Part 2: Energy intensity and payback provides REC with low-cost manufacturing footprint

Significant attention has been given to the PV Industry's fully integrated business model, championed as the path to the lowest cost per watt manufacturing. REC, the first to develop this business model believes there are important competitive advantages the model provides. In an interview with PV-Tech, Erik Sauar, CTO of REC discusses a 1-year energy payback time and ability to be a net provider of electricity rather than a net user. Sauar also highlights that with higher energy prices greater emphasis from a competitive position will be placed on energy payback capabilities. Claiming to already have the lowest energy payback time, REC sees this coupled to the lowest manufacturing carbon footprint as competitive advantages now and in the future.

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  • Photovoltaics International 16th Edition

    Photovoltaics International 16th Edition

    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.

  • Photovoltaics International Lite, Volume 05 - 2011

    Photovoltaics International Lite, Volume 05 - 2011

    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.

  • Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2012 Production Annual

    Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2012 Production Annual

    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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