We unveiled this feature and in our last issue, and it’s taken our readers by storm. Are YOU up to speed when it comes to the wonderful world of solar? We prescribe regular doses of PES and the occasional look at Twitter for diverse nuggets of information like these… The White House @WhiteHouseFACT: Solar power… Read more »
Words: Ian Rose, Professional Services Director at PassivSystemsThe way we monitor solar PV panels is the difference between an investment fully realised and an investment exposed to unnecessary risk, argues Ian in this essential column… The solar market has endured a rollercoaster ride as government incentive levels have fluctuated, driving large peaks and troughs in… Read more »
Glass innovations come into focus at a testing time for the industry. PES investigates… Although the costs for solar power have come down considerably lately, photovoltaics are still unable to compete with conventional energy sources. The “last mile” to competitiveness will therefore prove difficult for the sector: cell and module production have already been rationalised… Read more »
The German Energiewende (energy transition) – once an international model – threatens to disintegrate. Now is the time to develop a common European energy strategy, experts say. PES reports. “Germany would be well-advised to start looking beyond the edge of its nose on energy policy”, warned Bert Rürup, former “economic wise man” and director of… Read more »
In a speech at this year’s Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition, Prof. Dr. Eicke R. Weber, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, stated that: “The energy storage market is in the same situation today as photovoltaics was ten years ago; only development in the area of storage must proceed significantly faster.” Why?… Read more »
In this exclusive technical feature, Klaus M. Schulte of PV-Engineering GmbH outlines how monitoring and measuring can make a vital difference to the effectiveness of a PV system – and how conventional methods may not provide the best feedback. Photovoltaic systems generally do not contain serviceable elements, which is one of the main advances of… Read more »
In a first for PES, we have gathered together an exclusive panel of experts from some of the world’s foremost solar associations. They offer unparalleled insight and analysis and dissect the issues that are uppermost in the minds of the industry’s thought leaders. Enjoy. PES: Welcome to the magazine. Can you tell us a little… Read more »
If there has been one solar success story of the past 12 months, it’s been America, which has steadily become a PV powerhouse. We present an exclusive breakdown of all the salient facts and stats, courtesy of the very latest SEIA/GTM Research U.S. Solar Market Insight report. The U.S. solar industry has much to celebrate… Read more »
As Solar Market Strategic Manager for Sensata Technologies, John Kluza has witnessed business evolution not just within his company, but in the wider solar arena. Here, he talks to PES about how Sensata is geared to meet that evolution and to capitalise on it. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to introduce your company… Read more »
Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, today announced that it joins the Solliance CIGS Research program. It has entered into a 3-year agreement to participate in this alliance that focuses on developing new solutions for solar modules. DSM is already developing proprietary innovative materials for the solar industry to increase module… Read more »
• Comprehensive programme covers entire scope of innovations in Photovoltaic technologies, applications, markets and policies • Programme benefits from extensive experiences in PV system operations in Europe • EU PVSEC 2014 confirms its global relevance Munich, 02 June 2014 – With 1,500 presentations from 71 countries, the 29th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition… Read more »
German Solar Industry Association and Intersolar Europe publish a comprehensive guide for international PV business models for investors and policy makers / Special fair price offered at Intersolar Europe 2014 Berlin/Munich, June 5, 2014 – Due to continuing decreases in solar electricity production costs, as well as increasing deregulation for energy producers and rising electricity… Read more »
Regular contributors to PES, Gantner Instruments Environment Solutions GmbH have had a very busy 12 months. Phenomenal growth in the UK has been at the heart of this success, but there are strategic plans in place to capitalise in the long term. We talk to Jörg Scholz. PES: Welcome back to PES. How has the… Read more »
A subsidiary of the family-owned AUMA-Group, with headquarters in Müllheim, Germany, GFC (GFC AntriebsSysteme GmbH) is a world leader when it comes to drive solutions. We spoke to Peter Heise about the company’s illustrious past, its exciting present and its very promising future. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to introduce your company and… Read more »
Although a relative newcomer to the PV market, Hirschmann Renewable Energy is one of the industry’s shining lights. And with expansion into new markets and product rollouts planned for the near future, it looks set to consolidate its early successes. We catch up with the company’s Günter Arens… PES: Welcome back to PES. How has… Read more »
With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry and its partners. The show’s objective is to increase the share of solar power in the energy supply, and by providing first-rate services, it endeavours to bring businesses, technologies and people from the most important markets around the globe together…. Read more »
While there’s no doubt that module prices have declined in recent years, business is booming for innovative suppliers elsewhere in the PV marketplace. We spoke to Michael Jurchen, founder and CEO of the hugely successful (and highly resourceful) Jurchen Technology GmbH. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you like to introduce your company and explain a… Read more »
Solar power has won. Or at least – if its current trajectory continues – it will begin usurping oil as the energy source of choice within a few short years. But will the current trajectory continue? And surely oil isn’t going to go down without a fight, is it? PES investigates. Solar power has won… Read more »
We’re once again joined by the CEO of MBJ Solutions, Dr. Michael Fuß. A long-serving industry expert working at the heart of innovation both at home in Germany and further afield, he tells us how MBJ Solutions is performing and offers us his take on the sector. PES: Welcome back to PES. How has business… Read more »
A new idea for how to compensate quickly and flexibly for fluctuations in the low-voltage network has emerged from Germany and Switzerland. Two years ago, German magazine bild der wissenschaft named the energy thriller Blackout – Morgen ist es zu spät (Blackout – Tomorrow Is Too Late) the most exciting science book of the year…. Read more »
Australia to pilot new power plan One of the largest solar companies in the world has chosen Australia as the proving ground for a new model of power production that promises to give householders more control – and cut bills.‘What do you do when the sun doesn’t shine?’ It’s been one of the criticisms levelled… Read more »
Munich, Germany and Hod Hasharon, Israel, June 3, 2014 – SolarEdge Technologies, a global leader in power optimizers, PV inverters, and module-level monitoring services, is unveiling an expanded product portfolio. On display for the first time during Intersolar Europe in Munich, SolarEdge will showcase its smart energy management solution which reduces electricity costs by maximizing… Read more »
– Sunny Health Co., Ltd, JFE Engineering Corporation and Hanwha Q CELLS Japan team up to build solar power plant on abandoned golf course – “Sunny Fukushima” central power plant to be equipped with 105,000 Q.PRO-G3 solar modules – Leading example for the energy turnaround in Japan [Tokyo, Japan, Thalheim, Germany, 3 June 2014] –… Read more »
DEK Solar is pleased to announce a fantastic start to the recent International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference and Exhibition (SNEC) in Shanghai, China. On the first day of the show, leading solar manufacturer Nice Sun PV Co., Ltd. purchased several DEK Solar Apollo metallization platforms to integrate into its existing DEK Solar PV 1200 lines…. Read more »
Cincinnati, OH, USA and Cologne, Germany, June 3rd, 2014 – RBI Solar today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Renusol GmbH, one of the PV industry’s leading solar mounting specialists for residential and commercial projects in Europe and in the US. Renusol is 100% owned by Centrosolar Group AG. The acquisition includes… Read more »
As costs fall, the importance of solar power to senior executives is rising. Is there a downside to the continued ascent of our industry? The shifting sands of the global economy might suggest so… The economics of solar power are improving. It is a far more cost-competitive power source today than it was in the… Read more »
One significant news story that has almost gone unnoticed relates to India’s likely emergence as a global leader in solar power. A new World Bank report positions the country as the potential global leader in solar power and as one of the lowest cost destinations. PES investigates… The World Bank report ‘Paving the way for… Read more »
About the companyE3/DC is one of the top three energy storage system suppliers in Germany (EuPD 2013) and has brought 850 systems in private households since 2012. The products offered are inverters, energy management and remote control software. Integrated in various types of integrated storage systems, the units are used for solar, Cogeneration, grid services… Read more »
It’s not often that I begin an Editor’s Note by urging readers to ignore what I’m about to write, but I’m tempted to in this issue of PES. The fact is, our lead feature is a game-changer and if you read nothing else in this issue, then that’s where you should be heading. Right now…. Read more »
A PV-focussed company that is attracting significant awareness outside the industry – thanks to its innovative solutions and recently announced Innovation Partnership with the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One team – FLIR is a shining light in the sector. We spoke to Ruud Heijsman. PES: Welcome back to PES. Would you like to begin… Read more »
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE are working on a new generation of multi-junction solar cells in an industrial project with the French firm Soitec. These have the potential in the future to attain efficiency levels of over 47 per cent under concentrated sunlight. PES takes a look… A bright summer’s… Read more »
PES presents an illuminating despatch from Fronius International GmbH that explores the challenges presented by Smart Grids and how these challenges can be met with integrated inverters. As the number of decentralised energy generators grows, also the need for an intelligent power grid rises. In the Smart Grid of the future, the parties of the… Read more »
• Martifer Solar has completed an 11 MW utility-scale PV plant in Ginasservis, France for Eco Delta, the project’s developer and operator • The project was built within only 10 weeks, which attests to the reliability and swift construction times of one of France’s leading EPC contractors • The PV plant will produce sufficient clean… Read more »
• International logistics company Katoen Natie counts on green energy Sulzemoos, Germany, 2 June 2014 / Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd, the Singapore based subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93), an international photovoltaic system integrator that is listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, has been commissioned to plan, deliver and build… Read more »
Augsburg / Frankfurt a. M., 02.06.2014 – meteocontrol GmbH, a leading vendor of professional remote monitoring for photovoltaic systems, has entered into an alliance with viasys, a global provider of security solutions, services and technology. The aim of the strategic alliance is to integrate the video portal from viasys into the Virtual Control Room (VCOM)… Read more »
Paris and Luxembourg 22nd May 2014 – Thomson and ASTAR EnR announce the agreement between the two companies to ensure the production and distribution of PV modules of the French brand in Asia. While the future of the European PV sector is instable, the directors of both companies define a production and sales structure for… Read more »