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.
Download now »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.
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.
The company continues to count on Europe as its primary market, though it's selling panels at lower prices to gain entry into the U.S.
The companies will focus on second-generation amorphous silicon technology. Their hope is that competitors who started with the first-generation will find it difficult to compete with companies that already are selling more efficient panels.
Chint Solar, a Chinese startup, has raised part of the round from Cybernaut, founded by WebEx founder Min Zhu. Chint Solar plans to use the money to start producing tandem junction amorphous-silicon solar cells this year.
Experts at the inaugural Renewable Energy in Emerging Markets conference in San Francisco say considerable regulatory and financing hurdles remain for those looking to develop projects in emerging markets.
Sluggish solar market demand is prompting Q-Cells to cut work hours for about 80 percent of its staff. Wind turbine maker Vestas is shrinking its European operations to focus on the United States, China.
There are four different ways to generate megawatts from the heat of the sun, but figuring out the best one remains an art.
As the economic downturn drags on, analysts are questioning whether SunPower could stay competitive when so many others are hawking cheaper goods.
The solar company said it has delayed using two new production lines in the Philippines and taken other measures to cut costs. It has also reduced its 2009 sales outlook.
The power plant developer is looking at different solar technologies for a project in Arizona. Panels are cheaper than thermal, says the CEO.
The California startup plans to use the money to develop and market equipment for generating steam from solar power. The company had once hoped to build large solar power plants and sell electricity to utilities.
Startups in the solar and automotive space were among the companies that pitched their ideas and sought funding at a Dow Jones conference.
Short-term, aggressive renewable energy goals are a better way to spur innovations, said Applied Materials CEO Michael Splinter this week.
The one-year-old California company says it can help installers attract customers and save costs through its software and service offerings.
Concentrators face tough times. Soliant has hired Marco DeMiroz as its new CEO. The solar firm wants to build solar concentrator modules for rooftops.
Here are the stories and blogs you might have missed from Greentech Media's sold-out Surviving the Shakeout solar conference held in Phoenix, Ariz. this week.
The economy won't be the limiting factor on the concentrating photovoltaic market, says SolFocus' Nancy Hartsoch. It's whether or not the firm can scale its manufacturing and transition successfully into commercialization.
About 60 percent to 70 percent of SolarCity’s new residential customers have on their roofs thin-film solar panels, which are considered unsuitable for home installations by many other installers.
The project marks the second power project construction deal between First Solar and Sempra Generation. First Solar is taking on a project at a time when it also is developing a 550-megawatt plant and other projects that came with its acquisition of OptiSolar’s project pipeline.
Dekkers, the head of project development at the German company, discusses the things that make for a successful solar thermal power project and the promise to deliver a more steady supply of electricity than other types of solar energy technologies.
The solar startup says it has promoted Cart to the full-time post of executive chairman. It also has changed its business plan to focus on developing solar energy equipment instead of power projects.