Despite a long list of thin-film company failures and retrenchments over the last few years, several start-ups continue to tout their technology offerings ahead of actual commercialisation.
First of all, congratulations to ReneSola for being included in Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s (BNEF) tiering system for PV module makers – joining the often used “Tier 1” category.
Only around 18 months ago media reports were claiming that Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) foray into the solar PV market was over. But despite the highly competitive market place that has generated an extended period of consolidation, bankruptcies and market exits, HHI is focused on growing its market presence.
California governor Jerry Brown got Intersolar North America off to a rousing start in San Francisco yesterday. Reporting from the event, Felicity Carus says recent hard times for solar in the US are not overshadowing a new mood of optimism for the industry.
Meyer Burger and LayTec have collaborated to produce the world’s first fully integrated EVA cross-linking metrology solution for PV module production lines.
Vienna-based Activ Solar is a PV manufacturer and international developer of utility-scale power stations. Speaking to Ben Willis at Intersolar Europe 2013, chief executive Kaveh Ertefai reveals how the company is keeping ahead in an increasingly competitive global market.
Designed for solar modules with cells for rear-side contacting, ‘AKACON BCF’ PV backsheet is being offered by the KREMPEL Group and is ready for volume production. The backsheet comes with a copper layer and is structured according to customer's design for back-contact cells.
Massachusetts' solar programme has been massively oversubscribed. Felicity Carus reports on how emergency measures to extend the programme have benefited the state.
It is hard to imagine any marketing scenario in which citing leading ranking metrics would be off the radar. But just think for one minute: when was the last time a PV equipment supplier announced leading ranking status with any fanfare? Or proclaimed a purchase order that would catapult revenues beyond fiscal year guided levels?
Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular tool in the US for raising capital for solar installations. Felicity Carus asks what all the hype is about.
