The annual US-based Solar Power International (SPI) exhibition and conference historically generates a significant number of new product launches and can set new trends and directions for the downstream solar PV sector, globally. High-efficiency modules and high-voltage were the themes of new products announced at SPI on the second day.
High efficiency modules could be “the future of solar” as module manufacturers are making the move to such technologies to get the most out of solar as prices come down.
2017 could be the breakthrough year for 1500V PV project architecture as developers look to fulfil aggressively priced power power purchase (PPA) agreements.
Florida-headquartered solar EPC firm TerraSmart has launched a fully autonomous robot that can perform survey stake-out functions for the US solar industry using NASA space rover technology.
Enel Green Power Brasil Participações (EGPB), a subsidiary of Italian power firm Enel, has started construction of a 103MW solar plant in the State of Bahia, Brazil.
German-based PV module manufacturer aleo Sunrise said it had started production of its ‘CELCO’ high-efficiency PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) solar cells at its production plant in Prenzlau, Germany.
In PV Tech’s second Solar Power International (SPI) 2016 new product round up several companies have taken a more holistic or scattergun approach to new product announcements, whereby a number of things, like the IoT (Internet of Things) are showcased, rather than a single product.
Leading US residential solar PV installer SolarCity said it had raised US$305 million in its second cash equity transaction, this time through a private investment fund affiliated with Quantum Strategic Partners Ltd.
Over the past 12 months, the US solar business has been on a rollercoaster ride, with the high-profile bankruptcy of SunEdison and the merger of SolarCity and Tesla stealing the headlines. Danielle Ola talks to the experts about some of the key trends shaping the world of solar finance
and investment in the US.
