Solar Production Technology

Glass industry under obligation

  Cell and module manufacturers can only survive the highly competitive photovoltaic market if they rapidly reduce their costs. In particular, this must be carried out with higher levels of efficiency.
Glass industry under obligation - more...

Solar Industry is building on high efficiency

  The photovoltaic industry wants to overcome the crisis using more effective modules and falling prices. Mechanical engineers are laying the cornerstone with new lines for high-performance cells.
Solar Industry is building on high efficiency - more...

Upturn for Solar Heat

  The German Solar Industry Association (BSW) believes that strong growth is ahead of the solar thermal energy industry in its new “Solar Heat Roadmap”. Innovation should boost demand substantially.
Upturn for Solar Heat - more...

Positiv outlook for BIPV

  However, thanks to falling prices, higher efficiencies and better aesthetic qualities of the systems, interest from architects and construction companies is growing.
Positiv outlook for BIPV - more...

Thin-film comeback planned

  Once celebrated as the solar technology of the next generation, thin-film photovoltaics are now in crisis. Factories are closing because the slim-line electricity generators have lost their cost advantage against silicon cells.
Thin-film comeback planned - more...

High efficiency for the trend reversal

  In order to replace conventional power plants, renewable energy must be stored. The German federal government is therefore investing heavily in research.
High efficiency for the trend reversal - more...

Government begins battery offensive

  There is no lack of perspective for photovoltaics in Germany. In order to tare fluctuating volumes of green energy better in the future, the Federal Government is promoting the development of energy storage.
Government begins battery offensive - more...

Mechanical engineers are conquering the storage market

  Equipment suppliers are circumnavigating the solar crisis by offering production lines to battery manufacturers as well.
Mechanical engineers are conquering the storage market - more...

Solar research at a crossroads

  The crisis in the photovoltaic industry is endangering the leading position of German solar scientists. However, there are some good chances to successfully continue this tandem of innovation.
Solar research at a crossroads - more...

A job with a bright outlook

  The current solar crisis is forcing companies to cut jobs. Yet producers, the trade and the solar engineering sector will need large numbers of qualified employees to cope with the future growth of photovoltaic technology.
A job with a bright outlook - more...

Systems manufacturers remain optimistic

  Due to drastic surplus capacity, manufacturers of solar cells and modules are barely investing in new production equipment – something which is having a visible impact on the business of solar systems manufacturers.
Systems manufacturers remain optimistic - more...

Turning solar power into green gas

  Where does electricity come from when renewable energies cannot deliver during calm spells and in the hours of darkness? Storage media are essential for the overhaul of energy policy.
Turning solar power into green gas - more...

The advance of solar concentrators

  Solar modules which trap light are an upcoming alternative to conventional photovoltaic technology. By means of this system, the American firm Semprius has been able to convert one third of their sunlight into electricity for the first time.
The advance of solar concentrators - more...

Solar industry goes on strike

  The photovoltaic industry protests vehemently against the planned solar subsidy cuts.
Solar industry goes on strike - more...

Solar power from the desert

  Solar thermal plants generating thousands of megawatts are to be built in the Middle East and North Africa. In the United Arab Emirates, the world’s first desert solar thermal energy plant is currently under construction.
Solar power from the desert - more...

New accumulators for the energy turnaround

Um konventionelle Kraftwerke abzulösen, müssen erneuerbare Energien gespeichert werden. Die deutsche Bundesregierung steckt daher viel Geld in die Forschung. Verschiedene Lösung sind denkbar, aber welche Technologie sich behauptet, ist noch nicht absehbar
New accumulators for the energy turnaround - more...

Costs fall faster than expected

  Solar modules are becoming rapidly cheaper due to the enormous competitive pressure on the market.
Costs fall faster than expected - more...

Mechanical engineers under pressure

  The falling demand for solar modules and emerging equipment manufacturers in Asia is making life difficult for German photovoltaic suppliers nowadays.
Mechanical engineers under pressure - more...

More Light for Solar Cells

  The slackness in sales in the photovoltaic industry does not only have a dark side: In the battle for customers, the manufacturers are focusing more intensively on innovations.
More Light for Solar Cells - more...

Module Recycling to Become Obligatory

  Because solar companies could not agree on a concept for voluntary module recycling, the EU is now slapping them with the dreaded WEEE waste regulation.
Module Recycling to Become Obligatory - more...

Photovoltaics for Solar Heat?

  Because modules are rapidly becoming cheaper, large open-air photovoltaic systems are set to be built in the earth’s sunbelt instead of solar thermal power plants. This would be problematic for the global energy turnaround.
Photovoltaics for Solar Heat? - more...

Sun in Duplicate

  Sparse roof space can be used more efficiently with modules that provide warmth for heating water or buildings alongside electricity. For this reason, the industry is searching for ways to combine photovoltaics and solar heat underneath one glass pane.
Sun in Duplicate - more...

Photovoltaics Drives Industry

  From small technical nuclei, such as Berlin and Erfurt, strong manufacturer and supplier clusters have developed in Germany. They bring jobs to their regions and enrich the global solar industry with their innovations.
Photovoltaics Drives Industry - more...

Solar Companies Increase the Speed of Innovations

  Subsidy cut-backs are slowing down the development of photovoltaics and forcing manufacturers to seek cost-cutting new developments. Increases in efficiency are being focussed on here.
Solar Companies Increase the Speed of Innovations - more...

Solar markets are shifting

  You would think that, after the nuclear disaster in Japan, there would be a global rush for solar modules. However, reductions in subsidies in many countries in Europe are putting the brakes on the photovoltaic industry.
Solar markets are shifting - more...

Lull on Space

  Major photovoltaic (PV) projects will only be carried out with difficulty in Germany in 2011. Solar energy subsidies are sinking drastically; outdoor installations in fields have not even received commission since the summer.
Lull on Space - more...

Solar Industry in Catch-22 Situation

  Photovoltaic companies are under fire due to high costs of subsidies.
Solar Industry in Catch-22 Situation - more...

Dispute among the Renewables

  High solar energy costs are angering the wind industry.
Dispute among the Renewables - more...

Solidarity with Photovoltaics

  The glass and solar industries agree to work more intensively together at the solarpeq/glasstec.
Solidarity with Photovoltaics - more...

Solar Modules Are Conquering Construction

  In Germany, the market for building-integrated photovoltaics is growing.
Solar Modules Are Conquering Construction - more...

Solar Glass is Becoming Cheaper

  Glass companies are developing special lines for photovoltaics.
Solar Glass is Becoming Cheaper - more...

Too Little Money for Innovations

  Technological progress could come to a standstill for German solar manufacturers.
Too Little Money for Innovations - more...

Concentrated Cost Reduction

  The Soitec company is looking to manufacture with 50 percent efficiency.
Concentrated Cost Reduction - more...

Thin Panels Having Problems

  The rapidly sinking price of silicon modules is worrying thin-film manufacturers.
Thin Panels Having Problems - more...

Photovoltaics are Becoming More Versatile

  Solar companies are proving to be more innovative than ever.
Photovoltaics are Becoming More Versatile - more...

Incalculable Solar Giant

  Despite the credit crunch and funding reductions, the development of photovoltaics more than doubled in Germany in 2009, with 3800 megawatts. Analysts anticipate another doubling in 2010 – despite decreasing commission.
Incalculable Solar Giant - more...

solarpeq on Course for Success – Hall Space Almost Booked out

  Many renowned suppliers will be presenting their goods at the new trade fair for solar production technology this autumn.
solarpeq on Course for Success – Hall Space Almost Booked out - more...

Silicone A-Plenty

  Silicon producers want to double their production by 2010. Although the demand for the raw material is growing rapidly, it is unlikely to be able to keep pace with the planned expansion speed.
Silicone A-Plenty - more...

Light Collector in Nanoformat

  Photovoltaics are still unable to compete with conventional energy sources. Solar cells, on which isolated molecules generate energy on cost-effective thermoplastic foil, could considerably reduce production costs.
Light Collector in Nanoformat - more...

German Solar Companies Cooperating More Closely

  Chinese cell and module producers do not only currently provide the most cost-effective products for Europe, they also provide high quality technical products.
German Solar Companies Cooperating More Closely - more...

Companies Want to Save the Sun

  Using solar energy from your own roof – with the planned increase of bonuses for using your own energy, this is becoming more and more attractive for consumers.
Companies Want to Save the Sun - more...

Suppliers are Consolidating Their Strength

  Solar suppliers are strengthening themselves in the hard global competition with strategic cooperations and acquisitions.
Suppliers are Consolidating Their Strength - more...

New Life for Old Modules

  Photovoltaics manufacturers want to recycle disused solar panels.
New Life for Old Modules - more...

Röttgen gets out his red pencil

  Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen wants to considerably reduce solar rewards.
Röttgen gets out his red pencil - more...

Europeans on a Course for Innovation

  Photovoltaic manufacturers begin the race to catch up with Asian forerunners.
Europeans on a Course for Innovation - more...

More CIS for Solar Performance

  Companies are gearing up for the series production of modules based on copper, indium and selenium.
More CIS for Solar Performance - more...

Cell Surface in Focus

  Selective emitters increase efficiency.
Cell Surface in Focus - more...

Laser for More Capacity

  New manufacturing techniques increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Laser for More Capacity - more...

Printed Light Collectors

  Photovoltaics still are not able to compete with conventional energy sources. Solar cells in which energy is generated by nanoparticles printed on aluminium foil should considerably reduce the production costs. The technology is now entering the market.
Printed Light Collectors - more...

Chinese Conquer the Solar Market

  Among local solar producers, worries are growing: The new Federal government wants to reduce the compensation paid for electricity fed into the grid.
Chinese Conquer the Solar Market - more...

Energy from a Thousand Suns

  Since the desert energy initiative Desertec, solar heat has been the word on everyone’s lips: in the Sahara, power stations are intended to convert an enormous degree of solar heat into power for millions of Europeans.
Energy from a Thousand Suns - more...

Researchers Olympus of Germany

  While the German photovoltaic manufacturers worry about their leading role due to increasing competition from China and the USA, local research into solar power is in the fast track: Innovations develop rapidly, efficiency records fall constantly.
Researchers Olympus of Germany - more...

Energy from the Print Shop

  Nano solar cells could make photovoltaics unrivalled in price. They manage without expensive semiconductors and can be produced like newspapers in a roll-to-roll procedure:
Energy from the Print Shop - more...

Light-concentrating Solar Modules

  After silicon and thin-film modules, a third solar technology is now entering the market: Systems, which initially intensify the sunlight and then use the concentrated power to produce energy.
Light-concentrating Solar Modules - more...

More Absorbers for Higher Capacity

  Higher efficiencies and lower costs are the objective of the solar industry. Standard cells convert a maximum of approximately just 20 percent of sunlight into energy. Now, engineers have found a way to considerably increase the efficiency:
More Absorbers for Higher Capacity - more...

Electricity Suppliers Discover the Sun

  Produce clean energy with solar power stations – until now this was too uneconomical for traditional energy suppliers. However, the crisis-related decline of module prices is causing them to re-think the matter:
Electricity Suppliers Discover the Sun - more...

Green Light for the Gigafab

  Solar factories as big as car plants – what was still just a bold vision a few years ago, could soon become reality: Experts believe that photovoltaics could develop into one of the most important energy sources.
Green Light for the Gigafab - more...

New Silicon Cells Provide More Energy

  The decrease in sales in the photovoltaic sector has also been beneficial: The solar industry is focusing increasingly on innovations. There are major advances in classic silicon solar cells:
New Silicon Cells Provide More Energy - more...

Enough Glass for Scores of Gigawatts

  In spite of the crisis, the photovoltaic industry is increasing production and therefore requires solar glass en masse—manufacturers are keeping up with the expansion tempo.
Enough Glass for Scores of Gigawatts - more...

Race for the Best Thin Film

  Except for the cadmium telluride technology of the American company First Solar, thin film modules have only been niche products up to now. However, experts are forecasting a boom in the slim-line power generators: Innovations are developing quickly;
Race for the Best Thin Film - more...

The Sun is Rising for Machinery & Plant Manufacturers

  Strong component suppliers have established themselves in the solar manufacturing environment. Thanks to their production technology, photovoltaic factories are becoming more flexible and streamlined.
The Sun is Rising for Machinery & Plant Manufacturers - more...

The Light is in Sight again

  The drop in demand and excess production are causing the prices for solar modules to sink rapidly. The consumer is happy with this development. However, it is causing companies severe hardship: Profits are melting away, bankruptcy is threatening.
The Light is in Sight again - more...

For faster manufacturing of solar modules

  Buerkle, the German equipment maker, presents its Ypsator® at Glasstec 2008. This world novelty, a multi-layer laminating unit significantly increases manufacturing speeds of crystalline solar and thin-layer modules.
For faster manufacturing of solar modules - more...

Innovative technology makes solar power cheaper

  German glass machine manufacturers are announcing that the use of innovative manufacturing technology and the world’s first laminate-free, thin-film solar module will make electricity produced by photo-voltaic systems much more competitive.
Innovative technology makes solar power cheaper - more...

Solar industry needs glass machines

  The growing significance of climate protection and the increasing costs of fossil raw materials have for several years been promoting and accelerating the positive development of the solar energy market.
Solar industry needs glass machines - more...