PV Tech Power Papers

Cell and module technology | One of the defining trends to emerge so far in 2017 has been an explosion of interest in bifacial PV technology. Some of the key technologies vying for position at the vanguard of this fast-growing part of the market are discussed.

Construction | Automated systems to speed up the construction of PV power plants have become a key tool in building bigger and cheaper projects. Some of the state-of-art technologies helping the industry drive down system costs are discussed.

Forecasting | Predicting the power production of a PV plant offers a multitude of benefits to plant owners and grid operators. The challenges of accurate forecasting across different timescales and in different climate zones are discussed.

System design | Despite the decline of subsidies in the UK, well designed commercial PV systems still offer potentially attractive financial benefits to businesses. Some of the key considerations in designing and executing a commercial solar system that will deliver maximum return on investment are detailed.

Data | The collection of inaccurate data at any point in the life cycle of a solar plant will undermine almost every aspect of the investment accounting. The importance of precision data gathering in mitigating risk for builders, operators and financiers is discussed.

Quality | The speed of solar deployment in India has raised concerns that quality maybe sacrificed for expediency. Although there are warning signs of a potential quality problem, efforts are underway to nip it in the bud

Risk mitigation | The EU-funded Solar Bankability Project has developed a framework for managing the potential legal, technical and economic risks associated with PV projects. These risks need to be quantitatively and qualitatively assessed,managed and controlled.

Storage integration | Our team profile 10 of the leading global system integrators working in energy storage today. This is a handful of the names that are designing systems, solving problems, executing projects and shaping the industry around us. By: Andy Colthorpe and John Parnell with Tom Kenning, Danielle Ola, David Pratt and Liam Stoker

Trade dispute | Battle lines have been drawn as another trade dispute convulses the US solar industry. John Parnell reports on an increasingly bitter war of words as the case hearings get underway.

Technology | Falling prices have seen single-axis trackers become standard issue in utility PV plants in many parts of the world. As the tracker market becomes more crowded, manufacturers are developing increasingly sophisticated technologies to stay ahead of the game and support wider PV power plant innovation. Ben Willis reports