Introduced at Solar Power International 2016, GE’s LV5+ Solar Inverter was touted as the first multi-MW, 1500V DC, next generation, utility-scale inverter product line based on Silicon Carbide (SiC). Edgar A. Gunter asks, where is it?
ABB has introduced a range of cloud connected, three-phase string inverter solutions for cost efficient decentralized photovoltaic systems that are claimed to reduce both upfront capital expenditures (capex) and operational expenditure (opex).
The third PV CellTech event takes place in Penang, Malaysia in just two weeks from now, on 13-14 March 2018. The schedule of speakers and companies lined up this year is set to be both fascinating to hear, and essential to dissect, when looking at exactly how the PV industry will evolve beyond the 100GW of solar cells produced in 2017.
The major manufacturing transition by First Solar to its large-area Series 6 CdTe thin-film module format is well underway and, going by recent management commentary in its fourth quarter 2017 conference call with financial analysts, has increased its tempo slightly, not least due to updated spending plans for the second time in a few months.
Two years ago the UK government’s new feed-in tariff regime came into force, starting an immensely difficult period for the solar industry. Deployment has fallen by nearly 80%, and thousands of jobs have been lost. This is the inside track of how it happened.
PV capital expenditure (capex) in 2018, covering investments into ingot, wafer, cell and module capacity, will grow by almost 25% compared to 2017, passing through the US$10 billion mark, returning to levels last seen back in 2010 and 2011 when investments in turn-key thin-film fabs were a key contributor.
Enphase Energy has launched its seventh-generation ‘Enphase IQ’ microinverters for the Enphase Home Energy Solution with ‘IQ’. The ‘Enphase IQ 7 Micro’ and ‘Enphase IQ 7+ Micro’ are designed for worldwide markets and have started shipping to distributors in the United States. Enphase IQ 7 microinverters will continue to be phased into markets around the world through the first half of 2018.
With cell producers increasingly focusing on improved efficiencies and yields, line optimization upgrades are coming to the fore. PV Tech caught up with Steve Mcdonald, vice president, application engineering at inline solar cell measurement equipment specialist Aurora Solar Technologies, to discuss some of the industry trends.
GoodWe is rolling out the new DNS series inverters which are ideal for solar power generation in residential homes. With a low start-up voltage of only 120V and the widest voltage range of 80-550V, these inverters can provide high performance and greater options for any household system, while maintaining a sleek, child-friendly design without sharp edges and safer to manipulate.
