As CEO of Site Facility, Jacob HeskjÊr is in charge of a bold vision that sees the company rolling-out camp facility solutions worldwide. And if that means finding a nearby site – complete with water and power – in the Arctic Circle, so be it. PES: It’s good to see Site Facility in the magazine… Read more »
As one of the world’s biggest MPP (multi-purpose) shipping companies, Thorco Shipping takes a keen interest and invests heavily in the wind industry. We caught up with the organisation’s CEO, Thomas Mikkelsen, to find out more about the current operations and future plans. PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Would you like to take this opportunity… Read more »
PES takes a look at the current state of renewable energy rollout, considers wind energy’s increasing role, and discovers what’s in store for the next few years. Since 2010, more than a quarter of a trillion dollars have been invested annually in renewable energy, energy efficiency and supporting technologies. Global investment in clean energy… Read more »
For U.S. wind power, the last 12 months was both the best of times and the worst of times. That’s the conclusion from the new Wind Technologies Market Report recently released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and prepared by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). We take a look at the latest trends… Read more »
It’s a curious contradiction that, while wind is a renewable, non-fossil fuelled, energy source, some global wildlife organisations have put up massive resistance to its expansion. Refreshingly, the industry has finally received a vote of confidence from a major body – the National Wildlife Federation. We take a look at their recently-published recommendations about making… Read more »
The Global Wind Energy Council has recently identified the key commercial battlegrounds where wind power can make gains in the next four years. We present an exclusive look at their global findings, together with a special focus on offshore. On the whole, the market diversification trend which has emerged over the past several years intensified… Read more »
When it comes to the cutting edge of solar innovation, Building Integrated Photovoltatics (BIPV) tends to lead the way. Alex Savidis, Applications Manager of Solar Capture Technologies explores the latest technologies – and crucially, materials – being used. You could be forgiven for thinking that all solar panels have to be flat, rectangular, and made… Read more »
Even in challenging market conditions, Germany’s Solare Datensysteme GmbH (SDS) has maintained its leading role as a provider of PV monitoring and energy management solutions. Guy Thouin, Managing Partner from SDS, lets us in on the company’s business strategy and explains what exciting new devices we might see in the near future. PES: Welcome to… Read more »
Solayer reduces deposition costs in TF PV production with its redesigned magnetron SOL.MAG and improved film quality with extended homogeneous coating width. PES investigates… The tough economic situation within the thin-film PV industry, but in general within the photovoltaic panel production sector, is constantly pushing manufacturers to reduce costs while trying to improve the quality… Read more »
Using battery energy storage systems in local PV installations and testing the performance of the connected solar inverters. A discussion, courtesy of Spitzenberger & Spies GmbH & Co. KG. The longstanding problem when using photovoltaic energy harvesting is the night, when no energy production is available. Yet, several ways are currently being discussed to supply… Read more »
While regular readers will be well acquainted with Upsolar products and services, the thinking behind the company’s expansion strategy has always remained behind closed doors – until now. We speak exclusively to Roy Li, Managing Director of Asia Pacific, and Ioannis Markatatos, General Director of Turkey and Greece, to find out more about the organisation’s… Read more »
An often overlooked aspect of the PV sector, module theft is becoming increasingly common – particularly in rural or remote areas. We spoke to Oliver Strecke, Managing Director of monitoring company Viamon, to discover what can be done to counter the problem. PES: Welcome to PES magazine. Would you like to take this opportunity to… Read more »
VON ARDENNE develops and manufactures advanced vacuum coating equipment for the deposition of ultra-thin functional layers on materials such as glass, metal strip, wafers and polymer films. In this article, we take an exclusive look at the company and its latest product, XEA|nova – set to be introduced at this year’s Intersolar Europe. The German… Read more »
A resources solution that has been successfully deployed on a number of closed sites in Germany, solar farms located on waste sites could offer the ultimate win/win for renewable energy generation.Words: Adrian Lea, Technical Director, Wardell Armstrong With soaring energy prices, challenging emissions targets and the demand for greater security of supply, any imaginative and… Read more »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
seebaWIND’s CEO, Holger Hämel, is an expert commentator on the cost-effective operation of wind power plants in Germany. In this latest dispatch, he offers PES readers an invaluable perspective on the market’s various trends and challenges. As the REL 2.0 goes into effect, the remuneration rates for wind power plants will be significantly reduced starting… Read more »