Asian and Australasian countries are brimming with renewable energy resources that have never been fully exploited. Poor infrastructure is one of the main obstacles to development, says Stewart Taggart, but successful European models can provide a blueprint for the future. 26 August 2010
Joyce Laird examines the latest technology developments in CIGS thin-film solar cells, and picks out the key new players in the industry on both sides of the Atlantic. 16 August 2010
That is one of the questions asked by IMS Research as it looks at solar photovoltaic (PV) market trends for the second quarter (Q2) 2010. 12 August 2010
Solar (PV) surprised the market in 2009 with healthy growth and promising technical developments. Paula Mints reflects on a buoyant year and argues that the industry has a promising future as long as it lessens its reliance on incentives – and investors remain confident. 12 August 2010
The UK is perhaps not the first country one thinks of when talking about solar photovoltaic (PV), but the country has some great potential. Dr Serge Younes, Sustainability Services Director at WSP Environment & Energy, explores. 21 July 2010
Talking to Renewable Energy Focus at Intersolar, SCHOTT Solar CEO Dr Martin Heming said SCHOTT Solar managed to grow in both its concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) segments in 2009 despite the economic recession. He believes this is down to having a strong brand and high quality of products. 20 July 2010
Solar photovoltaic cells become less efficient as they get hotter, a decline that can be substantial on hot sunny days. Furthermore, solar PV is inefficient and some energy is ‘lost’ to the surrounding environment. What solar PV needs is a partner able to complement its strengths and compensate its deficiencies. Fortunately, such a partner exists – solar thermal. Now it seems the two are getting together in what could be a happy marriage. 15 July 2010
Part 2: Utility scale installations can cover anything from municipal distributed solar centres to complete plants with acres of solar farms for harvesting the sun's energy. Building the best structures and systems that offer the technology to back them up is critical to this area. Joyce Laird turns her attention to specific installations at the distributed/commercial scale, as well as the utility side of solar PV. 07 July 2010
Enecsys launched its solar photovoltaic (PV) micro-inverters at Intersolar Europe in Munich on 9-11 June 2010. Assistant Editor Kari Larsen spoke to CEO Paul Engle about the advantages and disadvantages of micro-inverters compared with string inverters. 23 June 2010
The period from 2010 to 2012 is shaping up to be one of significant transformation for the European solar photovoltaic (PV) industry as it confronts regulatory incentive revisions, expanding market development opportunities and scaling competition from better financed and more robust power players, says IHS Research. 15 June 2010
The German political establishment has agreed to substantially raise the target installation rate of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems from 1.1-1.7 GW per year in 2010 to 2.5 -3.5 GW per year. 02 June 2010
Despite the global financial crisis, the Australian solar power industry grew a phenomenal 366% in 2009. Driven by a rebate that enabled ‘free’ solar power systems to be sold, installations of grid connected solar power systems grew even eclipsed past-years’ 200% growth. Will Australia be able to repeat these figures in 2010, now that the Federal Government’s rebate has been substituted for a far less generous point-of-sale discount? 06 May 2010
EU Member States are currently preparing National Action Plans to detail how they will meet their renewable energy targets. 13 April 2010
Part 1: Cell manufacturers continue to drive down the cost of manufacturing and boost efficiency of their products. But it’s for nothing if installation costs and peripheral devices that harvest usable energy from the cells negate the manufacturing cost savings, and add to the price for the end user. Joyce Laird looks at what is being done on the user end to move PV closer to a universal reality – one that meets all demands at a reasonable cost. 12 April 2010
The new medium-voltage directive of the German Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW) demands that photovoltaic inverters no longer turn themselves off after a temporary blackout. Sputnik Engineering AG has adapted their SolarMax products accordingly. 12 April 2010
2010 was predicted by many to be the year that solar PV recovered some of the ground lost over the past 18 months after the industry’s well-documented problems. So how are things likely to play out? 08 April 2010
The race to build a better solar cell is looping through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory where new robots are fabricating thin-film cells and analysing glitches faster and with more precision than ever before. 07 April 2010
If anyone was in any doubt that the UAE’s Abu Dhabi is serious about its alternative energy credentials, think again. The richest Emirate's vision to look past its vast fossil fuel heritage and be seen as purveyors and thought leaders of a brave new world of sustainable living and renewable energy development is gaining momentum rapidly. David Hopwood visited Abu Dhabi and the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) to see for himself. 18 March 2010
There are many materials, techniques and technologies ready to announce their arrival on the solar PV scene. All will stretch the solar PV focus in some way. Some are very new and far-reaching, while others are focused on addressing immediate issues. But all are ready to be implemented within the next few months. Joyce Laird rounds up the ones to watch. 17 February 2010
Linde’s involvement in renewable energy stretches back 20 years, when Linde started its development of hydrogen as a fuel. Since then, the company has entered renewable energy areas such as biogas, biomass, wind, geothermal, solar photovoltaics (PV), solar thermal, and fuel cells. Here Renewable Energy Focus’ Steve Barrett and Kari Larsen talk to Alan Watkins, Head of Merchant and Packaged Gases, and Andreas Opfermann, Head of Innovation Management at Linde Gas. 11 February 2010
France has introduced new feed-in tariffs for 2010 with higher geothermal, biomass, and building integrated solar photovoltaic (BIPV) tariffs than in 2009. 11 February 2010
A new low-energy concept focusing on solar energy promises energy savings of up to 70 % in villas in the Gulf. 22 January 2010
There are many potential challenges for utilities that look to integrate a larger share of renewable power into their generation mix. But none is more significant than whether a utility has the strategic will. Don C. Smith spoke with Roger Duncan, General Manager of Austin Energy about why it is undertaking an aggressive increase in the percentage of renewable energy in its generating portfolio. 12 January 2010
Robin Priestley looks at whether the UK is finally getting its act together and adopting a feed-in tariff to rival that of countries like Germany... 23 December 2009
The Premier of Australia’s largest state, New South Wales, recently announced a gross feed-in tariff of AU$0.60/kWh for 7 years for solar power. 19 November 2009
In the first of a series of articles on advances in solar photovoltaic (PV), Joyce Laird looks at how innovation can create a profitable playing field in the solar PV marketplace. 13 November 2009
The Australian renewable energy industry faces a colossal threat of sudden extinction. Last week, the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) price dived to AU$23 after spending recent months hovering at AU$38. This is well below the AU$50/REC enjoyed only four months ago, and poses severe problems for the renewable energy industry, writes Warwick Johnston of SunWiz consulting. 30 October 2009
While there are applications that could benefit from energy harvesting using solar photovoltaics (PV), few manufacturers and designers have implemented solar charging solutions for portable product batteries. Steve Krausse thinks the time could be right. 21 October 2009
As an early convert to renewable energy as a business, the founder of Ernst & Young’s renewable energy, waste and cleantech unit - and originator of the Ernst & Young Country Attractiveness Indices - Jonathan Johns, looks at what the recession really means for renewables, and where we go from here. 13 October 2009
On the second day of EU PVSEC in Hamburg, Germany, last week, a panel debate on solar PV policy debate took place with representatives from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), the European Commission, the US Department of Energy (DoE), and representatives from France, Germany and the UK. 28 September 2009
This week India launched a major solar initiative - the National Solar Plan: Our India correspondent sets out the highlights. 07 August 2009
Solar energy is regarded as a green technology, but what happens to solar panels once they reach the end of their lifetime? Renewable Energy Focus' Kari Larsen investigates. 03 August 2009
It is important from a cost standpoint to check the quality of incoming wafers and cells before they reach the production process. For example, reducing the occurrence of micro cracks, which cause wafer and cell breakage during production can save money. Michael van Dooren, of test equipment manufacturer RUV Systems, explains. 01 August 2009
Talk to anyone and they'll tell you in principle they think solar energy is a good idea. But we haven't harnessed it for conversion to electricity utnil fairly recently and even today barriers still exist that -prevent solar energy entering the mainstream. But could solar mapping help bring the technology further into the public domain? 01 July 2009
Held in Munich from 27 May through 29 May, the Annual Intersolar tradeshow at 100,000 square metres and over 1400 exhibitors remains the standard for tradeshows in the global solar industry. 01 July 2009
The energy scene in Southern Africa is dominated by South Africa. While its coal-based electricity used to be cheap and reliable by world standards, the South African state utility recently ran out of reserve capacity – with blackouts resulting. In the second part of an article for Renewable Energy Focus, Dieter Holm, long-serving member of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), reports on renewed awareness of energy efficiency and renewable energy in South Africa. 16 June 2009
Large conventional and nuclear power stations have traditionally been the ‘big hitters’ of electrical power generation, with a few up to 4 GW. Wind, too, is beginning to muscle into the ‘Gigawatt-Plus’ club. George Marsh asks: How soon solar power could join the big hitters. 09 June 2009
The European building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) market is a niche market with great potential. Although the market takes up less than 5% of the total European solar photovoltaic (PV) market, there is considerable interest due to its high year-on-year growth and the increasing number of countries with supportive legislation for BIPV. Akhil Sivanandan, Research Analyst - Building Technologies - at Frost & Sullivan, reports. 06 May 2009
The challenge for Australia has always been to take clean energy inventions - such as those coming from the solar PV and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)/Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) sectors - to market, in a very large country, where most of the population lives in the southeast corner, and which has substantial reserves of coal. 14 April 2009
The UK's forthcoming transition to a low-carbon future has been much touted as a financial and environmental solution. However, it remains uncertain whether the UK has the appropriate skills to underpin a renewable energy revolution. Professor Peter Crossley, Director of the Joule Centre, examines the situation. 25 March 2009
At the first World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, early 2008, the agenda was dominated by fossil fuel companies seeking to paint themselves green – while maintaining the status quo with a few tweaks and some carbon capture and storage (CCS). Steve Sawyer returned for the second WFES in January 2009, and found the oil companies still there, but now competing with renewables for the spotlight. 01 March 2009
Solar PV was born of electronic parentage, so it's not surprising that the two camps have much in common. Because of this, solar PV has inherited a manufacturing route and infrastructure originally fashioned for electronics. But some in the PV industry argue that this heritage can be as much a hindrance as a help, discovers George Marsh. 01 March 2009
Dieter Holm, long-serving member of the international solar energy society (ISES) looks at the role renewable energies can play in combating climate change in Africa, and argues that the EEG (feed-in-tariff) legislation pioneered in Germany would be the perfect place to start. 28 February 2009
Looking to reduce dependence on imported energy and diversify the sources feeding the main power grid, Chile’s interest in harnessing renewable energies has grown significantly over the last year. A major conference in Santiago tackled the barriers to energy independence, reports Colin Bennett. 01 January 2009
The US congress finally voted to extend and enhance tax credits for some renewables, notably solar. But will this provide the boost that the residential sector in the USA has been waiting for? Mark Bolinger, Galen Barbose and Ryan Wiser, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, consider the implications of the legislation for existing incentives. 01 January 2009
Not only has the US extended the ITC (Federal Tax incentive) for 8 years and removed the utility exemption so that utilities can now participate, but other countries are taking their own significant steps to boost solar. Is the time right for the photovoltaic (PV) industry-with its technologies still a small part of the global energy mix- to show further dramatic growth? Or will the financial crisis prove difficult to ride out in the short term? 01 January 2009
Better known internationally for its mountain parks and vast tracts of oil sands, Alberta may also soon emerge as the most progressive province for solar development in Canada – a country lagging in development of this technology. 04 December 2008
For those that missed the photovoltaic (PV) industry's biggest event of the year in Valencia, Spain, Paula Mints offers a review of the event's major talking points… 01 December 2008
Dye-sensitised cells (DSCS) have emerged alongside organic solar photovoltaics (PV) as a technology that might just transform solar energy prospects by delivering cheap "commodity" PV. George Marsh investigates. 01 October 2008
US states need a coherent action plan in order to develop solar PV markets fully, especially if they are able to match the growth markets in Europe. The Clean Energy Group recently released a report aimed at bringing solar PV into the US mainstream. Mark Sinclair summarises the main findings, together with the best practice from some leading states. 01 October 2008
US, Washington State utility Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is combining solar PV and wind power at its grid-connected Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Kittitas County. Steven St. Clair, Manager, Renewable Assets at PSE, talks to renewable energy focus’ Kari Larsen about the project. 15 September 2008
In the March/April 2007 issue, Navigant's Paula Mints examined PV supply – i.e. who shipped what, where and how much in 2007. She now turns her attention to the demand side of the solar PV equation. 01 August 2008
Denmark is proud of its heritage when it comes to pushing forward the use of alternative energy solutions, and is all set to host the make or break un climate change conference (COP 15) in 2009. renewable energy focus assistant editor Kari Larsen saw some of the Danish projects for herself. 19 July 2008
Made of organic monomer and polymer (plastic) semiconductors – rather than the inorganic silicon semiconductors that are the photovoltaic (PV) mainstream of today – Organic PV (OPV) promises to radically reduce material and production costs, which should lead to cheaper systems. Does its current lack of efficiency really matter, or can OPV’s other virtues make it a viable alternative? 01 July 2008
This article looks introduces an interesting aspect of concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) technology, namely solar dishes. 01 July 2008
The high cost of crystalline silicon has kept system prices high, and given cheaper, thin-film materials an extra boost in the credibility stakes. This article from Indium Corporation looks at CIGS technology – namely the sustainable supply of indium and gallium that is so important to the technology. 01 July 2008
Q-Ccells has come a long way since it was founded in Germany in 1999. It started producing solar photovoltaic (PV) cells in 2001 with just 19 employees and within a decade, it has become the largest solar PV cell manufacturer in the world. Alice Hohler speaks to Q-Cell's CEO, Anton Milner. 01 June 2008
In a time when solar PV is characterised as being a prohibitively expensive alternative form of energy (subsidies notwithstanding) one application area that could make a real difference to perceptions is BIPV (Building Integrated PV). This application can effectively enable building owners to save on construction costs of new buildings while at the same time generate a portion of their own electricity. Further progress requires a high level of innovation to truly bring solar PV into buildings, while making the technology even more affordable. Fortunately, there are signs that such inventiveness is now making a difference. 01 June 2008
Twenty years ago, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the prospects for the economy of what was previously East Germany were bleak. but the federal states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt have emerged as Europe's prime solar industry region. The key to success has been Germany's feed-in tariff (FiT) legislation and well-coordinated efforts between Government departments, regions and industry. 01 June 2008
Despite having renewable resources that some countries can only dream of, Australia's antipathy towards the Kyoto Protocol- not to mention its vast sources of coal- have contrived to give it something of an image problem amongst clean energy investors. This has made it difficult for the country to be seen as financially viable when it comes to renewables investment. But with the new administration that has addressed the Kyoto question, could times be changing? Invest Victoria's Ben Foskett gives a perspective from the State of Victoria and ISES President Monica Oliphant reports back from Adelaide's Solar Cities 2008 Congress. 01 June 2008
In the first installment of a new column for renewable energy focus, Bill Eggertson introduces the issues surrounding carbon trading. 01 April 2008
Since playing a key role in propelling the PV world out of the shadows in the 1990s, where does Japan – as well as some other Asian countries – sit in the PV pecking order today? Paula Mints investigates. 01 February 2008
Many experts predict a transition toward solar power as a primary energy source in the future, but how can today's players overcome the significant hurdles ahead on the PV side? 01 February 2008
Concentrating Solar Power technology isn't new. But high-profile projects – like PS-10 in Spain and Nevada Solar I in the USA – have proven the technology's ability to generate considerable amounts of electricity, and crucially, engage the utilities. Many now believe that CSP's time is upon us. 01 February 2008
In the second part of a two-part column, Stefan Schmitz looks at how the issue of construction affects finance planning for PV projects. And how could the next generation of PV technology impact on project costs? John-Marc Bunce takes up the story. 01 December 2007
Despite a number of studies from organisations like the US' Center for Energy and Environmental Policy and the Florida Solar Energy Center - focused on using PV for emergency power - most US federal, state and local agencies have not integrated PV into disaster planning or emergency response infrastructure. Montana is a notable exception. 01 November 2007
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