Industry Insight

When uncertainty creates diversity: Spanish solar starts expansion to South America

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:02:16 +0100

While Spanish authorities have eased months of uncertainty in the renewable energy market with agreements on tariffs for solar and wind power, the market’s insecurity at home is still lingering. Could re-thinking a South American strategy come sooner than the Spanish solar industry anticipated?

TSMC-Stion a "win-win" deal for CIGS PV Production: but which company stands to gain more?

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:59:29 +0100

CIGS PV production is set to rise following the recent link up of TSMC of Taiwan and Stion of the US. Paul French looks at the deal, a series of agreements and investment, in more depth. While the deal is a “win-win” for both parties, one company could be even better off than expected.

Inner Mongolia set to be home to largest thin film PV project

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:29:22 +0100

China has had a change of heart over solar power. Paul French reports on one of the most impressive new thin film projects set for Inner Mongolia, not just for its size, but for the impact it will have on China´s energy mix and the companies within the supply chain at home and abroad.

Thin film taking the lead in India

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:47:17 +0100

India needs a quick, yet long-lasting solution to its electricity needs. Is solar a viable proposition, namely thin film, for this diverse, in many places--poor, yet dynamic nation? Elizabeth Block reports.

Taiwan’s NexPower Eyes Expansion in Shandong

Rikki Stancich — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:40:18 +0100

Taiwanese companies are rapidly increasing their presence in China's Shandong province, a key market for thin film installations.

Sun Well contract win spurring growth in Taiwanese PV market

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:16:02 +0100

Growth projections of the Taiwanese PV market are impressive. Large solar farm contracts are being won. Investment is growing. What is giving this burgeoning solar market its momentum and is it a matter of too much too soon? Paul French reports.

Thin Film ranking tops as choice technology in Canadian Sun Belt

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:29:03 +0100

We continue our two part series on thin film opportunities arising out of Ontario Canada´s Solar Sunbelt; the project constraints; and how academia could bring about industry change.

Part One: Ontario’s feed-in tariffs attract solar investment

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:08:45 +0100

As feed-in tariffs (FIT) are finally introduced in Britain for wind and solar, the province of Ontario in Canada may provide an indication of what can be expected on the renewables front as a result.

TFPV manufacturing equipment: Proprietary or off-the-shelf?

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:21:43 +0100

Equipment manufacturers targeting the thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) space are coming up against a serious barrier to entry: firms making cells and solar panels seem to prefer to design and build their own fabrication equipment.

USA Health Check

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:41:17 +0000

Despite a whopping cleantech budget announced in the US this year, the solar sector won't be getting any blatant hand-outs. Just how healthy is the solar sector and in particular the thin film segment? And just will it fund its future?