News Industry Spotlight In brief... The future is bright with Solar UK
Large-scale PV projects will once again be viable, but when and how? What can the UK learn from countries like Germany, which is aiming to install 50GW of solar PV by 2020?
The first in a series of new software drivers has been announced by Zytronic for use with its range of Projected Capacitive Technology (PCT) touch sensors and touch controller products. This supports the design of touchscreen systems with high-performance, heavy-duty operation, strong accuracy levels and exciting feature sets to be built from the ground up.
www.zytronic.co.uk
Working together on the Galileo European Navigation Satellite System's development and deploy- ment programme, Septentrio and QinetiQ, in close partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) have achieved a successful reception of the encrypted Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) signal from the first Galileo satel- lites (launched in October 2011). The signal was received on the Galileo PRS Test User Receiver (PRS-TUR).
www.QinetiQ.com
The emerging market for Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconduc- tors is forecast to grow from almost zero in 2011 to over $1 billion in 2021, according to a new report from IMS Research. The research firm analysed all of the key end markets for the products and found that power supplies, PV inverters and industrial motor drives would be the three main drivers of growth.
www.imsresearch.com
Mouser Electronics is stocking Texas Instruments', SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 FRAM Evaluation Module Kit (EMK) (CC3000FRAMEMK). The Wi-Fi evaluation and demon- stration tool for TI's MSP430 FRAM microcontrollers (MCU) and SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 solution allows developers to add Wi-Fi to low-cost embedded products. The tool comes with all the necessary hardware and software to get started quickly, and includes an LS Research TiWi-SL Module and EM board, along with an MSP430 FRAM Experimenter Board.
www.mouser.com
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Following two years of stellar growth, the UK's solar PV industry is now among the largest solar markets in the world. Fierce com- petition, reducing subsidies and strong global market growth are driving the cost of solar down, while grid electricity becomes ever more expensive. We're getting closer to the day when solar energy becomes cheaper than energy from fossil fuels. The challenge facing the indus- try in 2012 is how to maintain a strong market in the face of declining subsidies.
The Solar Future, UK confer- ence taking place on the 18
th April
at Central Hall, Westminster, London, brings together global experts in solar PV to discuss strategic issues facing the UK industry today including: How the UK solar industry will benefit from new thinking by adopting business models that don't depend on feed-in tariff subsidies. It will also explore; which businesses are prepared for this? Which suppliers can offer prod- ucts and services that are viable without subsidies? Will this be an opportunity for more experi- enced companies from outside of the UK to enter the market?
The Solar Future, UK confer- ence, presents an ideal opportu- nity for decision makers within the solar industry to come together, to take stock of events and discuss the strategic measures needed to develop a sustainable future for solar energy in the UK. Speakers at the conference include Edwin Koot (pictured), Chief Executive of Solarplaza, Ray Noble, Solar Trade Association, Jeremy Leggett, Solarcentury and experts from Germany including Anton Milner, Managing Director at ib Vogt.
“It's really important that the industry comes together at con- ferences like The Solar Future, UK, to put some perspective on the rapid growth of the UK's solar industry,” said Ray Noble, Solar Trade Association Solar PV Specialist.
The Solar Future, UK, is the third annual conference organ- ised by Solarplaza and is sup- ported by the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA). The Solar Future, UK
www.thesolarfuture.co.uk
A range of smartphone wireless accessories were shown by Nordic Semiconductor at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, integrating the company's wireless technology. The wireless acces- sories operate with a wide range of leading smartphones. At the show, the company also showcased its recently launched nRFready iOS Demo App sample application for the iPhone 4S that can be used to fast-track ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart wireless app and accessory development.
www.nordicsemi.com
A new development kit has been launched by Farnell on the company's element14 website. The Verbatim's Velve Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) development kit is designed to enable lighting designers to quickly evaluate the benefits offered by OLED lighting.
www.premierfarnell.com
An update to RS Components Raspberry Pi; a credit card sized computer board designed to en- courage a new generation of PC users to discover and develop their programming skills has been announced. The distributor is one of only two distributors licensed to sell the boards worldwide.
www.rs-components.com
ISO 9001:2008 accreditation win
Following a focussed period last year to develop processes, proce- dures and a quality manual, Laser Components (UK) has confirmed it has now been awarded BSI certification on 27
th January 2012.
The company's quality man- agement system will assist in delivering continual improve- ments in the way they manage their business, working proac- tively with partner suppliers and contract review with customers, to deliver right-first-time, quality products. The company com- mented that it looks forward to the continual improvements this achievement brings.
The company has also announced that Optometrics Corporation has completed a two year project to upgrade the preci- sion of two of its three ruling engines and the facilities in which they operate.
The engines originally built in 1923, are the source for highly precise original diffraction grating masters for their premier grating replication facility.
The ruling engines also pro- duce original gratings for high- power wavelength tunable or single line laser applications. Laser Components (UK)
www.lasercomponents.com
Events... In brief...
PCIM: 8 - 10 May 2012 Nuremberg Messe
th th
International power conference and exhibition for Power electronics, Intelligent Motion, Renewable Energy and Energy Management
Registration is already open to visit the show website for your ticket
www.mesago.de/en/PCIM/home MARCH 2012 Electronics
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