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[December 2011 Issue]
BUSINESS IN BRIEF
MARKET UPDATE
Solar Surprise: Portugal and New Jersey Please Investors Shot-Term
US$6 Billion Overspend Forces PV Equipment Suppliers to Adjust Strategies
Q4’11 PV Component Profits
China Solar Suppliers Launch New Strategies to Meet Challenges
German PV Market: Degression in Jan. 1, 2012 will be 15%
The Positive Energy Building, One of the Photovoltaic Industry’s Saviors
COVER STORY
The Untapped Gigantic Potential of Solar Rooftop Projects in India
In India, if a solar panel is installed on every possible roof, and used wisely with proper storage, the electricity bill will become zero and all withincomfortable zone of user. The rush has just begun.
- By J. P. Gupta
GLOBAL LEADERS IN PV
Oerlikon Solar: Thin-Film Innovator
CEO Helmut Frankenberger talks about Oerlikon Solar’s competitiveness and why the company believes in Micromorph thin-film silicon technology.
- By Jeanny H. Lim
GLOBAL MARKET REPORT
Thin-Film PV: Several Ways to Stand Out from the Competition
Many thin-film companies who were peviously lingering in the research and development or pilot phase have recently started production or are enhancing their output. Along with this development, the competition rises.
- By Patrick Jonas, Rob van Der Meulen
Launch of Feed-in Tafiff Raises Expectations for Japan’s PV Market
In response to the anticipated launch of the FiT scheme, multiple mega solar projects had been already reported before the ‘Renewable Energy Bill‘ was passed.
- By Naoko Lucy Abe
Czech PV Market in 2011 and Outlook for 2012
The Czech parliament is currently in the process of passing the new Act on Supported Sources of Electricity, which is scheduled to come into force as of January 1, 2013. But this bill contains a lot of mistakes and shortcomings.
- By Ales SpAcil
FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT
Solar Call: Q3 2011 M&A Recap
The slower growth and adverse market dynamics during the last twelve months have resulted in companies being shaken out of the market and continued consolidation through M&A.
- By Jack Calderon, Chaim Lubin
Bankability: The Ticket for Successful Solar Energy Project Business
Bankability is the key element for PV manufacturing to get financing from banks and financial institutions for large projects such as power plants, large commercial installations, and the project business in general.
- By Wolfgang Lange
CELL & MODULE
Encapsulation Opportunities for OPV and DSC
Novel encapsulation and substrate materials are the key to the long-term survival of Organic Photovoltaics (OPV) and Dye-Sensitized Cell (DSC) photovoltaics.
- By Cynthia Challener
Turning Buildings into Power Generators
Integrated into building, automotive and indoor products, dye solar cell has the ability to turn buildings and vehicles into efficient, aesthetic, and inexpensive power generators.
- By Sylvia Tulloch
Hot and Cold
Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation has recently introduced a new photovoltaic panel program to unite cool metal roofing and photovoltaic technology.
- By Patrick Lanning
PRODUCTION & INSPECTION
An Alternative PV Module Manufacturing Model
The traditional approach of establishing a comprehensive front- and back-end PV module production factory, where cells are made into finished modules, represents more risk than many worldwide companies are willing to accept in the current environment.
- By Ed Hurley, Eric Tobin
Ultrafast Laser Texturing for Enhanced Solar Cell Performance and Lower Cost
A company has recently demonstrated an alternative surface texturing technique using ultrafast lasers that offers advantages over the standard wet etching techniques.
- By Chris Vineis, Moran Levy-Finklshtein, James Carey, Greg Knight, Eckard Wefringhaus, Rudolf Harney
First Testing Standards for Solar Module Materials
The variation in quality and performance standards in solar module manufacturing is a growing issue in the industry.
- By Robin Kobren
A Partner for Solar
A large part of photovoltaic module production involves handling and processing of glass. Bystronic glass has contributed to the PV industry in the glass processing sector since 2007.
- By Stella Lee
POWER SYSTEM
Design Concept for a Transformerless Solar Inverter
This article provides some application support information for a transformerless single phase solar inverter based on the Vincotech power module.
- By Michael Frisch, Temesi ErnO
Micro-Inverter Is Rapidly Taking Share from String Inverters
Micro-Inverters are rapidly taking share from string inverters and there’s no longer any commercial or technical reason for people to install string inverters in residential and commercial rooftop applications.
- By Jeanny H. Lim
The Inverter of the Future
Lior Handelsman, VP of Product Strategy and Business Development and Co-Founder of SolarEdge Technologies, discusses major challenges facing inverter manufacturers in the unpredictable market and shares his thoughts about future inverters.
- By Jeanny H. Lim
CASE STUDIES
Innovation in Rooftop Solar
The BRC/SolarForm Canada PV project resulted from the use of an innovative solar system designed to maximize solar production on a physically constrained commercial rooftop.
- By Barbara Graham
The Gift of Solar Energy
Standard Solar installed the largest rooftop solar array in the state of Delaware for University of Delaware. Seeing the university’s solar program grow is, of cource, a very exciting experience.
- By Mike Sloan
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