The temptation, for any R&D driven company, is to occasionally cut back on the expenses and focus on income-generating services. But to do so in today’s accelerating market would be a backwards step, argues Klaus M. Schulte, Managing Director of respected industry PV-Engineering GmbH. We’re delighted to welcome him back to the magazine. PES: Welcome… Read more »
Category: Solar
Solar energy: expansion in high gear
Solar energy in 2015 is in an enviable position throughout much of the world. Companies in the business of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy employ more people than any other renewable energy market segment, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). While the industry as a whole is still growing, it is also seeing new… Read more »
Optimising megawatt-scale energy storage for large plants
Michael Lippert, Saft’s marketing manager for energy storage, describes how experience of managing megawatt-scale Li-ion energy storage systems (ESSs) in the field has led to the development of best practice in managing ESSs for large solar (and wind) plants. Photovoltaic (PV) solar and wind power plants are characterised by high variability and limited predictability caused… Read more »
Optimising energy performance with Big Data
A large number of geographically spread complex renewable projects, with demanding levels of performance, are a challenge to manage. Without a unique, flexible, high-performance and hardware agnostic energy management platform, it becomes almost impossible and is not likely to get any easier in the near future. In many parts of the world, governments will not… Read more »
PERC is hot. So think smart
It will not have escaped your attention that PERC is indeed setting the agenda right now. But to stay one step head, it’s worth ‘thinking smart, and choosing Spatial ALD’ argues SoLayTec’s Roger Görtzen in a typically passionate and well-considered piece. In recent years, the p-type standard Al-BSF cells have improved significantly, especially with new… Read more »
Up to code
Significant changes to the NEC 2014 will require system owners and developers to make new considerations in their PV design and deployment. PES speaks to Natalie Holtgrefe, Head of Marketing at Solectria about how their products are providing the solution for the new specification. PES: Welcome to the magazine. Would you like to introduce the… Read more »
Maintaining standards
As one might imagine, the connection of inverters to a public grid system is subject to numerous compliance procedures and regulations. But how and why are these systems tested? Here, Peter Mock of Spitzenberger & Spies gives us the reasons and processes behind this crucial aspect of solar grid implementation. The “OK” for the connection… Read more »
Saving the power of the sun
A supplier and manufacturer of lithium battery storage systems, TESVOLT GmbH offers a flexible solution that stores the most of solar power. We took a closer look at the pioneering company and its innovative solutions… Reliable lithium battery systems (EES)Able to meet the needs of all users, from family homes to turnkey megawatt power plants,… Read more »
Will The Uks Solar Hopes End Too Soon
Jessica Laporte explores the impact of scaling back incentives in a country that has led from the front in recent years. Since 2010, Conservative discourse on renewable energy has firmly criticised the green add-on to utility bills as an unnecessary burden to the taxpayer. Tory ministers have highlighted the unanticipated success of the Feed-In Tariff… Read more »
Shedding Light On Solars Uncertainties
We’re delighted to welcome back Vaisala to the magazine, a company that – primarily through its 3TIER Services offering – sets the global agenda for on-site measurements and solar resource modelling. We spoke to the one of the company’s most-respected experts, Gwendalyn Bender. PES: Welcome to PES. For the benefit of our new readers, perhaps… Read more »
Fire Risks On The Roof And In The Cellar And How To Avoid Them
The PV industry is perhaps more safety conscious than ever before, with an increasing focus on standards, quality of work and H&S. But what of the risks presented by fire? We take a look at the advances being made by Weiss Umwelttechnik GmbH. In the course of the energy transition, a fifth of the total… Read more »
Racing ahead in the solar market
As perhaps one of the world’s best known and biggest solar brands, Yingli Solar has set an agenda built on quality and changing the perception of the industry. We spoke to Angie Koh, Managing Director Yingli Green Energy Singapore Company Pte. Limited. PES: Welcome to PES. Would you care to introduce yourself to our readers… Read more »
Solar Log Smashes Through The 10 Gwp Level
The specialist for photovoltaic (PV) energy management systems, Solare Datensysteme GmbH, will start 2015 with a new chief executive officer. Binsdorf (Germany), 2 September 2015: With over 234,000 monitored PV plants, Solar-LogTM is the worldwide leader in the sector of inverter-independent PV monitoring systems. The 234,000 PV plants have now reached an installed power capacity… Read more »
PROINSO PV RACK to launch in South Africa
-PROINSO has announced details of a new roof top product designed to meet the distinct market challenges of South Africa- One of the largest integrator and distributor companies of solar components in the world, PROINSO is set to strengthen its presence and penetration in the South African photovoltaic market with the launch of PROINSO PV RACK. Drawing on a heritage of over… Read more »
Cronimet / THEnergy study: In solar for mines size does not always matter
Munich, September 2015. Mining companies are constantly gaining interest in solar solutions because frequently solar energy is more cost competitive than conventional energy solutions – above all in remote locations that are not grid connected. CRONIMET Mining Power Solutions GmbH (“CRMPS”) has built a first solar-diesel-hybrid power plant in the MW-scale at CRONIMET Chrome SA… Read more »
Argon recycling offers per wafer cost reduction opportunity
Dr Rob Grant FRSC founded GR2L with the objective of commercialising chemical looping combustion technology into the gas purification market. Here, he gives us an insight into the untapped potential of argon recycling. In the production of silicon wafers to be fabricated into solar cells and micro-electronic devices high purity argon (better than 99.999%) is… Read more »
Taking solar asset management seriously
The solar market has been growing at breakneck speed and the predictions for the future are getting growing bolder by the day. However, today it is not just the project developers, hardware manufacturers, EPCs and banks and who are keeping busy supporting the solar industry’s growth… As the global installed base for solar is expected… Read more »
Putting investment to the test
Solar energy is key to the UK’s energy future but solar farms also need to pass a “high quality” test demanded by investors, banks and funds. What are the key legal questions investors and funders need to consider when investing in UK solar? The rate of deployment of ground-mounted solar in the UK has been… Read more »
UK leads the way
The UK is currently Europe’s largest solar market, with capacity at the end of March standing at just over 5.7GW. This has all been achieved against the backdrop of a changing and challenging regulatory environment. Alessandro Ceschiat of SunEdison Europe discusses how the industry can build on this remarkable achievement. During one day in June,… Read more »
A platform for innovation
This year’s European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC 2015) will be taking place in mid-September at the Congress Center (CCH) in Hamburg, Germany. PV experts will meet to discuss new concepts, trends and developments in science and industry, as photovoltaic solar energy becomes a major electricity source on the world stage. We… Read more »
If Its Happening In Solar
…it’s happening at Solar Power International. SPI, ranked as the largest solar trade show in North America, will be held during September 2015 in California, USA. Offering 100+ educational offerings – including learning opportunities right on the show floor – to the hundreds of exhibitors in the expo hall, and showcasing new products and technology,… Read more »
The decentralized energy revolution in Germany
Germany has embarked on a journey to fundamentally transform its energy supply system: the energy turnaround, or “Energiewende” as it is known. But the country that kick-started the PV movement around a decade ago has since been superseded by even more ambitious nations. So can Germany become a game-changer once more? Between 1990 and 2014,… Read more »
Large-scale storage system for green, fast, vehicle charging
We head to DMG MORI’s global headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, to discover more about the company’s pioneering car charging system and its impact on energy efficiency. It is a widely discussed fact that electric vehicles only drive CO2 neutral when running on green power. Therefore an accessible charging infrastructure based on green energy is essential… Read more »
Silicone under the spotlight
Because they can withstand extreme environmental conditions, silicones are ideal for solar panel and photovoltaic (PV) applications. And while solar cells themselves are made of silicon, silicones are used during module assembly and installation as encapsulants, coatings, potting agents, adhesives and sealants. We present an overview and an interview, courtesy of Dow Corning. Dow Corning’s… Read more »
Delivering a brighter future!
It is estimated that by 2050, the world’s population will exceed nine billion. All these people will need access to sustainable sources of energy, materials, and food. To provide the amount of energy required, we will have little choice but to drastically increase the amount of renewable energy we generate. The Netherlands-based multinational Royal DSM… Read more »
Gcube Insures 146mw Chilean Solar Plant Project
Specialist renewable energy insurer covers construction of flagship Latin American PV project London, 2nd September 2015 – GCube Underwriting Limited (GCube), the leading underwriter for renewable energy initiatives worldwide, has signed a 3 year contract to cover the project company in charge of the construction and operational phases of one of Chile’s largest solar photovoltaic… Read more »
Nextronex Inverter System Selected for 100 kW Carport at Veterans Administration in Guam
September 2, 2015, Holland, Ohio – Nextronex, Inc. is pleased to announce that its RayMax inverter system has been selected for a 100 kW carport at the Veterans Administration in Guam. The carport is currently under construction, and will be placed in operation later this year. Venergy Group, LLC of Ft. Pierce, Florida is a… Read more »
SaCaSol 1C/1D 23 MWp PV Power Plants Commissioned
August 31, 2015: Syntegra Solar announced today, that the company as the Owners Engineer for San Carlos Solar Energy Inc., was instrumental in the successful installation of the SaCaSol 1C/1D PV Power Plants in August 2015. The overall 23 MWp PV Power Plant project was commissioned on-budget and met the SaCaSol schedule on-time; the installation… Read more »
Meyer Burger’s Technology and Product Centre in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Roth & Rau AG, renamed Meyer Burger (Germany) AG
At the annual shareholders meeting of Roth & Rau AG, shareholders approved the proposal to rename Roth & Rau to Meyer Burger (Germany) AG. The renaming strengthens the Meyer Burger corporate brand presence and further streamlines internal collaboration and processes. As part of the ongoing focussing of its core competencies, Meyer Burger (Germany) AG will… Read more »
Grupo Clavijo Will Attend Solar Power International 2015 With An Innovative And Advanced Single-axis Tracker
he Spanish firm Grupo Clavijo, a world leader in photovoltaic solar structures and trackers, will be present at Solar Power International 2015 (Anaheim, California, USA) to introduce its new single-axis tracker (SP160), the work of its R&D&I team. The SP160 tracker represents the optimization of Grupo Clavijo’s single-row tracking technology. While maintaining an excellent quality… Read more »
EMS to Show Its New Conductive Adhesive & Multi Bus Bar Solar Modules at EU PVSEC
DELAWARE, OH – September 2015 – Engineered Material Systems, Inc. (EMS), a leading global supplier of conductive interconnect materials for photovoltaic applications, will showcase its 561-403 Conductive Adhesive at the EU PVSEC show, scheduled to take place September 15-17, 2015 in Hamburg, Germany. EMS 561-403 is a snap cure, low cost conductive adhesive designed for… Read more »
Proinso UK receives Solar Industry Award nomination
One of the largest integrator and distributor companies of solar components in the world, PROINSO, has been shortlisted for a prestigious global solar award. Established in 2009, the Solar Industry Awards recognise innovative manufacturing and product approaches that have the potential to change the way we live. PROINSO, the only UK company to feature on… Read more »
Phoenix Solar AG to build 6.9 MWp power plant in Turkey
First Phoenix Solar utility-scale project in Turkey Construction work to commence this month Joint project with strategic partner Asunim Sulzemoos, August 18, 2015 / Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93), a leading international photovoltaic system integrator listed in Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and its partner Asunim Yenilenebilir Enerji Teknolojileri İnş. Müh. San. Tic…. Read more »
Aquila Capital expands its photovoltaic portfolio in the UK
London, August 2015. Aquila Capital, one of Europe’s leading independent alternative asset managers, today announces that it has purchased an additional photovoltaic park in the UK for an undisclosed sum. The plant is located close to Sheffield and has an installed capacity of 9.8 MWp. The transaction increases Aquila Capital’s extensive track record in photovoltaic… Read more »
Meyer Burger Technology Ltd Results First Half Year 2015
Incoming orders CHF 222.6 million; +42% compared to H1 2014 Net sales at constant exchange rates at previous year’s level (+0.4%); in Swiss Francs CHF 124.4 million compared to CHF 129.0 million in H1 2014 EBITDA improved to CHF -32.7 million after CHF -55.2 million in H1 2014 Operating cash flow substantially improved to CHF… Read more »
centrotherm reports on H1 2015
· Group achieves EUR 86.0 million of consolidated revenue· Positive EBIT of EUR 10.6 million after extraordinary items· New order intake lower than expected· FY 2015 targets still achievable Blaubeuren, August 13, 2015 – The centrotherm photovoltaics Group has realized total revenue of EUR 86.0 million during the first half of 2015, compared with EUR… Read more »