Growth, Market Share and Dynamic Change in The PV Inverter Industry

The PV inverter market, once short of innovation, has seen a surge of investment in the last few years. Spurred by startup advances, established firms like SMA, Satcon, and National Semiconductor are developing new distributed PV electronics technologies in-house or through acquisition. This Special Report from Greentech Media, sponsored by Enphase Energy, takes a look at the state of innovation in the inverter market, VC investment activity, and the emerging leaders in the $2.4 billion PV inverter market.

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As the price of PV falls, the technology will become more competitively priced in Europe and the U.S. before its prices are competitive in China.

CPV: New Applications and Emerging Markets
November 16, 2009

Hot Startup »

Solar Startup Solasta Seeks Next Round

The solar firm was founded in 2006 with A round funding from Kleiner Perkins and claims its process could increase the efficiency of conventional amorphous silicon PV by up to 150 percent.

Manufacturing

First Solar Cuts Production Cost to $0.98 Per Watt

The company continues its march to produce the cheapest panels in the solar industry. It also doubled its fourth-quarter profit, but saw its stock fall on a weak quarterly outlook.

Solar
Ucilia Wang February 24, 2009
With NRG Deal, eSolar Shifts From Power Provider to Equipment Maker

eSolar has sold its rights to solar thermal projects in the desert to concentrate on just the technology. A sign of things to come?

Solar
Michael Kanellos February 23, 2009
CIGS Predictions, Binomial Distributions and Market Implications

Amid a recession, global credit crunch and the transition to a demand-constrained world, 2009 promises to be an interesting year for CIGS, writes GTM Research Senior Analyst Shyam Mehta.

Solar
Shyam Mehta February 23, 2009
U.S. Solar Installed Costs Fell Nearly 28% Over a Decade

In a new study, Berkeley Lab researchers found that commercial solar's installed costs are falling faster than residential ones, thanks to more lucrative incentives. The trend could be reversed as a result of changes in federal laws.

Solar
Ucilia Wang February 19, 2009
Nanosolar Broke Ground on 1MW Power Plant, Launched German Panel Factory

The CIGS startup's CEO provides an update of the company's production and project development plans in response to a scathing story in the magazine Photon International, which says Nanosolar has had little to show for.

Solar
Ucilia Wang February 12, 2009
Evergreen Considers Contract Manufacturing

The maker of silicon wafers, cells and panels now wants to contract with manufacturers to make cells and panels to cut cost. Evergreen doubled its fourth-quarter revenue but widened the net loss.

Solar
Ucilia Wang February 5, 2009
1366 Technologies Wins DOE Contract to Develop Low-Cost Cells

The Massachusetts startup plans to design its own factory equipment to show it can mass-produce multicrystalline silicon cell with an efficiency to 19 percent instead of the typical 15.5 percent.

Solar
Ucilia Wang February 5, 2009
Report: CIGS Could Supply 3GW of Solar Panels by 2012

This year is critical for copper-indium-gallium-selenide panel makers to show that all those huge private equity founds and factory plans will make them formidable competitors in the global solar market in the next few years, says report.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 30, 2009
Ausra Update: Layoffs and Change of Business Plans Confirmed

The solar thermal company has confirmed that it laid off about 10 percent of its staff in January, though reports from employees say the company began layoffs in December.

Solar
Michael Kanellos January 29, 2009
Hoku's Dilemma: What Happens When Your Customers Can't Pay?

The new polysilicon producer in Idaho needs upfront money from customers to help build the factory. But one customer has missed payments, and another won't be buying as much of the raw material as planned.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 15, 2009
Budget Shortfalls Could Shrink States' Solar Incentives

Maryland and Connecticut are struggling to come up with statewide budgets while trying to figure out how or whether to fund solar power programs that have run out of money early.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 14, 2009
Report: Recycling Programs Could Curb Solar Panel Toxicity

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has released a report outlining the potential environmental and health dangers posed by materials used to make solar panels.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 14, 2009
Optisolar Lays off 300, Half the Staff

Optisolar, one of the fastest growing solar companies in the market, has cut half its staff due to lack of financing.

Solar
Michael Kanellos January 9, 2009
All-in-One Solar Panels and Solar Thermal

A group of companies want to make hot water and power from the same piece of equipment. It won't be that expensive either, they claim.

Solar
Michael Kanellos January 9, 2009
SolFocus Scores $47.5M to Peddle Concentrating Solar Technology

The California startup aims to increase the total installations of its solar energy systems from 0.5 MW to 100 MW by 2010.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 8, 2009
Suntech Boasts 1GW Capacity Amid Tough Times for Solar Market

The Chinese solar panel maker could use the manufacturing might to undercut competitors during a year when a panel bumper crop will likely happen.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 8, 2009
Taiwanese LCD Giant AUO Jumpstarts Thin-Film Solar Business

AU Optronics plans to set up a pilot production line this year, joining other Taiwanese electronics makers in producing thin-film solar panels.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 7, 2009
LDK Solar Lowers Sales Outlook, Delays Factory Plan

The Chinese silicon wafer maker saw its fourth-quarter sales drop by 23 percent as customers delayed taking deliveries. Stock fell 15 percent.

Solar
Ucilia Wang January 5, 2009
China Plans World’s Largest Solar Power Plant

At 1 gigawatt, the solar power plant in northwest China would be the world's biggest, but the timeline is a bit iffy at the moment. Construction starts next year.

Solar
Jeff St. John December 31, 2008
The Year in Solar: A Mix of Victories and Woes

More government incentives are becoming available to boost solar energy projects in 2008, while new solar technologies are making their market debuts. But the credit crunch has caused no small amount of heartaches.

Solar
Ucilia Wang December 24, 2008