This paper explains how these modern production concepts are implemented in ISC’s lab, and details the plans for their utilization in future production sites, with illustrations of the key benefits in practice. With these modern manufacturing concepts, it will even be possible to bring future c-Si PV production back to the EU with the choice of an appropriate cell concept (high efficiency but proven technology, e.g. interdigitated back-contact (IBC) cells, such as ZEBRA) and a sound business plan.
Today, solar power is one of the cheapest ways of providing energy internationally, partly because of the excellent R&D work in Europe. Prices of modules have fallen by half in the past three years, and at the same time the use of solar power has been steadily increasing. The reason why there has been an increase in the use of solar energy in Europe and Germany is the achievement of the climate targets of the Paris Agreement. While the machines for the production of solar modules are still manufactured in Germany, the production of cells has now almost completely migrated to Asia. Therefore, the VDMA commissioned a study from Fraunhofer ISE to evaluate whether the production of solar modules at competitive costs could again be realized in Europe. This paper presents the results of the VDMA study.
Welcome to the latest edition of PV Tech Power. This is a special issue for a number of reasons. The journal has now been running for five years with a growing roster of industry experts sharing in-depth knowhow on everything from contract law to the pitfalls of east-west module layout. It’s also a special issue for us as it is the tightest marriage yet of PV Tech’s decade-plus of solar industry coverage and the expert analysis and reporting of our sister site Energy-Storage.News.
Our 19-page special report in this issue explores both the accomplishments of the energy storage sector and the ongoing challenges. Fittingly, Andy Colthorpe, editor of Energy-Storage.News, sets the scene, and much more.
The UK’s energy retail market is witnessing an exodus of customers leaving the so-called Big Six for independent suppliers, who are attracting them with home solar systems and a battery to match. Liam Stoker uncovers what’s behind the trend for new energy suppliers taking to domestic PV.
The growth potential of energy storage has drawn interest from some of the biggest names in the power business and beyond. With the trend set to continue, Andy Colthorpe explores how three of the recent targets are faring under new ownership.
As the building blocks of energy storage systems, batteries have a key role in influencing system design and economics. Davion Hill of DNV GL explores the importance of testing the performance of individual battery cells in minimising the exposure of battery buyers to technical risks.
Asset management practices must mature and standardise to keep pace with the rapidly accelerating deployment of solar. Ypatios Moysiadis, vice-chair of an industry group tasked with drawing up new best practice guidelines, explains how.
Anti-reflective coatings have been a standard technology on solar modules for some time, but several companies are now targeting the market for older solar farms. Sara Verbruggen reports on the promising early results from trials of these performance-boosting technologies.
It is ironic that Spain, whose government is infamous for its history of damaging PV policy U-turns, is also now home to the figurehead project of large-scale solar’s return in Europe after years of hiatus. The Don Rodrigo project in the southern region of Andalusia is the first mega-scale PV system to go without subsidies on the continent, standing at 175MW capacity.
