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 »
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 »
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 »
A byword for quality in the extrusion sector, Breyer GmbH is one of Germany’s most established and forward-thinking businesses. Today, the company is recognised throughout the world as one of the leading manufacturers of systems for the processing of thermoplastics and has specialised in economically working extrusion lines. With over 320 employees, Breyer produces an… Read more »
When a company operating within the solar sector expands from its heartland into new territories, there’s a steep learning curve and the faint threat of failure. On the other hand, there’s an overwhelming sense of opportunity. Olivier Jacques talks us through his organisation’s expansion into Europe, and the lessons he’s learned. In less than five… Read more »
Last year, 66,000 visitors from 160 countries and 1,909 exhibitors from 49 countries descended on to Intersolar Europe 2012 and firmly established the event as the biggest and best on the industry’s calendar. Can this year’s show deliver even more of an impact? PES investigates… From June 19-21, the international solar industry will once again… Read more »
Renewable energy sources have finally got the attention of the Polish government. With the package of energy regulations, including Renewable Energy Law, Energy Act and Gas Act, the country may form one of the most important new markets for solar just in the heart of Europe. PES investigates. Energy regulations packageUntil recently, the Polish government… Read more »
A sector of the solar market that is expected to grow from two to four gigawatts per year, CSP is currently enjoying an enviable boom. But it’s worth noting that the technology relies on a seemingly innocuous small part to work effectively, as Janaki Weiden, Global Market Manager, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, explains. The facts speak… Read more »
A worldwide brand with a formidable reputation, Diehl Controls has over 2,600 employees in the German headquarters of Wangen and Nuremberg and subsidiaries further afield (including China and the US). Outstanding engineering competence and a worldwide production volume of more than 80,000 electronic systems a day go towards building a company that is a manufacturing… Read more »
Key Collaboration to Spur Further Adoption of Solar to Meet Growing Energy Demands BAODING, China, June 5, 2013 – DuPont and Yingli Energy (China) Company Limited (Yingli China), a wholly owned subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (Yingli Green Energy), have signed a new one year, $100 million strategic agreement that includes the… Read more »
Narvik/Norway, 4th June 2013 – Innotech Solar AS the Norwegian specialist solar cell and PV module manufacturer with operations in Germany, Sweden and Hong Kong is pleased to announce that Jerry Stokes has joined the company as CEO effective 3rd June 2013. Jerry was formerly President of Suntech in Europe and will replace David Hogg… Read more »
Finalist at Intersolar AWARD 2013: Conergy’s grid parity project “Lasal del Varador” Hamburg / Madrid, 4 June 2013 – Conergy has hit the 1 megawatt mark in Spain with grid parity projects that are competitive without having to rely on any state subsidies whatsoever. In the autumn of 2012, Conergy broke new solar ground by… Read more »
aleo solar AG will be putting the spotlight on self-consumption of solar power at the Intersolar in Munich from June,19 to 21. Under the heading “energy experience”, the module producer and system supplier will be presenting solutions to make efficient use of solar power in the entire household. aleo solar will be showing its products… Read more »
PROINSO and ALECOP have signed a cooperation agreement to start e-learning activities in the PROINSO SOLAR TRAINING SCHOOL programme. This innovative action in the photovoltaic retail industry is targeted at the 2,360 Qualified Installers in PROINSO’s International Network, present in 70 countries in all five continents, who will have the chance to get online training…. Read more »
Group fully reorganized and fit for the future Blaubeuren/Ulm, June 3, 2013 – The Ulm District Court has approved the insolvency plan of centrotherm photovoltaics AG in the version dated January 29, 2013, and has terminated the insolvency proceedings with effect as of the end of May 31. These proceedings have been running since October… Read more »
At the 7th SNEC International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference & Exhibition from 14 – 16 May 2013, Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) highlighted its clear understanding of PV manufacturers’ requirements in the current solar market by showcasing both its cost reducing upgrade technologies for existing manufacturers as well as its industry leading… Read more »
ReneSola, the Chinese solar giant, has announced plans to expand its production facilities in regional markets around the world to serve its growing international client base. This initiative will significantly reduce the company’s transport costs while improving the availability of its locally produced products at a regional level. The company will highlight this strategy at… Read more »
Munich, May 27, 2013 – For the sixth year running, the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry, Intersolar Europe, is using the Intersolar AWARD to pay tribute to the industry’s innovative strength. The prize is awarded in the categories of Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technologies and Solar Projects in Europe. Exhibitors at Intersolar Europe as… Read more »
Together with its partners, TULiPPS Solar B.V. has developed its first fully functional prototypes of what is currently projected to be the world’s lightest building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar modules for pitched roofs and cladding applications. These modules have an area weight of 8.5 kg/m2 (1.7 lb/ft2), so a unit that is 180 by 85 cm… Read more »
The new three-phase SolarMax 6MT2 inverter optimizes the yields of small PV power plants, while the MT3-SV significantly reduces the system cost for decentralized large-scale power plants. Biel, May 28, 2013 – The successful range of SolarMax MT inverters the Swiss manufacturer Sputnik Engineering is extended with the three-phase 6MT2 inverter (6kW) offering the flexibility… Read more »
Against the background of a still weak market and political discussions SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES (SINGULUS) reports interesting projects talks at the solar trade Fair SNEC in Shanghai. In particular, solutions for the manufacturing of more efficient crystalline solar cells, the so-called PERC cells, were in the spotlight. For the upgrade of existing cell production lines only… Read more »
The DragonBack® measurement method for high efficiency solar modules, developed by Pasan SA, the competence centre for measurement technologies within the Meyer Burger Technology Group, sets new standards in PV measurement and has now been successfully approved by the Photovoltaik Institut Berlin AG. With the DragonBack® technology Meyer Burger is setting a further standard. Easily… Read more »
Bentek Solar, a leading designer and manufacturer of PV products connecting PV panels to inverters worldwide for the commercial and utility-scale marketplaces, announces that it has shipped more than 100MW of the new Breaker Universal Safety Systems (BUSS) since its recent March 2013 introduction. “The new Bentek BUSS is designed to work with almost any… Read more »