PV America
PV America gets off to a good start
in Philadelphia
Despite an ailing economy and a lack of among major panel producers. The patterns from a 1.5 metre panel in less
funding for PV projects, the SEIA put on a company opened their newest factory than 30 seconds. The company uses a YAG
brave face in Philadelphia last week at the in China in May to manufacture a back laser for layers 1 and 3 and a Green Laser
inauguration of PV America. side paste and is confirming its green for layer 2. The company claims that laser
The event was designed to offer a credentials by installing solar panels in its scribing offers considerable benefits over
professional conference and trade show West Conshohocken factory. printing, such as speed, accuracy and less
for the east coast, catering to the myriad 3M are no newcomers to the PV shadowing. The system demonstrated a
of small- to medium-sized solar companies industry and are one of the few companies 3-step deposition process, followed by the
in the region. The west coast is well served to offer real life cycle testing of its products 3-step scribing process.
already with the growing Intersolar and after having installations in the field for Ferro has around 40% market share of
Solar Power events. In this respect, PV the past 14 years. The company will soon the aluminum market for backside pastes.
America succeeded in hosting a powerful be launching a new polymeric mirror film The company also produces silver pastes
conference that covered everything from that offer up to 96% reflectivity. The newly for front side applications and a range of
silicone and manufacturing challenges formed Light Management division is a phosphorous dopants.
through government initiatives and power breakout from the Optics division and will After getting off to a good start in a
utilization. be working on enhancements to solar cell challenging market, PV America will be
On the show floor, Heraeus were packaging and increasing output power. moving to Tampa, Florida in May, 2010.
exhibiting their SOL953 silver paste, which JPSA introduced the new PV5000 —Trevor Galbraith.
they claim is gaining wide acceptance Laser Scriber. The system can ablate
Shah demands respect for solar
industry at PV America
For me, the star of the show at PV America Deleware, as well as Washington D.C. He
was, without doubt, Jigar Shah. The
“Shah estimated that
described the Federal Stimulus bill of more
founder of Sun Edison and now president than $25 billion as a scene from “Hungry
of Jigar Shah consultancy presented an
up to $30 billion or
Hungry Hippos” where the top ten cities
animated and moving speech demanding
18% of the US’s energy
had to submit their proposals by June 30th
“respect” for solar energy initiatives from in order to get a share of the pie.
utilities and government. Citing some requirements could be Finishing on a serious note, there is no
of the major strides that solar has made
met by solar power by
doubt that carbon emissions are damaging
towards grid-parity and its capacity to deal our health. A number of measures, such
with the world’s long-term energy needs, 2010.” as uniform metering, are needed to move
Shah energized the audience with tales the solar power debate forward. Currently
about excesses and “old thinking” from utilities use different metering systems to
states such as Michigan, where they are solar power by 2010, and he quoted Jon measure solar energy versus other sources.
spending over $2.4 billion building a new Wellinghof, the chairman of the U.S. Continued R&D is also vital to stay on
coal-fired power station they do not need, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, course and meet the projected energy cost
for power that could be provided through who said “no nuclear or coal powered reductions. DOE support is necessary to
solar installations at a fraction of the cost. power station may ever be needed in the validate the studies that have already been
However, Shah offered a realistic United States.” Solar is one twenty-fifth made. A target of 20% solar-based energy
assessment when he stated that panel the cost of nuclear and one twelfth the cost by 2030 should be set. A Green Bank
shipments in 2009 will be less than 2008, of coal powered stations, which at today’s should be established to cater for the large
largely due to the doubling of thin film rates offers a potential saving of $580 investment needed in infrastructure and
capacity. On the demand side, utilities per kilowatt. In technology terms, solar solar energy projects. And, finally some
were demanding less energy due to job installations continue to drop in price and “respect”—solar is now ready to accept itss
losses and industry requiring less power. have already fallen by 45% since August place at the top table of energy providers
The future for solar power was clear 2008. and should be taken seriously by the
though. Shah estimated that up to $30 Among the 35 states that have solar world’s power brokers.
billion, or 18% of the United States programs, Shah admired the public policy —Trevor Galbraith.
energy requirements, could be met by initiatives of states such as Maryland and
22 – Global Solar Technology – July/August 2009
www.globalsolartechnology.com
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