PV Tech Power Papers

Warranties | PV module manufacturers, O&M companies, owners, insurance companies and financial stakeholders employ independent engineers (IEs) to conduct plant surveys at critical milestones, such as impending plant warranty expiration (e.g. EPC warranty), or on a periodic basis. The result of the plant survey is a status report that identifies improvement potential and, in the case of specific failures or failure indicators, their corresponding root causes. Mitigating actions are mediated by the IE with all the involved stakeholders. Bill Shisler and Matthias Heinze of TUV Rheinland describe a procedure and a sample case for identifying and investigating the performance and possible safety shortcomings of PV modules, triggered by an impending asset sale.

Utility solar | Recent years have seen huge decreases in the cost of electricity from utility PV arrays. However, with PV’s grid parity battle not yet entirely won, competition to drive out further costs is still fierce. Ben Willis looks at some of the technological evolutions that will shape the next generation of PV power plants.

Policy | As one long-running policy saga finally draws to a close, a series of attacks on renewable energy support have offset any progress that had been made. Tom Kenning explores the latest setbacks and where the possibilities for progress may lie.

Solar auctions | The proposed closure of the UK’s Renewable Obligation programme to solar from next March would leave the Contracts for Difference programme as the only form of support for large-scale PV. Finlay Colville looks at the prospects for an auction-based system taking off in the UK.

Solar support policy | The UK’s solar industry has grid parity within reach, but recent proposals to cull various subsidy schemes threaten to pull the rug from beneath its feet. Liam Stoker asks whether the UK can embrace alternative forms of support to help solar achieve long-term freedom from subsidy.

State energy policy | Acceptance of solar in the boardrooms and living rooms of America along with President Obama’s Clean Power Plan potentially put the US on the precipice of huge solar growth, but the patchwork of state solar policies remains a barrier. John Parnell and Tom Kenning look at some of the US’ leading solar states and ask what others could learn.

Covering a 1,295-hectare estate mostly of fallow farmland, the world’s largest solar plant sits in the Antelope Valley straddling two counties of California. The Solar Star project has been supplying its full 579MW of capacity to the grid since May this year and it will be announced as offi cially complete before the end of 2015. PV Tech Power explored the designs behind this mammoth installation near Rosamond, California, to investigate what key factors had to be considered when creating a solar plant that can supply electricity to more than a quarter of a million homes.

So far in 2015 Chinese domestic PV deployment has outstripped last year’s rates and a possible 20GW has been mooted for the year. This would set a benchmark for China’s new five-year plan for solar development due to come into effect next year, writes Frank Haugwitz.

Off grid | Reducing the reliance on costly diesel-based power generation is high on the list of priorities for off-grid operators around the world. PV-hybrid systems alone can only go so far in meeting this need. The addition of storage can significantly alter this picture by increasing fuel savings and offsetting additional investment. Increasingly sound economics are already convincing circumspect off-grid operators such as mine owners who are starting to build the first large installations.

Battery technologies | The development of battery storage is seen as vital in the grid integration of increasing amounts of renewable power, but the various technologies present different advantages and limitations. Stephan Lux of Fraunhofer ISE weighs up the pros and cons of the main battery technologies in a range of applications.