On the back of the latest round of Feed-in Tariff cuts, we take a look at the continent’s complex relationship with subsidies and consider if the industry can survive without governmental assistance – and where we can all find hope… The last 12 months could well be described as solar’s year of living dangerously. Our… Read more »
The latest solar technologies, applications and market insights will be at Intersolar Europe 2012. PES takes a look… Intersolar Europe, the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry opens its doors from June 13-15, 2012. This year offers 170.000 square meters in 15 exhibition halls and an outdoor area at the exhibition grounds of “Messe… Read more »
OMT have brought over 12 years’ experience in the field of optical metrology to PV. Using their expertise and innovative products, OMT has found success in a number of markets, and have plans to expand even further. Dr. Matthias Eberhardt speaks to PES about their involvement in thin film and the wider PV industry. PES:… Read more »
Regular contributors to PES, Grenzebach are perhaps one of the most recognisable companies in the European sector, if not the world. We’re pleased to welcome Martin Sträb, CSO/CMO of the Grenzebach Group, to the magazine for the first time for a wide-ranging and illuminating discussion. PES: Let’s begin by taking a look at 2012. What… Read more »
After two years at the top, Germany is this year likely to lose its place as the world’s top PV solar market, slipping to No. 2 behind former runner-up Italy, whose incentives-driven climb to the top of Europe’s PV table heralds a major success for the country. Italy’s booming solar power market is expected to… Read more »
Micro inverters, installed on the rack at the back of each solar module, offer a unique and excellent value proposition compared to conventional string or central inverters. And it seems as though the industry at large is finally convinced by the technology. We spoke to Ajay Malhotra, VP Worldwide Marketing and Product Management for Enecsys,… Read more »
PV might be a relatively young industry, but it is the skills and knowledge being brought by those in other markets that is helping drive the market forward. Günter Arens of Hirschmann Automotive speaks to PES about how they are bringing decades of experience to their new ventures. PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Can you… Read more »
Chris Hellwig, Product Manager for Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH, explains how imaging your in-line metrology equipment gives you the results you would expect from laboratory instruments, without the need for time-consuming alignment… Since the mid-90s, Carl Zeiss has constantly aspired to lab-like accuracy in in-line applications. We achieved the same tolerances expected from a laboratory… Read more »
SoLayTec, Manager Marketing and Sales, Roger GörtzenIn the 1980s, when solar cell production was not as substantial as it is today, titanium dioxide (TiOx) was the anti-reflection coating (ARC), a layer that could easily be deposited by atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (APCVD). This type of deposition was simple and cheap, but it did not… Read more »
Exactly how successful property owners will be in maximising the benefits of solar power will largely depend on decisions made during the installation process. The gulf between a good and a bad installation is vast, and can dramatically affect the efficiency of the panels, and as a result how much power is generated. In this… Read more »
Stéphane Carpentier, Market Management Coating for Pfeiffer Vacuum joins PES for an interview that highlights the company’s dedication to the very highest levels of service and quality. For more than 120 years, Pfeiffer has been setting standards in vacuum technology with these attributes, and it looks set to continue on this admirable course for a… Read more »
Customer needs are continually evolving and business requirements are forever changing. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the renewable energy industry. While the technology continues to become less expensive and more efficient, feed-in tariffs and government incentives have become even less predictable. And with the European Union’s and Japan’s complaint over Ontario’s domestic content… Read more »
In January of 2012, Upsolar launched its technology division to offer testing, consulting and inspection services to other PV companies. Here, the company’s Deputy General Manager of the Technology Division, Natasha Lee, discusses her vision for the new division and how Upsolar’s technical capabilities will realise benefits across the industry. PES: Welcome back to the… Read more »
Before photovoltaic (PV) systems can be connected to the power grid they must pass a comprehensive certification process. Time and again important documents are missing, causing delays in the certification process. What aspects are important for the owners of PV systems and units to ensure grid connection compatibility? PV systems adding up to a total… Read more »
PES is proud to welcome Professor Patrick Gougeon, Director of the Research Centre for Energy Management and UK Director of ESCP Europe Business School. In this illuminating interview, he discusses the Chinese influence, Europe’s booming market, and much more. PES: With PV farms ‘springing up’ across the world, do you have any concerns that proper… Read more »
According to the latest figures released by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, PV markets saw record growth in 2011, but the industry faces short-term challenges… PV electricity continued its remarkable growth trend in 2011, even in the midst of a financial and economic crisis and even as the PV industry was enduring a period of… Read more »
Intersolar Europe and the Intersolar Europe Conference shed light on the solar markets of the future Munich, May 29, 2012 – As in many global markets, solar energy is on the rise in coun-tries across the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). This has pushed economic developments ahead of policy developments: While some countries… Read more »
Thursday, March 29th, 2012 Conergy was joined by the Mayor of Grimmen and the private investor from Northern Germany for the opening of the 8 megawatt solar power plant in Grimmen near Stralsund. With a symbolic push of the red button, one of the largest solar parks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was officially connected to the grid,… Read more »
Together with ELCO Contracting & Services, the solar power company SOLON will be building two turnkey solar power plants in Israel. They will be built in the kibbutzim Kramim and Idan and have an output of 5 and 3 megawatts respectively. The customer is the project developer Enlight Renewables Ltd. with headquarters in Rosh Ha’Ayin… Read more »
SolarEdge Technologies announced today that it will introduce its next generation power optimizer featuring the new “IndOP” technology. Unlike other power optimizers on the market, the new SolarEdge power optimizer can be installed without the need for additional interface hardware and can operate directly with any inverter. This patent pending technology removes interface hardware as… Read more »
Feasibility, planning, and monitoring of photovoltaic power generation in China is now supported by state-of-the-art solar and meteo database, maps, and simulation tools. GeoModel Solar, a leading international provider of solar resource data, innovative photovoltaic simulation tools and expert consultancy, extended the geographical coverage of the SolarGIS solar resource database and online services to the… Read more »
First Intersolar South America Summit launches as a conference event on Au-gust 15, 2012 in São Paulo. São Paulo/Munich, May 22, 2012 – As the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar industry, Intersolar opens up the most important solar markets across the globe through its exhibitions and conferences. For the first time, the organizers… Read more »
New wet-chemical tool based on display know-how to step up integration of crystalline PV production process Reutlingen/Shanghai, 21 May, 2012. Hightech-Engineering firm Manz AG introduced new equipment for wet-chemical processing of crystalline silicon solar cells at SNEC 2012 fair. Purpose of the tool named IPSG CEI 4800 is to remove the highly doped layer from… Read more »
Market and technology leader for distributed solar power optimization continues its successful growth Hod Hasharon, Israel, May 21, 2012. SolarEdge Technologies, a leading global provider of end-to-end solar power optimization systems and monitoring solutions, announced today the milestone of one million power optimizers shipped worldwide. SolarEdge established the market for distributed solar power optimization and… Read more »
For the fifth time since the AWARD was launched, Intersolar Europe unveils the nominees for the solar industry innovation prize Munich, May 21, 2012 – On June 13, the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry honors the innovative strength of the industry for the fifth year running by presenting the Intersolar AWARD for pioneering… Read more »
Madico Inc., PV Backsheet manufacturer, announces that Enlog LLC, Photovoltaic Industry sales company, has signed an agreement to represent the Madico Photovoltaic Backsheet Division in the territories of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. On April 30th , 2012 Madico received the final, signed agreement for representation of the Madico Backsheet products by Enlog LLC, a worldwide… Read more »
Founder Dieter Manz highlights proximity to Asian customers on the eve of SNEC fair 2012 Reutlingen/Suzhou, 15 May, 2012. Hightech-engineering company Manz AG held the grand opening of its new production facility in Suzhou, two hours west of Shanghai, today. In the new fab Manz will produce manufacturing equipment for the photovoltaics and the flat-panel… Read more »
The Digital Photonics Corporation (DPC) (www.thinkfly.com.tw) announces the global launch of the SolarJetTM printer for selective emitter application of solar front contacts (c-Si). The SolarJet printer greatly simplifies offline process feasibility by making it possible for labs to quickly, accurately and cost-effectively gauge real world performance benefits before making larger in-line investments. Once feasibility is… Read more »
GP Solar presents the GP WIS 2.0 a fully-integrated complete quality control system for solar wafers at the leading Asian photovoltaics trade fair, SNEC 2012 PV Technology in Shanghai. The system’s central automation unit forms the basis for integrating all of the measuring systems necessary for modern wafer inspection. The unit’s 3-D roughness measuring system… Read more »
aleo solar AG (ISIN: DE000A0JM634) today announced that it generated revenue of EUR 74.6 million in the first three months of 2012. This means that aleo solar’s revenue decreased by 14.6% compared to the first quarter of 2011 (EUR 87.4 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) came in at EUR -8.2 million (EUR 2.0… Read more »
Merck will be presenting its latest material developments for the photovoltaics industry at the 6th International Photovoltaic Power Generation Exhibition and Conference (SNEC) from May 16 to 18, 2012 in Shanghai, China. At this largest Chinese solar trade fair, Merck will showcase its isishape®product line. The spotlight will be on the latest developments and concepts… Read more »
aleo solar AG will be presenting its advanced service package at Intersolar in Munich, the largest specialist trade fair for solar technology in the world, from 13 to 15 June. aleo solar offers its specialist dealers all-round support: From the technical and financial aspects of plant planning, sales and marketing, right through to insurance and… Read more »
High-tech engineering group Manz AG has strongly committed itself to one of the most promising PV markets in the world, India. The German cSi- and thin-film equipment specialist established itself on the subcontinent in two ways: it already has a seasoned client base and it has invested in an engineering education program to nurture local… Read more »
the new lightweight version of flat-roof mounting systems CentroPlan, a sister company of Centrosolar AG, has completed the installation of three photovoltaic roof systems on logistics centres in North Germany and on the Lower Rhine on behalf of an international logistics group, incorporating a total of 12,170 modules for a combined capacity of just under… Read more »
Saint-Gobain Solar announces that photovoltaic (PV) modules produced by Martifer Solar using SolarBond® InFrame on Saint-Gobain’s single-piece frames meet the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) standard for the safety performance of crystallline silicone (c-Si) terrestrial PV modules. This achievement assures the industry that SolarBond® InFrame provides the necessary adhesive durability for solar modules manufactured with single-piece… Read more »
Constance, 08-05-2012. GP Solar GmbH of Constance, Germany introduces an optimized version of the GP STAB-TEST .Pro. This laboratory measuring instrument was designed especially for the photovoltaics industry for the examination of solar wafers and cells. The system includes so-called “twist”and “4-point-bend” tests to determine why wafers break in production and avoid future breakage. The… Read more »