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This sixteenth edition of Photovoltaics International marks four years of production of the quarterly journal. As always, our focus is on efficiency and quality improvement and cost reduction in manufacturing. As 2012 rolls along, companies are falling by the wayside due to supply and demand issues, ASP declines and drastic governmental subsidy cuts. A clear picture of 2012 is offered through papers from the likes of TÜV Rheinland, Fraunhofer ISE, SEMI PV Group and EPIA, amongst others.
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This digital interactive Lite sees Tom Cheyney follow Agua Caliente’s progress on becoming one of first truly utility-scale PV power farms, where 40–50MW (AC) will be commissioned by the end of the year. We also feature one of the world’s largest silicon thin-film PV power plants, Avenal; a report on warnings of the collapse of module prices from Solarbuzz and PI-Berlin presents tips on PV module testing. A print version of this edition will be distributed at Solar Power International 2011 in Dallas, Texas.
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Manufacturing the Solar Future 2012, the second in the Photovoltaics International PV Production Annual series, delivers the next installment of in-depth technical manufacturing information on PV production processes.
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Finally! Almost everybody in the valley who works in solar knew that Solyndra was never going to be competitive with their expensive design. Cool idea, but not competitive. They were doomed three years ago. Too bad the govenrment didn’t ask a few solar experts in silicon valley about Solyndra’s competitive position. The damage done by Solyndra has hurt all of us and the industry. Another CEO with a big ego damages an industry.
There is only one person to blame for the $535 million loss from the failed Solyndra operations—Dr. Chu, DOE boss and chief scientist for he personally authorized the loan. He should’ve seen the clumsiness and exuberant cost of the cylindrical technology. And who in their right mind would give so much money for new buildings and equipment for mass production of a product that had not been properly tested and proven viable? And Dr. Chu did, and still arrogantly defends his decision, blaming the Chinese for the Solyndra demise.
Now Dr. Chu is promoting another equally inefficient and unproven technology, but this one with a twist—it contains deadly cadmium compounds. Thousands of acres US deserts will be covered with these poisonous products and Dr. Chu will find another excuse for his bad decision to contaminate the environment and for billions of tax payers dollars wasted. But this time he can’t blame the Chinese.