Top Stories 2008 – Power Generation – the good, the bad, and the efficiency

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Several of the most popular stories in the Power Generation section of PV-Tech were related to research on new technologies for the improvement of cell efficiencies. A very recent report by Greentech Media on First Solar’s apparent achievement of grid parity created ripples throughout the industry. Mark Bachman, a senior research analyst with Pacific Crest, presented his aggregated numbers via the report that claimed that First Solar has indeed reached the grid parity mecca.

A disappointing development in November saw the denial of planning permission for San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) joint initiative with Phoenix-based Stirling Energy Systems in the southern California desert. The potential 900MW installation would have seen the construction of a $1 billion power transmission line, which was criticised by many due to its potential cost to the environment, and as a result, the California Public Utilities Commission put a halt to the development.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Better news came from an Irish company, Science and Technology Research Partners (Strep), which revealed its development of “spray-on” solar cells, potentially a lower-cost power source. The aim of the company, whose technology involves ‘painting’ the material onto roofs, is to reach a 10% conversion rate at 10% of the production cost of traditional solar cells.

Sunovia and EPIR Technologies’ claim in May of its having reached a breakthrough for commercialization of single crystalline epitaxial CdTe/Si growth was also a much-visited news item this year, as was a similar efficiency claim by NREL, which claimed a record conversion efficiency of 19.9% on its CIGS thin-film solar cells.

And to round up this round-up, our senior contributing editor Tom Cheyney reported on the switching on of the 1.1MW solar photovoltaic rooftop power system at HP’s imaging and printing R&D facility in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego. The installation of the system was completed in just two months – let’s hope we see some more of these stories in 2009.

Read Next

July 18, 2025
The average price of solar panels used in distributed generation projects in the US reached US$0.27/W by the first half of the year.
July 18, 2025
Companies have signed 4.22GW of solar PV power purchase agreements in the first half of 2025, according to Swiss consultancy Pexapark.
July 18, 2025
PV Tech spoke with international buyers and investors on key industry issues such as new technology equipment procurement, supply chain management and ESG compliance.
Premium
July 18, 2025
Inside the European Solar Academy's steps to equip Europe’s workforce with necessary skills as it approaches its first anniversary.
July 18, 2025
Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) will see the utility aim to install 4GW of new renewable power capacity by 2035.
July 18, 2025
Decisions and actions related to the US Department of Interior (DoI) will ‘undergo elevated review’ of solar PV and wind facilities.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK