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.

Technology

Moser Baer Rolls Out Thin-Film, Builds Power Plant

The Indian solar company plans to build factories with more than 600 megawatts of capacity by 2010, while developing solar power plants to take advantage of the new feed-in tariff in India.

Solar
Ucilia Wang December 2, 2008
First Solar Creates Tough Act to Follow

Solar startups will have trouble replicating the thin-film solar panel market leader's performance in today's poor economy, industry watchers at a Photon International conference warn.

Solar
Jeff St. John December 2, 2008
150 Solar Startups

VC investment in solar has risen from a trickle to a flood in the previous four years. In this three-part series, Eric Wesoff digs into these solar investments to see what turns up.

Solar
Eric Wesoff December 2, 2008
U.K. to Offer Solar Incentives by 2010

The government will create a feed-in tariff program to boost electricity production from solar, wind and other renewable energy. Similar programs exist in Germany, Spain, France and elsewhere.

Solar
Ucilia Wang December 1, 2008
Miasolé's Chief Researcher Defects to SoloPower

Kannan Ramanathan, a CIGS whiz from NREL, has resigned as chief research officer at Miasolé to work for a rival.

Solar
Michael Kanellos November 21, 2008
Helio Micro Connects Tech Museum to the Sun

The startup solar energy developer joins San Jose, Calif. mayor and SunPower to go solar at a tech museum.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 21, 2008
Tough Year Ahead for UMG Silicon Players?

Makers of upgraded metallurgical silicon already have to work hard to prove their technologies work. With competitors and potential customers cutting sales forecasts, however, UMG silicon producers might find it tougher to weather the downturn.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 19, 2008
NREL Hunts for Solar-Thermal Hot Spots

The national lab is working with Iberdrola Renewables and other companies on measuring solar energy resources for developing solar-thermal power plants in Arizona.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 14, 2008
SolFocus Boosts Solar Efficiency

The California startup launches a new concentrating solar system that ups sunlight-to-electricity efficiency to 25 percent, up from 18 percent in its last system.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 13, 2008
JA Solar Posts Losses, Blames Lehman

The Chinese solar cell maker recorded losses from its investment and fund-raising deals with Lehman. JA Solar also cut forecasts in light of the weakened euro and slumping economy.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 12, 2008
CaliSolar Snags $101.9M for UMG-Silicon Cells

In July, the solar cell developer told Greentech Media that it was looking for money to build a commercial plant in California next year. An SEC filing shows the company has completed a Series B round.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 3, 2008
SolFocus to Install World's Largest CPV Project

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company signs a $103 million deal to install more than 10 megawatts of concentrating solar in Spain.

Solar
Jennifer Kho November 3, 2008
First Solar Shares Jump 24.5%

Analysts upgraded their ratings on the thin-film company after the Tempe, Ariz.-based company announced new sales agreements and posted earnings that beat expectations this week.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 30, 2008
SolFocus Turns On First U.S. Commercial Installation

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi flips the switch on a 7.2-kilowatt system for a radio station in California, which expects to be the first concentrating-photovoltaic customer to be eligible for state solar rebates.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 30, 2008
Solaria Has a Solar Park Deal for You

The Spanish solar panel maker is looking for buyers of its solar power plants after its original buyers backed out. Also, Spain is cracking down on fraudulent solar development claims.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 27, 2008
Solyndra Signs $250M GeckoLogic Deal

Thin-film startup's $250 million deal to sell its panels to GeckoLogic is part of the $1.2 billion in sales contracts Solyndra has inked with customers.

Solar
Jeff St. John October 23, 2008
Evergreen Sues Barclays, Lehman for Shares

The solar-panel maker wants a U.S. bankruptcy court to order the return of 12.2 million shares of its stock that Lehman sold to Barclays.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 21, 2008
Solar Roundup: As Shares Climb, Will Expansion Plans Pan Out?

As solar shares outpace the Dow and the Nasdaq, Oregon considers the first U.S. state feed-in tariff modeled on the German system, Energosolar ships an amorphous-silicon manufacturing line and Wacker reveals plans for an additional 10,000 tons of silicon capacity.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 20, 2008
Q&A: Will U.S. Become a Solar World?

As German solar manufacturer SolarWorld opens a solar-cell factory in Oregon, COO Boris Klebensberger talks about the economy, competition and the right solar policy for the United States.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 17, 2008
Solar Roundup: Solar Power Draws Crowds

Solar Power International drew a record attendance while GT Solar scored a $46.8 million contract. SunPower's earnings beat Wall Street expectations.

Solar
Rachel Barron October 16, 2008