PV Insider - Concentrated PV

CPV Intelligence Brief 18 Sept. – 1 Oct. 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:13:58 +0000

Précis:

Soitec bags Fort Irwin deal

Companies mentioned include Soitec, U.S. Department of Defense's Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Fort Irwin, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Soitec, CEA-Leti, Helmholtz Center Berlin, Semprius, Solar Junction

CPV Intelligence Brief 18 Sept. – 1 Oct. 2013

Soitec bags Fort Irwin deal

Image:

Premium`:

Sink or swim: legislation’s impact on CPV

Jason Deign — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 06:51:53 +0000

Précis:

By rights, Spain should have been one of the world’s greatest CPV markets and Isofoton one of CPV’s greatest players. Clumsy legislation has put paid to both ambitions.

Times are tense at Isofoton, the Spanish PV manufacturer, as workers lodged a formal complaint with authorities over non-payment of wages. It was the tenth this year.

“We are asking to be paid on time or, if not, at least to be paid,” fumed Miguel Ruiz of the worker’s union in local paper La Opinión de Málaga. “Every time the company has paid us late we have filed a complaint.”

Image:

Premium`:

Interview with Markus Behn from SKF

Bea Gonzalez — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:47:04 +0000

Précis:

SKF is one of the leading global suppliers of bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems. It is a Swedish company which has been founded in 1907.

1. Please introduce SKF and the products you offer to the solar market.

Image:

Premium`:

Concentrated Photovoltaic industry set to gather in San Jose next week

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:16:42 +0000

Précis:

CPV USA 2013 opens its doors on 23-24 September in San Jose, California, where the industry will aim to find answers to its viability and commercialization challenges.

Led by leading CPV manufacturers speaking on the agenda, such as Soitec, Amonix, SunPower and Solaria, the conference is tackling cost reduction, reliability and balance of system issues that are critical to the industry’s progression.

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV Intelligence Brief 5 – 17 September 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:23:35 +0000

Précis:

Soitec launches 31.8% efficiency module

Companies and organisations mentioned: Soitec, International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) and Underwriters Laboratories, SolFocus

CPV Intelligence Brief 4 – 17 September 2013

Soitec launches 31.8% efficiency module

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Signs of progress for CPV, but momentum needs to be sustained

Ritesh Gupta — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 05:54:53 +0000

Précis:

The CPV sector has made significant strides in the first eight months or so of 2013. Be it for new efficiency records at both the cell and module-level, novel financing deals for construction of projects or showing signs of leaving the tag of a niche market, the industry is moving forward.

The CPV sector is making progress, with the market showing signs of developing from a niche market with a few MWs to a market for utility-scale solar power plants.

Soitec’s 44 MW project in Touwsrivier, South Africa exemplifies this trend. The power plant is under construction now. This development proves that the CPV industry is gaining momentum while at the same time – and like for all markets that get mature – there was market consolidation on the module and system supplier side.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Rawlemon: CPV for building integration

Jason Deign — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 01:50:11 +0000

Précis:

This November a CPV start-up will be at an awards ceremony alongside clean-tech heavyweights BrightSource and Tesla. Rawlemon’s Andre Broessel tells PV Insider why.

Gaining recognition for the merits of CPV is not easy right now. So how come a one-man start-up is going to be lining up alongside the solar thermal giant BrightSource and the electric vehicle Tesla for the chance of a coveted World Technology Award this November?

Image:

Premium`:

CPV Intelligence Brief 21 Aug – 3 Sept, 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:17:14 +0000

Précis:

Solar Junction, IQE make CPV breakthrough

Companies mentioned include Solar, Junction National Renewable Energy Laboratory, IQE, Amonix

CPV Intelligence Brief 21 Aug - 3 Sept, 2013

Solar Junction, IQE make CPV breakthrough

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Testing stronger component of CPV

Ritesh Gupta — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 03:24:08 +0000

Précis:

CPV companies acknowledge that standard tests are important so that the industry gains experience internalising the relative performance of the various PV technologies as they relate to each other. PV Insider’s Ritesh Gupta explores the maturity level of testing in the CPV sector.

Standardising the way that CPV systems are rated and evaluated is a necessary step for the maturation of the CPV industry.

There needs to be a consistent method of performance evaluation among CPV providers and the difference between CPV technology and other photovoltaic technologies must be transparent and easily understood to potential customers.

CPV companies do acknowledge the need for such differentiation. Take the case of Suncore Photovoltaics. The company highlights that it provides the only CPV system designed specifically for use on rooftops.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Record efficiencies pushing the business case for CPV

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 13:10:02 +0000

Précis:

Last week saw High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) manufacturer Amonix achieve a world record 35.9% PV module efficiency rating at NREL. In addition, cell manufacturer Solar Junction reached a 44.1% efficiency on their triple junction cell.

In their statement, Amonix Founder and CTO Vahan Garboushian explained that “This 35.9% IEC CSTC module efficiency is a direct comparison to PV module efficiencies, which are often reported at IEC standard test conditions.”

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV Intelligence Brief 6 – 19 August 2013

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 10:53:47 +0000

Précis:

Companies and organisations mentioned: Solar Junction, IQE, Amonix, Australian Solar Thermal Energy Association, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

IQE’s CPV materials qualified for high-volume production

Image:

Premium`:

Electrowetting: answer to cutting high tracker costs?

Heba Hashem — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:52:21 +0000

Précis:

Research studies at the University of North Texas claim that electrowetting-driven solar trackers can reduce capital costs by 50% and generate 70% more electricity via CPV. PV Insider investigates how this technique can be applied to CPV.

Solar trackers, a key component in conventional CPV systems, are typically heavy, expensive and unreliable mechanical moving parts that require a lot of operation power (as high as 300 W for SolFocus solar trackers). To overcome these challenges, an alternative, electrowetting-based self-tracking technology is under development, promising a potential breakthrough for the CPV sector.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Amonix Achieves World Record 35.9% Module Efficiency Rating at NREL

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:04:13 +0000

Précis:

Amonix Inc., the leading designer and manufacturer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems, announced today that it has achieved a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) efficiency rating of 35.9%

under recently adopted CPV IEC test conditions of 1000 W/m2 and 25°C cell temperature. Data for the rating was generated by an Amonix module under outdoor test at NREL from late February to April of this year.

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Technical innovation key for CPV industry progress

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 08:56:57 +0000

Précis:

With the development of high quality manufacturing and automation processes, the concentrated photovoltaic industry can continue commercializing.

Industry commentators have debated whether a drive towards streamlined automation and manufacturing processes compromises the key characteristic of the CPV industry to date, that of innovation and bespoke design.

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV: what chance of consolidation?

Jason Deign — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 04:36:30 +0000

Précis:

Any other industry going through the market constraints affecting CPV would be ripe for consolidation. But the prospect of takeovers is dim due to disparities in technology. What shape is CPV taking today for its future success?

Last year was an interesting one for thin-film PV. As orders slumped across the board, the Chinese energy giant Hanergy snapped up two leading manufacturers that had fallen upon hard times.

Its first thin-film business purchase came in June 2012 when it bought the copper indium gallium diselenide PV module-maker Solibro off Q-Cells, a former German solar giant that had filed for insolvency in April.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV viability key industry focus after positive spell

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 09:31:05 +0000

Précis:

Recent project announcements utilising concentrated photovoltaic technology show industry is tackling long-term feasibility questions.

Two major announcements marked a positive week for the concentrated photovoltaic industry last week, with SunPower LCPV technology selected for Apple’s 20MW Reno facility and the Mildura plant in Australia, using Solar Systems technology, connected to the grid.

Much of the emphasis for CPV companies of late has been on proving the viability of the technology through either product development or business strategy.

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

LCPV and HCPV reaching a draw?

Heba Hashem — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 03:42:17 +0000

Précis:

While LCPV producers strive to match the costs of their technology to flat-plate PV and reduce the amount of silicon used in panels, HCPV companies are looking for ways to drive down upfront costs brought about by the use of components such as dual-axis trackers and multi-junction cells.

By Heba Hashem

Attractiveness scale

Both LCPV and HCPV are finding their way into new markets, albeit in different applications. Last year, Soitec opened an HCPV manufacturing facility in San Diego, while Semprius launched its first HCPV production plant in North Carolina.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV Intelligence Brief 10 – 23 July 2013

Katherine Steiner Dicks — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 01:46:32 +0000

Précis:

Soitec completes California’s largest CPV plant

Companies mentioned: Soitec, Southern California Edison, Newberry Solar Project, Solar Systems, Silex Systems, Mildura Solar Demonstration Facility, Diamond Energy

CPV Intelligence Brief 10 – 23 July 2013

Soitec completes California’s largest CPV plant

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Cost reduction and supply chain key themes of CPV webinar

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:58:36 +0000

Précis:

Last month’s PV Insider webinar identified key challenges facing the concentrated photovoltaic industry, and is now available on-demand.

In a one hour session held in preparation for this year’s CPV USA 2013 conference (23-24 September, San Jose), Vahan Garboushian (CTO & Founder, Amonix) and Mike Mehawich (Senior Director, Product Management, Solaria) discussed the latest opportunities and viability of concentrated photovoltaic technology.

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV and automation: Grenzebach Maschinenbau

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 10:53:00 +0000

Précis:

PV Insider talks to Markus Gruber, Sales Director for Solar Technology and New Business at Grenzebach Maschinenbau about the importance of automation within the concentrated photovoltaic industry.

1. Firstly, please give an outline of your products for the CPV market.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV deployed in Australia critical for technology’s bankability

Bea Gonzalez — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 10:19:34 +0000

Précis:

Solar Systems have connected 1.5MW of concentrated photovoltaic technology to the grid in Australia, providing the industry with a boost in its battle for market acceptance.

Solar Systems (a wholly owned subsidiary of Silex Systems) confirmed last week that their Mildura facility has been connected to the grid and ready to demonstrate the commercial operation of their technology.
40 of the Australian company’s ‘Dense Array’ dish systems have been commissioned and are now generating enough electricity for around 500 homes, under the terms of a PPA signed with Diamond Energy last year.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

What will it take for utilities to love CPV?

Jason Deign — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:31:50 +0000

Précis:

Utilities are still wary of putting their cash into concentrated PV projects while crystalline silicon remains a cheaper and perhaps safer bet.

By Jason Deign

Last year’s PV Insider CPV World Map listed 35 operational high concentration PV plants in the US, plus 10 further pre-operational installations. Not bad for an emerging technology.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV Intelligence Brief 13 - 25 June 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 10:47:42 +0000

Précis:

Australia completes its largest CPV power station

Companies mentioned include Silex, Mildura CPV power station, Maxwell Technologies, Soitec, Sharp, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, University of Cape Town, Northlink College, Belectric Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco, Khaled Juffali Company

CPV Intelligence Brief 13 - 25 June 2013

Australia completes its largest CPV power station

Image:

Premium`:

Webinar to debate next steps of concentrated photovoltaic industry

Bea Gonzalez — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:43:37 +0000

Précis:

PV Insider confirm Amonix and Solaria to present on free online webinar covering CPV’s viability and prospects in 2013 and beyond.

The CPV industry has suffered mixed fortunes in the past twelve months. High profile exits such as the failure of GreenVolts overshadowed major developments including new efficiency records and project progress, such as Soitec’s 44MWp project in Touwsrivier, South Africa.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Why corporate venturing is a good match for CPV solar

Jason Deign — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:42:15 +0000

Précis:

With investments in solar drying up generally, CPV is particularly susceptible to funding challenges. But a window of opportunity may be opening soon with corporate venturing.

By Jason Deign

It is something of a sad reflection on CPV that many solar energy analyst firms no longer feel the need to track the technology. Two out of three major research businesses contacted for this article admitted they do not have recent data on the market.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

CPV Intelligence Brief 29 May – 11 June 2013

ksdicks — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:24:51 +0000

Précis:

Soitec sets up 25KW CPV demo project in Namibia

Companies and organisations mentioned include: Soitec, NamPower, NASA's Glenn Research Center, US Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Aerojet Corporation, GenCorp NASA's Kennedy Space Center, US Air Force Space & Missile Systems Center

CPV Intelligence Brief 29 May – 11 June 2013

Soitec sets up 25KW CPV demo project in Namibia

Image:

Primary Event:

PV Insider Africa

Premium`:

Solaria facility tour announced for CPV USA 2013

Bea Gonzalez — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:37:31 +0000

Précis:

Attendees of the 5th Concentrated Photovoltaic Summit USA (23-24 September, San Jose) will get the unique chance to tour Solaria’s facility in Fremont.

PV Insider and the Solaria Corporation announced this week that the latter will be conducting an exclusive tour of their Fremont facility, giving attendees a fascinating insight into the progress of their Low Concentrated Photovoltaic (LCPV) technology.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

AOPT Announces Four-Junction CPV Test Capability

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:10:24 +0000

Précis:

Alpha-Omega Power Technologies, LLC (AOPT) high intensity solar simulator test systems are now available with the capability of testing four-junction CPV devices.

The technology of accurately tuning the spectrum in 4 different bands is an advanced design of the AOPT proprietary spectrum tuning system now being used by many of the leading CPV manufacturers.

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Quality and reliability of CPV systems more important than ever

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:49:48 +0000

Précis:

As innovations such as multi-junction cells with four and more junctions are developed for the concentrated photovoltaic industry, solar simulators will play a critical role in commercialization.

In a recent PV Insider industry analysis “The Current Status of CPV”, Joe Schneider, Business Development Manager at Alpha-Omega Power Technologies, explained that “the days of taking modules to the parking lot for testing on apparently clear days are gone”. Now, as CPV designers need to focus on the push for higher efficiencies and lower costs to get competitive, testing and simulation has become more sophisticated.

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`:

Expert perspective on the status of the CPV industry

Bea Gonzalez — Tue, 28 May 2013 15:31:32 +0000

Précis:

To examine the current and future prospects of concentrated photovoltaic technology, PV Insider have compiled a brand new analysis entitled ‘The current status of CPV 2013’.

While 2012 was a difficult year for CPV as a whole, seeing high profile exits such as GreenVolts, a number of positive developments have given the industry fresh impetus. Soitec have commenced construction of a 44MWp plant in Touwsrivier, South Africa and have projects with signed PPAs of around 300MW in the pipeline in the United States.

Image:

Primary Event:

CPV USA 2013

Premium`: