AEG Power Solutions has announced the expansion of its product portfolio with a new central inverter with 630kW capability. Protect PV.630 has an efficiency factor of 98.4%. With an appropriate transformer, it can also be adapted to the medium voltage grid (e.g. 10, 20, 33kV). The new inverter is said to be the company’s next step in offering high-end utility-class inverters.
By 2016, the federal 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the California Solar Initiative (CSI), the nation’s largest ratepayer funded program, will have expired. A key question lingering until then will be: “Can the US PV industry be weaned off government subsidies and therefore become self-sustaining?”
The Digital Photonics Corporation (DPC) has launched the ‘SolarJet’ printer for selective emitter application of solar front contacts (c-Si). The SolarJet printer is claimed to simplify offline process feasibility by making it possible for labs to quickly, accurately and cost-effectively gauge real world performance benefits before making larger in-line investments. Once feasibility is confirmed, the system can be easily scaled up for larger print runs. The system features inkjet components from Trident Solar generating enhanced efficiency and reduced scrap rates.
The successful deployment of renewable energy, including solar, is critical for America’s future energy supply. Recently, a lease financing mechanism has been one of the most powerful drivers of solar power deployment in the US. Though solar leases have helped grow the industry, the authors contend that they come at an inflated and higher than intended cost to the US taxpayer compared to cash purchases. Further, if these inflated taxpayer costs become politicized, the industry may suffer another setback.
DuPont Microcircuit Materials has introduced its next-generation back side silver material for high-efficiency solar cells. DuPont Solamet PV51G photovoltaic metallization is claimed to decrease dependence on silver metals by reducing overall material consumption in solar cells up to 25%. Importantly, the material also provided improved adhesion and maintains desired efficiency performance of the cells.
2BG S.r.l. is introducing a new technology in order to completely remove the use of silver paste from crystalline silicon solar cells backside, with the result of improved cell efficiency and a significant reduction in production cost. The research project started in 2010 through the collaboration with Rise Technology Srl, Italian company founded by researchers of La Sapienza University, Rome.
As US President Barack Obama embarked on what could be his final year in office, he pledged in his State of the Union address to increase energy standards. Amid cries from political activists accusing him of having the least active climate change legislation in recent years, on Tuesday, a partnership between the Department of Interior and the Department of Energy intends to put all the vehement concerns to rest.
CAMECA has recently introduced the IMS 7f-Auto Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer, the latest version of its IMS 7f system. The new instrument is designed to deliver precision elemental and isotopic analyses with increased ease of use and productivity of advanced materials research applications.
Amid last week's crowded halls at Intersolar in San Francisco, a handful of companies were noticeable by their absence. A track devoted to concentrating solar technologies such as CPV and CSP featured Areva, which carved itself a niche in steam augmentation for existing fossil plants, but failed to attract BrightSource and SolarReserve.
Intersolar attendees weren't sure whether they had been invited to a wake or a wedding yesterday as they heard the global outlook for the solar industry.
