced vacuum coating equipment for the photovoltaic and solar thermal industry, the architectural glass coating market, and the web coating market. We take a closer look at the company, which is constantly identifying and analysing market trends throughout these industries in order to strengthen and broaden… Read more »
The Scandinavian module manufacturer Innotech Solar has secured the leading specialist wholesaler and system provider Krannich Solar as a partner. The company added ITS solar modules to its portfolio in May 2013. Krannich Solar believes that the particular advantages of ITS modules for PV installers and plant operators lie in the high quality of the… Read more »
Chinese solar giant ReneSola is set to attend Intersolar (Booth A1.560) in Munich from June 19 to 21. ReneSola will take the opportunity to show off the PV modules from its European and global production facilities. The company will also feature its Micro Replus microinverter, which helps installers cut costs and will reopen opportunities in… Read more »
Expanding from light and electron microscopy into X-ray microscopy solutions OBERKOCHEN/Germany, PLEASANTON/California/USA , 13.06.2013. ZEISS, the international leader in the fields of optics and optoelectronics today announced the planned acquisition of the US-based Xradia, Inc. Xradia is an medium-size company providing innovative 3D X-ray microscopes for industrial and academic research applications. The closing of the… Read more »
14 V90-3.0 MW turbines for the Obrovac Zelengrad wind power plant Vestas has received a firm and unconditional order for 42 MW. The 14 V90-3.0 MW turbines will be installed in the province of Obrovac, Croatia. The first turbine delivery is planned for the first quarter of 2014 and the wind power plant is expected… Read more »
Renusol assembles modules in record time Cologne, June 13, 2013 – The Cologne-based mounting systems manufacturer Renusol is the new record holder for mounting solar modules onto roofs. Armed with its MetaSole mounting system, Renusol took part in the mounting test set by the trade magazine “pv magazine” and finished with a mounting time of… Read more »
We’re delighted to welcome back Hirschmann Renewable Energy to the magazine. The company presents a thought-provoking essay on the reported decline of quality in the solar industry and offers its own solutions… Most of us respond when asked, believe that energy is obviously one of the most important fundamentals of our being on this planet…. Read more »
Consistently rated among the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Germany, LayTec in-line GmbH is a global market leader of in-situ metrology and has made its services available to the PV industry since 2008. We’re delighted to welcome the organisation back to the magazine and to grab five minutes to put our questions to company… Read more »
The latest tit-for-tat EU-China trade disputes could signal worse to come, and both sides have a lot to lose if things get out of hand and harm the much-needed economic growth they seek. PES asks: with so much to lose, what’s to gain? In May this year, China and the EU have locked horns over… Read more »
This illuminating personal insight is care of Andrew Jones, Managing Director, EMEA, of S&C Electric Company. Can the UK – not to mention other industrialised European nations – learn from Kenya when it comes to smart grids? Very much so, argues Andrew… Adoption of smart grid technology in emerging markets is rising, and fast. It… Read more »
With severe oversupply and recently crashing polysilicon prices, module prices have dropped precipitously – as low as $0.70/W from top-tier Chinese players. However, the cost of goods sold (COGS) for modules has largely not reached this level, resulting in massive net losses for a majority of module manufacturers. With pressure from competitors, customers, and policy-makers… Read more »
Longstanding contributors to the magazine, Merck, and RENA deliver an upgrade concept that opens the door to excellent profitability. PES explains more…We are living in turbulent times and, where there is overcapacity and shrinking margins, solar cell manufacturers tend to look for solutions that will improve competitiveness and profitability. And while short-term strategies are necessary,… Read more »
A leading global supplier of solar charge controllers and inverters, Morningstar Corporation has been at the forefront of innovation, technical excellence and customer service for over two decades. We caught up with Lee Gordon, the company’s President and CEO, to ask him about his views on the industry and to discover just how he’s managed… Read more »
John Sylvester, motivation expert and Executive Director of P&MM Motivation, discusses how an engaged workforce can benefit the solar industry and contribute towards its growth. Maximising staff performance is fundamental to the success of any organisation, no matter what their industry, but it is of particular importance when cost controls are at a premium yet… Read more »
Longstanding contributors to PES, Multi-Contact is one of the leading manufacturers of PV connector systems worldwide with more than 15 years of experience in the field, offering solutions for all kinds of installations. We take a look at the MC portfolio of original connectors. MC is a true pioneer in PV connectivity; in 1996, the… Read more »
During the fourth annual Metallization Workshop, which took place on 7 and 8 May in Constance, Germany, DEK Solar and the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) presented findings from a recent research effort that provides insight for cell metallization cost reduction strategies. The work focused on utilizing the most advanced stencil and screens… Read more »
ib vogt GmbH strengthens its management team to accelerate its international expansion and in particular the build-out its 300 MWp United Kingdom project pipeline David Hogg, the 25 year veteran solar industry executive has been appointed to CEO of ib vogt GmbH. The move together with the appointment of Carl von Braun as CFO will… Read more »
Metals will be the biggest segment at $12.8 billion as geographically diverse demand offers rare opportunities for innovation and product differentiation, Lux Research says BOSTON, MA – June 11, 2013 – The global market for photovoltaic (PV) materials is poised to grow 52% to $27.2 billion, up from $17.8 billion in 2012. As PV supply… Read more »
The team of SGS Weather and Environmental Systems Private Ltd. (India), Geonica S.A. (Spain) and Hukseflux Thermal Sensors B.V. (The Netherlands) is chosen to supply measuring instruments and to install, commission and maintain a network of sixty measurement stations for solar radiation resource assessment in India. The network will be used by C-WET Centre for… Read more »
Freiburg, Germany, June 4, 2013 – The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE today announced that it has joined forces with EV Group (EVG) to develop equipment and process technology to enable electrically conductive and optically transparent direct wafer bonds at room temperature. The new solutions, developed in partnership with Fraunhofer ISE based on… Read more »
Brazil, in its preparations as host to the 2014 Football World Cup, has selected Ingeteam inverters for the PV systems installed at its main stadiums. The Confederations Cup, set to start this Saturday, will mark the launch of these PV systems, given the fact that three of the six stadiums hosting this tournament have been… Read more »
Part of the European EUREKA Technology Cooperation Program, the OPTIMUS project will last three years and is part funded by the CDTI. * The OPTIMUS project, which is led by MECASOLAR and also includes the participation of ACF and ISTON, will represent a technological leap by improving polymer and cement-based composites, obtaining materials that are… Read more »
Karlsruhe, 12/06/2013. As renewable energies are becoming more and more important, meteorological data in analysis and forecast has become very significant for the electricity market. Due to innate fluctuations of renewable power production and it`s difficult forecast for the spot market, which are concerned with a cost risk for balancing energy, a considerable part of… Read more »
State-of-the-art battery performance and the innovative design of power electronics have created commercially viable storage systems. Combined with PV or co-generation at home, E3/DC has created significant volumes in Germany based on professional, industrial production and a new product architecture. Andreas Piepenbrink, founder and CEO, explains the company and product strategy. Demand for storage: motivationEnergy… Read more »
Chemical purity is important to the manufacture of photovoltaic cells for many critical process steps, and acknowledging this, the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International Corporation (SEMI) PV Group has established standards for gases specifically for the photovoltaic industry. PES investigates. The standards outlined by SEMI include PV6-1110 for bulk argon, PV7-1110 for bulk hydrogen and… Read more »
We’re delighted to welcome FLIR to the magazine for the first time. The global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of thermal imaging infrared cameras, the company’s products play pivotal roles in a wide range of industrial, commercial and government applications in more than 60 countries. Today, we turn the spotlight on its activities… Read more »
We’re delighted to be joined by Gantner Instruments’ Annette Christine Kehrer, who writes about her company’s creative systems and how they can be applied to real-world PV scenarios. In large solar power plants, monitoring equipment is becoming constantly more complex and important: system operators want to find faults in modules, strings or groups quickly and… Read more »
Commenting on the debate which is currently raging¹ concerning the European Commission’s placing of import tariffs on solar panels Richard Molloy, Renewable Energy spokesperson for Eaton UK said, “Opinion is divided with vehement views on either side of the debate. We, along with much of the industry, believe that this imposition of duty will be… Read more »
Bergen, Norway – June 07, 2013: Reef Subsea today announced that it will undergo a strategic group-wide restructure to position the company for further growth and future success. Duncan Macpherson, who previously held the role of Managing Director of Reef Subsea Norway, has been promoted as the CEO of Reef Subsea with the responsibility of… Read more »
Aurora Wind Power orders 47 V90-2.0 MW wind turbines for West Coast One project With reference to Vestas Wind Systems A/S company announcement No. 25 of 11 June 2013, Vestas is pleased to announce a firm and unconditional order from Aurora Wind Power, a joint venture between GDF SUEZ, Investec and Kagiso Investment. The wind… Read more »
With DC side connection, the system is easy to connect and achieves a maximum level of efficiency Hamburg, Germany, 11 Junel 2013 Building upon the wave of new storage products introduced in March, Centrosolar will now be launching a third system for solar power storage. CENPAC Storage DC, based on tried and tested lead gel… Read more »
Autarky: the quality of being self-sufficient. We’re proud to present a thought-provoking dispatch on the subject and how it’s rooted in the solar market from one of the industry’s most respected commentators… Since the 60s, people have been putting panels on their roofs with complete disregard for Feed-in Tariffs. These green pioneers were interested in… Read more »