PES Solar 2 2018

EKO Instruments Kipp & Zonen Kameleon Solar Conference Call An exciting update for the Ruud Ringoir brings us the latest We hear exclusively from We preview two of theSOLAR/PV global PV market from an industry pioneer CEO, Guust Verpaalen leading industry events scheduled for 2018 As ever, we bring you the latest technological & innovative developments and advances from many of the industry’s key players. Plus, our usual dose of expert opinion, insight & analysis.POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 33, 2018 SMARTER PV ? The Industry is continuing to evolve at quite a pace. Are the advances in both knowledge & technology leading us toward a PV market which is becoming smarter by the day?

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EDITOR’S NOTE EKO Instruments Kipp & Zonen Kameleon Solar Conference Call An exciting update for the Ruud Ringoir brings us the latest We hear exclusively from We preview of two of the SOLAR/PV global PV market from an industry pioneer CEO, Guust Verpaalen leading industry events scheduled for 2018 As ever, we bring you the latest technological & innovative developments and advances from many of the industry’s key players. Plus, our usual dose of expert opinion, insight & analysis. POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 33, 2018 SMARTER PV? The Industry is continuing to evolve at quite a pace. Are the advances in both knowledge & technology leading us toward a PV market which is becoming smarter by the day?Editor’s note POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS All of a sudden, I find myself writing what will be my final editor’s note for PES Solar in 2018. Already as summer begins to fade, we can’t help but be tempted to look Directors forward to 2019 and wonder what may be in store. Stuart Gillies Mark Wilson But this has been some year, with records being set and broken on what seems like a Stefann Perrigot more frequent basis than ever before – and it is not finished yet - we are looking forward to a couple of big trade fairs coming up as the Solar Power International Client Liaison Manager returns to Anaheim and the REI has come around again in India, and some of the Vikki Birch world’s leading companies will be displaying their latest and greatest innovations and solutions for the global audience. Editor Elaine Perrigot The market is getting smarter that is for sure. As ever, looking for optimum efficiency [email protected] is still at the top of the agenda, which in turn brings costs down. The race is on between R&D departments from the leading companies to come up with even more Associate Editors advanced technology, innovation and cost savings continues at quite a pace. Stephen Pearson Zachary George Quality requirements are all on the up. In this issue we bring you some improved and novel technology developments and concepts from measurement and testing Design solutions to manufacturing advancements and the latest backsheet offerings. Andrew Jenkins [email protected] There can be no question that the market has been tough for a number of years now, and resilience has been a key requirement for players in all sectors – It is equally Production indisputable that this turbulence had led to a faster development within the market Paul Lawson too, and that those companies who stayed the course, continuing to invest and drive [email protected] forward, are now beginning to reap the rewards of these efforts. Sales Enquiries With so much happening in Europe, N. America, Asia and in between, don’t miss our [email protected] incisive insight, opinion and industry round-up of key developments and innovation within our final issue of 2018. General Enquiries [email protected] Sit back and enjoy the read, Media Partnership Enquiries Elaine Perrigot [email protected] Editor Advertising Opportunities [email protected] PES is published by P&G Media Ltd P&G Media Ltd PO Box 310, Bristol, BS10 5WT, United Kingdom This publication is copyright © 2017 P&G Media Ltd and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the prior permission of P&G Media Ltd. While every care has been taken during the preparation of this publication, P&G Media cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information published herein or any consequence arising from it. From sustainably managed forests. For more information visit: www.pefc.org www.pessolar.com www.pessolar.com 3

CONTENTS46 PES brings you the latest exciting news from 68 Ruud Ringoir, product manager at Kipp & Zonen EKO Instruments. With the constant increase is a regular visitor to PES. It’s great to hear that of PV projects globally and new standards in the markets continue to be buoyant. There is a place, there is an increasing requirement for a continuous research into optimizing their solar compliant and cost-effective solution to monitor radiation measurement tools, which will spill over to plant performance the roof top market 38 Guust Verpaalen, CEO of Kameleon Solar, writes EKO Instruments Kipp & Zonen Kameleon Solar Conference Call exclusively for PES as he brings An exciting update for the Ruud Ringoir brings us the latest We hear exclusively from We preview of two of theSOLAR/PV global PV market from an industry pioneer CEO, Guust Verpaalen leading industry events scheduled for 2018 us up to speed on the company’s progress, accomplishments & As ever, we bring you the latest technological & innovative aims for the future… developments and advances from many of the industry’s key players. Plus, our usual dose of expert opinion, insight & analysis.POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 33, 2018 SMARTER PV? 16 We look ahead and preview two of the biggest and most important The Industry is continuing to evolve at quite a pace. Are the advances in both knowledge & technology events on the global solar leading us toward a PV market which is becoming calendar in 2018. The Solar Power smarter by the day? International 2018 in Anaheim, CA & Renewable Energy India 2018 ExpoComment 82 PES gets the latest from Bischof 86 PES had another very interesting6 We hear directly from Leonardo Botti, + Klein on their new generation conversation with Dirk Tegtmeyer, backsheets using their improved one of the founders of Ingenieurbüro Global Head of Product Management, manufacturing process Mencke & Tegtmeyer GmbH. ABB, as he looks at the impact and Quality, customisation, a real interest potential of blockchain technology Ask the experts in the technology and continually striving to reach the next level8 John Tuerk of Clear Blue 44 The first company under our spotlight 90 PES caught up with the joint Technologies tells us how the in this issue is Coveme, Monica future of solar power investment Manara, CCO Photovoltaics, joins managing directors of ISOVOLTAIC lies in infrastructure us to explain how the company SOLINEX, Diplom-Ingenieur Thomas is still finding new, innovative and Rossegger and Magister Matthias10 Maximillian Schurade, Director of technological advances to share with Meinl. They lead a very experienced their customers team in backsheet technology and Technical Marketing, Hanwha Q CELLS have customers all over the globe talks to PES about how quality and 50 Chip Palombini, Director of Energy innovation will prove more key than ever 94 Bertrand Lempkowicz, PR, in shaping the future of the PV industry Storage at Dynapower Company, LLC, Vermont US, was full of Marketing & Communication Manager,PES Essential enthusiasm when PES caught up with at PV CYCLE, popped in to PES to him. Customers value their complete discuss the importance of recycling24 An important trend is characterised energy storage solutions, which they and managing waste produced by so deploy world-wide to commercial and called ‘green energy’ by technology, market, materials utility-scale companies and investors coming together at an 100 Martin Schneider, the Managing opportune moment. Megatrends are indicative of especially strong changes Director of meteocontrol GmbH and that have a major impact on the the President of meteocontrol North development of technology and the America, Inc. spoke enthusiastically to market. The viewpoint of Meyer Burger PES about the technological advances in monitoring and managing energy and weather data and there are even more exciting developments on the horizon4 PES Solar

CONTENTS122118 Brett Jarman, VP Commercial Corporate focus 60 A.S Plastics Technology, Inc. explain Business Development at Sunflare 114 Pasi Kautonen, Marketing Manager how the fundamental standards for spared time to share the company’s manufacturing semiconductors and vison with PES at Valoe Oyj, tells PES about the solar cells are as concise as they background and aspirations of this are clear – they demand absoluteThink tank high-tech company. Their focus is on protection of people and the the developing high efficiency solar environment against chemicals, while34 Huawei enlighten us on how the photovoltaic modules and automated simultaneously protecting ultrapure module manufacturing technology chemicals from contamination history of the global PV industry is one that has been defined by 122 VARTA Storage explain why 64 In the manufacturing process of its innovation. And now, more than ever, the continuing growth and sustained collaboration and connectivity are a products, Pfeiffer Vacuum does not health of the solar sector is further must for the future of energy only attach importance to advanced enabling companies to invest in R&D technologies and highest quality 126 PES speaks with Matt Perry, who is standards but also to energy and76 Chris Jones, Senior Product resource efficiency, as these are a Technical Product Manager and co- important features of our corporate Manager, Edwards Vacuum, tells us founding member of the Renewable philosophy why Advanced solar cell production Energy Group, as well as the Chair requires a systems-level approach to of the Sustainability Committee, at 72 We are delighted to hear from Lawrie achieve abatement goals Campbell Scientific, Inc. Wilson, Area Manager UK & Ireland104 An economic analysis of bifacial PV Talking point at TESVOLT, as he speaks exclusively to PES device output power measurement – 28 Jörg Scholz, CEO at Gantner courtesy of Klaus Ramspeck, R&D 98 It might sound like bringing sand to Director and Denis Džafić, R&D Instruments Environment Solutions researcher, at h.a.l.m. elektronik GmbH talks about the company’s the beach, but in the PV sector a lot GmbH Complete monitoring solution for of friction inside business processes utility scale PV plants worldwide is still accepted. Looking at business108 Dr Rob Grant FRSC, CEO, Gas processes in PV, several fields and 56 The importance of recycling in several players can be identified. Recovery and Recycle limited We at PES were intrigued by this explains more about > 90% cost the solar/PV industry is globally statement from Stefan Wagner, Head saving opportunities from recycling recognized. PES has followed LOSER of Marketing & Sales at Levasoft and CHEMIE for a long time. This new asked him to expand on this joint venture takes them nearer the goal of 100% reuse of the discarded products and materials and also provides support to the industry in various other ways www.pessolar.com 5

COMMENT: TECHNOLOGYWelcome to theblock partyWords: Leonardo Botti, Global Head of Product Management ABB Leonardo Botti, Global Head of Product Management ABB, reviews the impact of Blockchain and how digitalization can support the technology’s adoption.Leonardo Botti To answer this question we need to look at energy sources and storage - such as the technology that underpins BitCoin - rooftop solar connecting to the grid - theIn 2009 a new disrupter finance model was ‘blockchain’. energy model is offering potential for alaunched- BitCoin. It heralded a new era in more decentralized and simplified energyhow currency and transactions were made Blockchain is based on a peer-to-peer management architecture.and transferred globally. The emergence platform that has created new ways inand rising popularity of this new which we can transact with one another. The ‘Smart Buildings’ revolution in moderncryptocurrency market reached a defining The underlying transaction model moves residential and commercial installationspoint in 2017 when the number of B2B us away from a centralized architecture means that today’s energy consumers areenterprises adopting Bitcoin trebled and towards a more direct and decentralized demanding ever smarter solutions togethersuddenly attracted the attention of global system between peers. This reduces the with greater control. This demand hasinvestors. But what does this decentralized need for a central server, authorization and seen a move away from consumers todigital currency have to do with the authentication of transactions by one what’s known as ‘prosumers’.changing energy market? single authoritative body. These prosumers will no longer be solely For the energy market, it is presenting new focused on consuming energy but also in opportunities for innovation within utilities producing it at the same time. They will and amongst homeowners. It is redefining increasingly look at how energy is created, how our energy is supplied and potentially when it’s used and how effectively their creating a sustainable energy community. electricity costs can and will be reduced. Role of the prosumer The blockchain technology, coupled with smart metering technology, will take this Energy transactions have historically been model one step further. It will allow based on a multi-tiered and complex prosumers to not only chose when and supply and demand business matrix how to use the energy they produce on between producers, transmission system their own, but also to trade surpluses with operators, distribution system operators, peers and neighbours through a token utilities and consumers. system, thereby creating a sustainable energy sharing economy, based on Yet through the emergence of ‘peer-to-peer energy transactions’. digitalization, the uptake in renewable6 PES Solar

COMMENT: TECHNOLOGY ‘The principle role of blockchain technology is to control and create one distributed ledger of all transactions within it.’In this evolution the prosumers will next 18 months when the pilots deliver can deliver a real and effective VPP acrosseffectively own and create VPP (Virtual tangible results and evaluations are made. these multiple locations, rather than onePower Plant) which could be combined via central location of a traditional poweraggregators in more consistent batches to As such, blockchain can represent a plant. This will strengthen and enhance thebetter manage and address local needs. creative and innovative opportunity for energy system, moving it away from a utilities to adapt and change their business typical ‘production driven’ model, whichThe solar industry is going to be one of the models to manage the data flow, as they we have seen so far, to one that is focusedearly adopters to take advantage of have long-standing experience in on an ‘energy consumption driven’ andblockchain and this new wave energy understanding the dynamics of the likely to be the future.market, particularly as solar outstrips1 all network and are able to drill down andother sources of renewable energy as the undertake analytical reviews to better Coupling blockchain with digitalizationfastest growing and easily viable power manage the energy flow through the monitoring solutions such as ABBsource, worldwide. system. This enables utilities to maximize Ability™, system architecture is scalable, and optimize their assets, expertise and from a few up to many thousands of units,Pilots of the peer-to-peer energy exchange experience, moving away from being a and it means that these solutions canutilizing solar and blockchain are already pure electricity provider to a full energy control and optimize VPP to correlate theunderway in major countries from the US service provider with added value offering excess energy which can be transferredto Australia. Through photovoltaic (PV) data management and analytics. and traded within the blockchain, servinginstallations installed on rooftops for energy communities at a local level, andexample, households and businesses can Blockchain and the VPP allowing customers to implement and eventrade the energy produced through create their own business model.blockchain. Photovoltaic plants with next generation inverter technology and digitalization This results in a more efficient energy flowNavigating the data highway embedded into their systems can adjust in the network, according to local and stabilize excess energy even at consumption and the utility’s energyThe principle role of blockchain technology marginal levels, across multiple sites, and strategy (peak-shaving), a better fineis to control and create one distributed flex according to demand. tuning of the power quality in the wholeledger of all transactions within it. This local infrastructure and real-time predictiveoffers several advantages including A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) collects power maintenance with troubleshooting and rootreduced transaction fees, system units under one central control system. cause detection.flexibility, security, easier implementation These VPPs would aggregate energyand greater innovation. generation sources — including solar The emergence of the blockchain energy plants, microgrids or energy storage model is already happening and it willFor the energy market, the key determining installations. Almost all power generation transform the energy supply within thesuccess factor is the overall system and storage technologies can be part of a next five years.efficiency, security and transparency of all VPP including biogas, biomass, combinedthe data interactions within it. This is heat and power (CHP), wind, solar, hydro, As our knowledge of the technologywhere the utility sector can evolve and diesel and fossil-fired plants. grows, so too does our understanding oftake advantage of the blockchain trend. its advantages and potential to update the ABB already delivers these innovative market to meet new customerDigitalization and the availability of big applications, with a strong portfolio in requirements and deliver an efficient anddata are providing greater insight on many VPPs across the globe, especially in transparent energy system.customers and how they use their energy. Europe where the company has installed aWhilst managing and controlling the large quantity of megawatts for a range of We are moving ever closer to developing acomplex transactions across global energy utilities. In these installations, the use of sustainable energy system, focused notnetwork and supply chain, along with ABB smart inverters with digital just on the fuel that goes into it, but alsogrowing security risks through the Internet capabilities and ABB Ability™ cloud-based on how our energy is managed and sold toof Things (IoT) has resulted in the energy services has delivered full interaction with deliver a reciprocal, community-basedmarket becoming a data highway. local utility monitoring and control market for all. systems, together with advanced remoteIn recent months there has been an tools to enable cost effective energy http://new.abb.com/solaracceleration on the number of investments management.that utilities and new energy entrants are 1 https://www.theguardian.com/undertaking to adopt this new blockchain The Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain environment/2017/oct/04/solar-power-model and it is anticipated to rise over the renewables-international-energy-agency www.pessolar.com 7

COMMENT: FINANCEThe future of solarpower investment liesin infrastructureWords: John Tuerk, co-founder and chief power officer of Clear Blue Technologies Infrastructure is not a short-term investment. Once installed, these critical systems have to remain useful for at least 20 years. Public utilities looking to invest in solar power and other renewable energy systems face pressure to ensure that these systems are cost-effective and meet the energy demand.John Tuerk accounts for 35 percent of a utility’s utility bills get even higher, and then costs, be that from solar power, wind conclude that solar power is to blame. ButAs the cost of solar power has come down power or natural gas. The bulk of utility utility costs of solar power are comparableconsiderably, and more public utilities costs come from operating and to other energy generation methods. Theseek to incorporate it into their energy mix, maintaining the underlying distribution real added costs to a utility bill for either ainfrastructure is where we will see the next infrastructure. Even the most efficient city or a consumer come from operationalphase of technological development. For energy generation methods will result in and maintenance issues of theirinvestors, this presents a powerful excessive costs if the distribution distribution infrastructure’s patchwork ofopportunity to back the solutions that will infrastructure fails or functions improvements, not the inclusion oftransform the energy industry over the incorrectly. For newer systems to be alternative energy generation.next decade. installed effectively on a large-scale, it is not enough to simply shoehorn them into Alleviating the high costs of building andThe next phase of investment old structures. maintaining a distributed infrastructure strategy, just to get energy to where youIn reality, energy generation only The state of solar power today demonstrates use it, is the next wave of energy this phenomenon. As it stands, solar development and investment. In the past photovoltaic (PV) hardware is more decade, technological advancements in affordable than ever, according to the U.S. wireless systems, big data, cloud Department of Energy. Yet, high prices are technology, the Internet of Things (IOT) and still cited by public utilities as a deterrent battery storage have brought new solutions towards solar power on a large scale. that can be incorporated into an infrastructure strategy that enhances the In my career providing clean energy hidden cost benefits of localized solar, wind solutions at Clear Blue Technologies and and hybrid power. other companies, I have seen this first-hand. Governments jump at the Here are some of the biggest technological chance to incorporate solar power without shifts for solar power infrastructure over the a long-term plan, only to see their high next decade.8 PES Solar

COMMENT: FINANCE ‘Advanced battery technology will make both large-and-small-scale storage of electricity from renewable sources a reality.’New batteries for a new frontier specific companies will begin to build their it impacts the device, and even enables own battery pack solutions. These batteries proactive changes to avoid outages.Advanced battery technology will make can be tailored down to their chemistry toboth large-and-small-scale storage of account for differing uses, terrains and Integrated weather forecasting can alsoelectricity from renewable sources a reality. even weather patterns. determine whether there will be enough energy generated in the near future for theTraditionally, the electric grid had not Smartly moving off the grid battery to recover automatically, or whetherincorporated battery storage. By combining a technician needs to take action to reducepower from gas, nuclear and coal, utilities Arguably, decentralization of utilities energy draw. Seasonal conditions also canwould juggle these sources to meet systems will be the most significant be anticipated, and load profiles can bedemand and manage cost. Utilities are now development for the future of solar power updated online each season to maximizebeginning to invest in localized storage, to as an alternative to traditional sources of performance. This data history also plays alevel out energy demands on their energy generation. huge role in keeping systems serviceddistribution infrastructure. As energy properly, as well as troubleshooting issues.storage increasingly becomes part of the Until now, street lights, telecommunicationsenergy mix, solar solutions will also benefit systems, security monitoring and other By increasing the reliability of these off-gridfrom the natural acceptance of storage as a critical infrastructure devices have relied systems, smart off-grid technology reduceskey component of energy infrastructure. heavily on the electric grid, which in many the cost of installation and maintenance by parts of the world is inefficient, expensive, up to 80 percent. The inclusion of smartAs with solar panels themselves, the cost of unreliable or non-existent. But today, as off-grid in solar powered utilitiesbattery storage is going down, with the the wattage of these devices has infrastructure creates a real alternative topush towards renewable energy and decreased, much of this infrastructure can the electric grid.lowering carbon emissions creating a now be sufficiently powered by off-gridnatural demand. Companies like Tesla have solar power instead. Investment Impactchampioned lithium-ion batteries, whichhave dropped from about $1,000 per Smart off-grid technology enhances For investors, more efficient infrastructure willkilowatt-hour in 2010 to about $209 per reliability by connecting solar power be the next phase of solar powerkWh in 2017. systems to the cloud and enabling remote development, as it becomes a viable source control and management over the internet. of energy generation. This will close the gapNot all battery packs are created to suit all This can cut costs by limiting the training of between off-grid renewable energy and theenergy applications. Tesla’s lithium-ion service personnel on new technology and electric grid, both in terms of cost andbatteries, for instance, are ideally suited for instead remotely assist them during the reliability. Public utilities, searching for thecars, but not necessarily utilities, or off-grid provisioning and commissioning, and then best solution to updating tired and outdatedstreetlights. The move from Lead Acid help manage potential installation problems infrastructure, will find greater value in solarBatteries to Lithium Ion packs is similar to resulting in the diminishment from the due to these infrastructure advancements. Aswhat happened when the lighting industry expected sun or wind energy, through such, these new technologies, offer a viable,shifted from incandescent to LED bulbs. By online alerts and reports. Smart data and large-scale implementation of alternativegoing from a capital-intensive processing helps detect any decline in solutions, which represents the next wave ofmanufacturing process to making a printed battery charge due to poor weather opportunity in solar powered investment.circuit board style product, small, market conditions, system damage or aging, before www.clearbluetechnologies.com/en www.pessolar.com 9

COMMENT: INVESTMENTFrom the darkness,comes lightWords: Maximillian Schurade, Director of Technical Marketing, Hanwha Q CELLS Amid yet more uncertainty in the solar industry – fuelled by the recent policy shakeup in China and subsequent plunge in PV module prices – leading manufacturers know that the best course of action is taken with a steady hand and eyes fixed firmly on the horizon; a horizon shaped by PV innovation and quality.Maximillian Schurade tariff (FIT), placed a cumulative annual cap slightly soberer viewpoint. Most pertinently, on distributed generation (DG) installations the consensus now seems to be that theRight around the time that the world’s at 10 GW (previously 19 GW) for the year, Chinese authorities would not purposefullylargest solar power exhibition, the SNEC and introduced a new auction mandate for force one of its leading industries – solarshow in Shanghai, was winding down at the utility-scale projects. energy – into a controlled decline, andend of May, Chinese officials were silently would find way to keep its PV fabspreparing to drop a bombshell that was There was a lot to unwrap in this new humming and its solar installations growing.soon sending shockwaves throughout the policy. The kneejerk response among many After all, most domestic developers canPV world. solar analysts was perhaps overly source solar modules at very low prices, pessimistic. Reports of module prices and secure a feed-in power purchaseThe country’s National Energy tumbling 34%; forecasts that China’s agreement (PPA) below $0.05/W, whichAdministration (NEA), the National installation would fall by more than 20 GW means that unsubsidized solar power canDevelopment and Reform Commission to around 30 GW for the year; and even talk still be competitive.(NDRC) and the Ministry of Finance had of 2018 H1 (First Half) coming to representprepared a new policy that stated, in no ‘peak solar’ – a watershed moment upon There will be, however, a tightening ofuncertain terms, that the government would which the industry will look back with production across China and, perhapsnot approve any more subsidized large- rose-tinted glasses, when all was well with subsequently, the world. Only the mostscale PV projects for the remainder of the the world of PV. competitive manufacturers – those that areyear, effective June 1. The government fully or almost-fully automated, equippedbodies also confirmed a cut in the feed-in Under these new, straitened market with state-of-the-art machinery, and conditions, analysts feared, Chinese PV producing cutting-edge solar technology demand would be decimated, leaving the – will be able to survive in the coming industry in a position of chronic oversupply years, most analysts predict. that could only be eased via two pressure valves: widespread insolvencies among Nevertheless, utilization rates may well the less-competitive companies, and have to slow down even among the largest sharp module price reduction on a Tier-1 solar companies as chronic massive global scale. oversupply – estimated by Roth Capital to be as high as 34 GW of PV capacity – In the weeks and months that have passed hovers ominously over the industry for the since then, the industry’s leading analysts remainder of 2018 like a dark cloud. have revisited their earlier projections with a10 PES Solar

COMMENT: INVESTMENT ‘No nation, policy nor tariff should be influential enough to singularly dampen or destroy this goal. Rather, solar’s proud tradition as a tech-driven industry should be further embraced, and the pathway towards global prominence cleared of all hurdles – be they financial, political, or even technological.’An eye on the horizon for innovation, but it remains true. As the development, it is contingent upon all solar shakeout accelerates, companies leading solar cell and module producers –Not every occupant of the solar value chain unable to offer the very best in terms of including Hanwha Q CELLS – to place evenwill shudder at the thought of tumbling technology will be overlooked in favour of greater focus than ever before on developingmodule prices, of course. Solar will become those that do. next-generation technologies. From half-cuta buyers’ market, where EPCs, installers cells to bifacial and other innovativeand end consumers can drive a hard While there may be a short-term boom for technologies like modules with steel framesbargain, safe in the knowledge that should Tier-2 and Tier-3 firms able to shift for faster installation, through to ensuringtheir demands not be met by one supplier, low-cost solar modules quickly, in the that quality issues such as PID, LID andthey simply go elsewhere. Such mid- to long-term such a business model LeTID are understood, controlled andcompetition – while fierce – will likely act as will prove unsustainable. Once the chronic overcome, there is a growing responsibilitya necessary ‘reset button’ for the solar oversupply situation eases, developers for Tier-1 solar firms to invest more time,industry. Much like how controlled fires are and installers will be uncompromising on money and effort in R&D. Only then canstarted amid dense woodland in order to price, while demanding the very best in solar power reach its potential of becominglessen the likelihood of a devastating quality and innovation. one of the world’s predominant sources ofwildfire breaking out, so too can the solar energy over the next few decades.industry benefit from a controlled shakeout. Which makes it more vital than ever for solar cell and module manufacturers to No nation, policy nor tariff should beBe it China’s new competitive auctions, the ensure that they are continuously funding influential enough to singularly dampen orSection 201 tariffs in the USA, the 25% their R&D efforts and seeking new and destroy this goal. Rather, solar’s proudsafeguard tariffs in India, or the surging innovative ways to push the boundaries of tradition as a tech-driven industry shouldappetite for low-cost solar power in the PV technology. Every percentage point be further embraced, and the pathwaypotentially massive markets of South increase in efficiency; every second saved towards global prominence cleared of allAmerica, the current landscape places during an installation; every extra watt of hurdles – be they financial, political, or evenunprecedented demand on leading solar energy output; every additional year of technological. PV is already well on its waycell and module manufacturers: not in uninterrupted performance – such will to becoming the planet’s least-cost sourceterms of supply, but increasingly in terms become the benchmarks by which module of energy; it is the industry’s duty to keepof cost and quality. It may seem suppliers are increasingly measured. its foot pressed firmly on the R&D pedal.counterintuitive to argue that fierce costpressures present a superb opportunity In order to accelerate this rate of www.hanwha-qcells.com www.pessolar.com 11

THINK TANK Assessing bifacial with tracking technology Words: Ron Corio Ron Corio is the founder of Array Technologies, pioneers of solar tracking technology. Array Technologies built its first tracker for bifacial modules in 2009 and has been studying bifacial modules coupled with utility scale trackers at a test-site for the last year, and recently launched a new partnership with a national laboratory in New Mexico. At Intersolar North America 2018, Array explained that it will continue to push its study of the convergence of bifacial and tracking technologies; namely how these studies will help to better identify and interpret the multitude of factors which go into predicting the energy output of future plants combining these two technologies.12 PES Solar

THINK TANKInnovation has driven the growth and optimize backside performance is our DuraTrack V3 tracker architecture atdevelopment of the PV industry. With that paramount: ‘Cutting off your nose to spite the site.innovation has come increased reliability, your face,’ so to speak. Optimizing thebankability, optimized energy yields, and financial return for bifacial is key. Preliminary findings from a yearlong studyhigher efficiencies – making solar more and revealed that a 9.15% power output gainmore appealing to stakeholders. The nature of bifacial solar modules means can be achieved in a bifacial with tracker that the output of the backside is highly array when compared to monofacialOne of the most promising innovations is dependent on a number of natural as well modules in the same configuration.the emergence of bifacial PV cell and as mechanical factors. Specifically, the Although the field data to date shows thatmodule technology. By producing amount of light that reaches the backside of two-module-in-portrait (2MIP) orientationelectricity from both the front and backside the module depends greatly on the albedo, delivers the best total power output, theof a solar module, PV project owners and or reflectivity of the ground substrate on added cost of taller foundations anddevelopers can profit from increased which the cell is installed. The power gain installation of 2MIP suggest that thisenergy yields from the diffused light hitting percentage versus albedo of common maximum power output configuration maythe backside of the module. installation substrates can range from not provide the maximum financial return in 5.67% for grass, up to 24.60% for white the aggregate.When coupled with an optimized and painted surfaces.1 This large disparity inreliable PV tracking system, bifacial albedo means that it is impossible to At a time when the PV industry is undermodules could represent a particularly generalize the potential gains from a PV enormous cost pressure, the opportunity topowerful solution, however, the application system deploying bifacial technology improve LCOE and boost production forof bifacial with tracking is only at its early – making the bankability site specific. only a slight increase in project cost isstages, and a number of challenges remain promising. While preliminary numbers arefor large-scale adoption to occur. With the Taking a proactive approach to bifacial impressive, results will vary greatly basedbackside yield only a second-order effect, with tracking PV applications, Array on site substrate conditions, geolocation,the front side production remains the Technologies has been gathering data and a variety of other variables. In the end,dominant factor determining total yield. from a test array at a Nevada test site for the cost of bifacial is the most easilyAvoiding the pitfalls which over 12 months. Bifacial modules from adisproportionately drive up cost in order to leading producer have been paired with 1 Trina Solar www.pessolar.com 13

THINK TANKanalysed, whereas the benefit is much with solar tracker technology. toward a strong push in the solar industrymore difficult to define. to swiftly ensure the bankability of new The laboratories’ extensive experience and developments. The results of these studiesThrough its test site and other efforts, Array attention to detail are fundamental to the aim to provide the data necessary tohas also made good progress in growing success of their joint efforts with Array. provide responsible cost vs. benefitthe industry’s understanding of modelling Impartial, systematic investigation of modelling that will relieve any uncertainties,bifacial with tracking power output – which factors impacting production will support and aid in the early adoption of innovativeis carried out when a PV system is still in energy modelling methodology and technologies in solar energy production.the design stage. Models currently validation. In addition, advanced Not only will studies such as these benefitdeployed as industry standards, such as instrumentation is being deployed to the companies involved, but the light shedPVsyst, are still in development and carefully study the effects of independent by them should be invaluable incurrently appear to have shortcomings variables on the power output of bifacial encouraging the widespread adoption ofwhen it comes to accurately forecasting with tracking systems. solar as a whole.bifacial with tracking system output. The ambitious and far sighted nature of this www.arraytechinc.comIt is crucial for the industry to evaluate the testing being undertaken by Array pointsactual production gains and the NPV of abifacial tracking PV asset, and to determinewhether costs incurred in an attempt tooptimize for the bifacial boost have abeneficial impact on LCOE. Does theadditional backside energy harvest justifythe increased total project CAPEX costs?While good progress has been made withstandard forecasting and evaluation models,they are dependent on accurate annualalbedo data and tracker impact models.Potential bifacial gains have little valuewithout bankable models, and as of now, theindustry needs a standardized module-on-tracker test for modelling and comparison.In continuing expansion of its R&D efforts,Array Technologies has partnered with anational laboratory in New Mexico withstate-of-the-art solar technology researchfacilities. Extensive field tests areunderway on bifacial modules and willprovide the industry with a betterunderstanding of benefits when coupled14 PES Solar

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CONFERENCE CALLNorth America smart energyweek: fusing solar energy andtechnology for the futureSolar Power International, a massive three-day annual event, The industry’s success can be seen by thewhich is once again being held in Anaheim from September numbers - more than 10 GW of solar were24th to 27th. PES brings you a full preview. It’s exciting, it’s installed in 2017, adding to a total of 56 GWawesome, it’s the best yet and still not too late to get your across the country and powering 10.7 millionticket if you haven’t already done so. We look forward to homes. In the past five years, prices formeeting up with you. installed solar have dropped by over half. Community solar is also booming, withNorth America Smart Energy Week, portfolio for businesses and communities. capacity more than doubling last year frompowered by the leading solar organizations Anchored by the flagship event, Solar 347 MW at the end of 2016 to 734 MW at thethe Solar Energy Industries Association Power International (SPI), North America end of 2017, according to the Smart Electric(SEIA) and the Smart Electric Power Smart Energy Week brings together an Power Alliance (SEPA) research. There areAlliance (SEPA), is the largest gathering of extensive alliance of renewable energy now more than 1.7 million solar installations insolar, smart energy, energy storage, and leaders for four days of networking, the U.S. and 2 million should be hit in late 2018hydrogen fuel cells professionals in North accredited educational events, and and 4 million by 2023, according to the SolarAmerica looking to grow their renewable innovation that moves the industry forward. Energy Industries Association (SEIA) research. It’s no surprise to see the success of North America’s largest solar & energy storage trade show, Solar Power International (SPI) and Energy Storage International (ESI), which returns to Anaheim, CA this September 24-27.16 PES Solar

CONFERENCE CALLSmart, storage, hydrogen and more: Storage International is the largest energy o F uel Cell Electric-Vehicles: Entry Point forwhat to expect at SPI and ESI storage event in North America – attendees the Expanded Renewable Energy join to understand the importance of TransitionOver 20,000 energy professionals and 750 integrating an energy storage system. Thisexhibitors from more than 120 countries will year, ESI is also going beyond • S mart energy microgrid marketplace,make Anaheim their home for three days to solar+storage. As storage costs decline, Presented by Solar Power Internationalexperience the largest and fastest growing viable energy storage solutions aresolar trade show in North America. SPI is emerging for small and community wind The Smart Energy Microgrid Marketplacethe only solar trade show that was honored projects, enhancing their value. In addition will feature a fully-functioning microgrid,as a Gold 100 show, an award that to drawing some of the biggest players in energy management systems, automationrecognizes the top-100 largest trade shows energy storage, ESI also features an products, electric vehicle charging stations,and an honor SPI has received for the past education pavilion on the show floor energy storage systems, solar paneleight years. As one of the fastest 50 dedicated to new technology, trends, and manufacturers, and distributed wind projectgrowing trade shows, SPI has ventured into analysis of energy storage. Education developers—ultimately making thenew markets that help connect all things sessions include: connection between distributed energysolar – from storage, IoT, hydrogen, o Value Stacking and Finance Innovations resources and smart products. Educationdistributed wind, microgrids, and beyond. o Demystifying the differences between sessions include: o Smart Energy Management Systems forSPI and ESI are powered by leading Distributed Energy Storage and Centralindustry groups, SEIA and SEPA. All Energy Storage in PV-Systems Residential Storage Hybrid Invertersproceeds from SPI go right back to the o The Roles of Storage and DER in Disaster o DC Hybrid Microgrids and Commercialnon-profits in order to help strengthen and Recovery and Resiliencegrow the United States solar economy. o P V + Storage - A Path to Reliable, Fully Building Retrofits Dispatchable Solar o Field Performance of Behind-the-MeterThe future of the solar industry depends onits ability to integrate with new technologies • Hydrogen + Fuel Cells North America, Solar+Storageto complement its strengths. With over 750 Co-located with Solar Power International o Smart Control Interconnection Solutionsexhibiting companies expected, you’ll besurrounded by new technologies and ideas, Hydrogen + Fuel Cells North America, led for C&I Customersincluding smart renewable energy and by the organizers of Europe’s largest • T he Technical Symposium,energy storage that drive your business hydrogen, fuels cells and battery exhibition,forward. SPI is co-locating with two events, HANNOVER MESSE, is back after a Presented by Solar Power Internationalalong with an expanded Smart Energy successful 2017 launch. This year’s The Technical Symposium is back for aMicrogrid Marketplace. exhibition will be bigger and better, second year, offering professionals from featuring 50+ international exhibitors the academic, R&D, technical and scientific• Solar Power International (SPI), focusing on the connection between solar disciplines in photovoltaics, energy storage Co-located with Energy Storage and hydrogen, as well as an extensive and smart energy the opportunity to submit International forum program on topics from public abstracts for peer review, presentation, and transport to policy incentives. Education publication at the largest gathering of theAs the anchor event of North America sessions include: solar community in North America. TheSmart Energy Week, SPI sets the standard o F uel Cells for Distributed Energy and technical symposium features three days offor solar events as the fastest growing and cutting edge scientific and technicallargest solar show in North America. With Utility Generation content. Education sessions include:its breadth of industry experts sharing their o Renewables Fueling Public Transport o Enhance System Reliability with the useknowledge and exhibitions from the o Hydrogen as key to sector couplingindustry’s pacemakers, SPI is where of sensors, predictive analytics and cloudleaders convene to get business done. gate – IoTEducation sessions include:o Drivers of Utility-Scale Solar and Storageo S olar Manufacturing: What Tariffs and New Factories Meano S olar as Part of the Generation Mix Perspectives in Resources Planning and Implementationo The Next Big Market: Engaging Low & Moderate-Income Communities• E nergy Storage International (ESI), Co-located with Solar Power InternationalEnergy storage is a game-changer for theentire energy economy, and especially forthe solar industry. By capturing power andreleasing it on-demand where it is neededon the grid or behind-the-meter, bothutilities and project developers can takeadvantage of declining costs. In 2017, theU.S. deployed 432 MWh of grid-connectedstorage and that number is estimated toreach over 1,200 MWh by the end of 2018alone, according to GTM Research. Energy www.pessolar.com 17

CONFERENCE CALLo Optimal Future Sub-Transmission Volt-Var register! Tickets are $225 per person and Opening Session Planning Tool to Enable High Distributed sell out fast. The keynote session will feature Mary PV Penetration Kipp, CEO of El Paso Electric, J. Andrew • Young professionals’ reception Murphy, SVP of Strategy and Corporateo P erformance Analysis of Smart Energy Development, Edison International, and Management Systems for Residential New to solar? Stop by this networking Gil C. Quiniones, President and CEO, Storage Hybrid Inverters reception for libations and connections. New York Power Authority.o DC Hybrid Microgrids: Sharing • Professional women in solar and o T uesday, September 25: A general Operational Data, Values, Challenges to storage luncheon session featuring The Honorable Sharon Accelerate Market for Commercial Burke, Former Assistant Secretary of Building Retrofits This annual event sells out every year! In Defense for Operational Energy, this uniquely formatted luncheon, attendees Department of Defense, will be held atNetworking at every turn will connect with solar and storage 8:00 am on this day. professionals from across the globe in anWith over 24 hours of dedicated interactive experience that spurs discussion o W ednesday, September 26: Speakers tonetworking, you’ll have multiple among today’s leaders on how to effectively be announced soon!opportunities to make new contacts in the do business and advance their careers.U.S. solar market. Hear from a leading executive professional • Concurrent Sessions development coach and a couple of top• Welcome networking event industry executives as they share five focus Delve into issues you face in your daily areas that have influenced the ascent of operations and discover best practices youStart the conference off right. Join us on their careers. Add-on cost to SPI can implement when you return to work.Monday evening for the first networking registration, $75 USD. Tracks include:opportunity you’ll have with your colleaguesin Anaheim. Tickets for this are included • Exhibit hall happy hour o Asset Managementwith Full Conference registration and areavailable for $100 to other attendees. Close out a full day of learning with libations o Distributed Generation and laughter on the expo floor.• Block party o Energy Storage • Poster receptionThe annual block party is the highlight of o Financethe week! Join industry colleagues for an Grab a drink and network one-on-one withexclusive networking party at the House of poster representatives. o Grid Modernization & InnovationBlues. Are you going to join the solarindustry’s biggest party? Tickets for the • ESI: Beers with peers o Utilityevent are included with Full Conferenceregistration and are available for an New this year! Mix and mingle with • Exhibit Hall Educationadditional $150. colleagues during the beers with peers happy hour. In addition to the concurrent sessions, there• Run with the sun 5K are also multiple stages on the show floor, Industry leading education and exhibits including: Installer Training, Industry Trends,SPI welcomes all conference attendees to Smart Energy Stage, Storage Central, andlace up their running shoes and hit the road Whether you’re an installer, manufacturer, the Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Stage.in Anaheim! This event kicks off in the financier or utility, our conference programmorning of Tuesday, September 25. offers education for you navigate this Meet with the entire U.S. solarRegistration is $45. growing market. supply chain• Golf tournament • General sessions SPI attracts over 750 exhibitors from around the globe. You can meet withJoin your colleagues for a little friendly This year, SPI will feature three General companies from the entire solar supplycompetition! The SPI Golf Tournament will Sessions with big picture ideas from chain, including:be located at Tustin Ranch Golf Club. leading industry executives.Individuals and teams are encouraged to - Architecture firms o Monday, September 24 – Welcome & - Community solar - Commercial solar - Energy storage - Engineering - EPC Contractors - Investors - Financiers - Manufacturers - Operations and maintenance - Real estate developers - Software - Solar hot water distributors, installers and contractors - And utilities Visit SolarPowerInternational.com to learn more.18 PES Solar

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CONFERENCE CALLAsia’s largest and mostinfluential event inrenewable energyPES brings you a preview of the 12th Renewable Energy launch of a Sunrisers pavilionIndia 2018 Expo, which will be held between 18th-20thSeptember 2018. The aim is empowering India’s renewables • CEO Conclavemission to a new high, with participants from all over theglobe. Don’t miss out book your tickets now. • Finance Leadership ForumA glimpse of the forthcoming REI 2018: successful case studies and deliberations • Quality Round Table by PV magazine taking the sector forward.• A sia’s most leading Renewable Energy • Future Round Table by PV magazine Expo by UBM India from 18th-20th • India Clean Energy Days & International September, 2018; with 45 participating Matchmaking organised by Business • 4 th edition of Renewable Energy India countries and 750+ exhibitors. Beyond Borders (BBB) together with Awards on 17th September 2018: To European Business and Technology recognize Innovation & Excellence in the• 3 - Day power packed conference Centre (EBTC) and supported by Renewable Energy Industry – ‘Accelerating Momentum…From European Commission Ambition to Action’. Conference to The 12th edition of Renewable Energy India highlight innovations, challenges and • Bolstering Start-ups and SMEs with the Expo (REI), hosted by UBM India, India’s leading exhibitions’ organiser, is all set to come back in a magnificent way this year with the presence of leading international stakeholders and experts. The expo will be held between September20 PES Solar

CONFERENCE CALL18th to 20th 2018, at the India Expo Center, Indo-German Energy Forum, APVIA (Asian whereby the top most CEOs CFOs fromGreater Noida. A leading expo in its domain, Photovoltaic Industry Association), TFE India and overseas come together toREI is the most comprehensive and a Consulting GmbH, pv magazine, IBA and deliberate and discuss about the future ofreputed global platform where India’s green GBA (Indian Biogas asspciation and the RE- Sector.economy community congregates to German Biogas association)discuss industry trends, challenges and Key dignitariesmarket insights including the Indian Highlights of the conference includeregulatory framework in the august presence The Industry will see the presence of keyof International stakeholders of repute. • ‘16th SUN MEET’ by ISA dignitaries; Shri. Upender Tripathi, IDG of ISA (International Solar Alliance), MrWhat has REI 2018 to offer? • Make in India Session by Bridge to India Christopher JONES, Hors Classe Adviser – European Commission, Energy• India Clean Energy Days & International • M aster Class on: Corporate Renewable Directorate-General, Dr. Juergen Welschof, Matchmaking organised Business Beyond PPA’s by WBCSD KfW - Quality in Financing of Solar along Borders (BBB) together with European with Representative from NEDO-Japan Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) • Workshop on ‘Electric Vehicle Charging’, and supported by European Commission ‘Battery Energy Storage’ and ‘New Exhibitors and country pavilions Markets and upcoming BusinessUnder its aegis, a contingent of top experts/ Opportunities in the Onshore Wind Sector Bringing together Manufacturers, EPC andcompanies from the EU will make their in India’ by WBCSD Service Providers the expo will have overesteemed presence felt at REI. They are 800+ exhibitors including companies like –partnering with REI for EU Business • 5 th Indo-German Energy Symposium on: Tata Solar Power, Adani Power, VikramMatchmaking Pavilion, Technical Seminars, - Upcoming Opportunities and Niche Solar, Waaree Energies Ltd, JA Solar,Launch of EU-India Strategic Partnership Markets for Solar PV in India Huawei, Jinko Solar, Sungrow, Candianfor Implementation of Paris Agreement Solar, Mahindra Susten, ABB, Siemens(SPIPA) – GIZ and more. • Panel discussion on ‘Shaping the Future Gamesa, Patanjali, Havells, Meyer Burger, of Indian Solar’ by Industry experts Trina Solar, amongst others.The REI expo will present a power packedthree-day conference themed ‘Accelerating • A CTO Forum on Trends and Technologies The show will feature pavilions fromMomentum…From Ambition to Action’.’ in Renewable Energy Germany, EU, Japan, Spain, China, Taiwan.encompassing knowledge -rich sessions, It will also feature pavilions such asworkshops and panel discussions by • Session on ‘Embracing Digitalization of ‘Sunrisers’ which is a special initiative toreputed global and local bodies such as Energy Through Data and Technology’ by support start-ups and SMEs; a ‘Bio Energy’International Solar Alliance (ISA), European TFE Consulting GmbH pavilion in association with Indian BiogasUnion, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, and German Biogas Association speakingBridge to India, World Business Council for • Sessions by EU- SOLAR POWER IN and mooting the way of Bioenergy in ourSustainable Development (WBCSD), INDIA/ ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN ecosystems and the changes brought by it BUILDINGS AND GREEN COOLING / in producing clean and green energy. The OFFSHORE WIND ‘World of Innovation ‘, an exclusive platform for novel exhibitor product launches is • Panel discussion on ‘Women in the being organized onsite to reach out to Renewable Sector and their Perspective potential audience. with Technology and Innovation’ Speaking at the press briefing of REI, Mr. • F ull day Conference program by IBA in Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM association with GBA (Indian Biogas India said, ‘India has been eyeing the pole Association and German Biogas position in the clean energy transformation, Association looking to have at least 225,000 megawatts (MW) of installed renewable energy • Quality Roundtable by PV magazine The expo will also hold a closed-door CEO conclave and Finance Leadership Forum, www.pessolar.com 21

CONFERENCE CALLcapacity by 2022 much beyond the manner, with due consideration to wind, • Leading RE Manufacturerstargeted 175 GW. hydropower and biomass along with solar energy. Through REI, we will also focus on • RE Excellence - End UsersBeing the most attractive renewable energy the latest trends in energy storage,markets in the world, the installed e-mobility, data analytics and IoT, all of • RE Start-uprenewable power generation capacity in the which are set to revolutionise thecountry has increased steadily posting a mechanism of this sector.’ About UBM AsiaCAGR of 9.29 per cent over FY08–18 andadded record 11,788 MW of renewable The trade show will also be preceded by UBM Asia recently became part ofenergy capacity in 2017-18. the 4th Renewable Energy India Awards, Informa PLC, a leading B2B information planned for 17th September 2018. It aims to services group and the largest B2BAt this rate, India is expected to overtake recognise the efforts, innovation, and Events organiser in the world. PleaseChina and become the largest growth excellence and promote the talent in the visit http://www.ubm.com/asia for moremarket by the late 2020s. Last year the industry. The ceremony will have an august information about our presence in Asia.country added more power-generation audience of industry stalwarts competingcapacity from renewable sources than under various categories from: About Renewable Energy India (REI)conventional ones. Not surprisingly, half of Expo:the world’s 10 largest solar parks under • Leading EPCconstruction are in India. All this is acting as REI is organised by UBM, which ina huge pull for international investors and • Leading RE Technology-Product June 2018 combined with Informa PLCequipment suppliers.’ Innovation to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2BHe added, ‘The REI expo is a canopy with • Leading Off-Grid Renewable Innovation Events organiser in the world.multiple country participation that providesattendees much more levy to network, • Excellence in E-Mobility & Storage Please visit http://www.ubm.com/indiadevelop the knowledge landscape, engage Solutions for more information about ourin a balanced technology mix, and conduct presence in India.business, all of which potentially leads to • Excellence in RE Skillinginvestments, and MOUs. This year, we areapproaching renewables in a more holistic • Excellence in Bio Energy • Leading RE Developers22 PES Solar

THE SMART HANDLINGOF LIQUID CHEMICALSQuickly Connected. Safely Dispensed.

PES ESSENTIALHeterojunction cellsTechnologies for megatrendsThere have been solar cells based on semiconductor years before industrialised mass productiontechnology since the middle of the 20th century, and based on these technologies would bephotovoltaics (PV) have undergone continuous development made possible.since that time. Trends have always played a decisive role inthe development of PV. An important trend is characterised The majority of todays’ cell concepts wereby technology, market, materials and investors coming actually invented long before industrialtogether at an opportune moment. Megatrends are indicative mass production began (see table 1).of especially strong changes that have a major impact on thedevelopment of technology and the market. Most solar cell concepts were already being demonstrated in laboratories aroundDevelopments in photovoltaics The first commercial solar cells were the world between 1975 and 1995, but they produced mainly using scrap wafers only became relevant for mass productionBell Labs made the first n-type silicon solar originating from the manufacture of much later. The efficiencies of the best cellscell to generate electrical energy directly integrated circuits. At the same time, as indicated below are consistentlyfrom sunlight as long ago as 1954. At that research efforts were initiated with the goal improving. Thin film cells have a relativelytime, the semiconductor industry was in the of improving solar cell efficiency. The solar lower average efficiency in mass productionvery early stages of its development and cell structures in use today were devised in the module than wafer-based cells,material prices were still very high. After and first developed in the laboratory in a compared to best cell laboratory results.1970, the semiconductor industry evolved relatively short period of time. In somerapidly, as a result of which suitable cases, however, it would take more than 30 Principle of industrialised masssemiconductors became available. production As a basic principle, mass production can only begin once certain basic conditions are satisfied: • A market with a sufficiently large volume • Adequate experience for the new product24 PES Solar

PES ESSENTIAL variant (yield, costs, behaviour) It was a similar story with PERC (Passivated and the wafer has a p-base doping. At Emitter Rear Cell) technology. The lower process temperatures, impurities are• Standards, norms, simulation, etc. that photovoltaic equipment manufacturer less mobile so that the production formally permit a technical application Meyer Burger developed and offered cleanliness requirements can be lowered. MAiA®, a coating facility for SiN/AlOx• N ew solutions must be more cost- coatings, from 2013. Once the first such Costs can be reduced further by using an efficient than existing ones facilities were installed and the aluminium paste over the entire back consumables needed such as surface. During the firing process, this• Availability of proven machine technology trimethylaluminum (TMA) became cheaper, paste generates an electrical back surface for mass production the trend accelerated. This turned into a field that increases the efficiency of the veritable PERC boom from 2015. Now, solar cell for a number of reasons. Al-BSFSmaller evolutionary changes, such as the more than 15 GW Al-BSF cell production is (aluminium back surface field) cells enableuse of a cheaper encapsulant or a being upgraded to PERC every year. efficiencies of up to 19%.technology changeover from 2 busbar to 3busbar connections, are easier to Some current developments also indicate Surface passivation makes for a furtherimplement in mass production than trends in photovoltaics with the potential increase in efficiency, as a result of whichradically new technologies. to have a major impact on the industry in the PERC upgrade has gained in the future. importance. The effect of material qualityEven with industrialisation, the number of is already apparent at efficiencies of overunits is usually small to begin with, and so Megatrend 1: Solar cells with 20%, however. The solution is to switch toare the investments. Later, however, the monocrystalline n-type silicon monocrystalline material and to n-typeinvestments grow significantly because the doped wafers. Both increase the electricalnumber of units has to be increased and Monocrystalline n-type silicon was actually quality of the wafer, thus achieving higherbecause of the need to secure the entire used for the very first solar cell. This was, efficiencies. Using n-type silicon in PV hasproduction process. This trend explains the however, mainly attributable to the fact that become profitable since the arrival ofever steeper growth in PV production this material was already available for good passivation methods and increasescapacity since 2000. semiconductor research and could in cell efficiency compensate for the therefore be used. It was only later that the additional costs, which result from theIn order to influence a technology solar cell production process became higher demands on production.development and share in its benefits, cheaper, causing a switch from n-type Heterojunction technology (HJT) opens upcompanies must anticipate the right trends silicon to p-type silicon and, a little later, an interesting possibility for the use ofand adapt to them. For example, at the even from monocrystalline silicon to n-type material because HJT no longerbeginning of this century, the SiNA® cell multicrystalline silicon. The rationale for this requires high process temperatures in cellcoating platform was launched on the market step was that the phosphorus diffusion to production. Currently, n-type solar wafersas a production facility that made SiNx- build up the pn-junction in the solar cell is are available, which can also bebased anti-reflective coating possible. Mass possible at lower temperatures. The processed with the existing productionproduction followed just a few years later and phosphorus diffusion produces the n-layer lines, e.g. PERT.SiNx anti-reflective coating became thestandard in the production of solar cells.Invented Cell Concept Inventor / First Mass Production Best Front Side Full 1954 n-type IBC bifacial Important Player N/A Wafer Lab Efficiency 1982 1986 1976 Al-BSF (mc-Si) Bell Labs, USA 1991 6.0% 1977 thin film solar cells Solarex/ARCO Solar 2000 19.9% 1977 2001 23.3% 1981 IBC (n-type) RCA 2001 average 25% 1989 Al-BSF (cz-Si) Sunpower 2010 21.1% 1988 HJT (n-type) Mobil solar 2015 25.6% 1990 N/A 22.8% PERT Sanyo 23.6% PERC UNSW 24.0% PERL UNSW UNSWTable 1: Important milestones in the solar industry. Source: various official sources www.pessolar.com 25

PES ESSENTIALMegatrend 2: Diamond wire cutting for influences. The plastic film is not as material used for these thin busbars ismono and multicrystalline silicon durable as a pane of glass, however. A silver, which is a major contributing cost module with 2 panes of glass would be factor in photovoltaic manufacturing. TheUntil just a few years ago, all wafers were very heavy, though which would increase busbars can be easily and accuratelycut using a slurry process: a steel wire transport and installation costs. Between soldered onto the cell. In recent years,grinds its way through a silicon ingot with 1990 and 2012, solar modules were mainly however, there has been a growing trend tothe aid of the slurry, a mixture consisting of installed in North America, Japan and use simple round wires to connect the solarSiC and glycol. This is a highly time- central Europe and a glass/backsheet cells, and to replace the 2 – 5 ribbons/consuming process and the wire used must module was sufficiently durable for these busbars by 12 – 22 thin wires.be at least 100 µm thick, resulting in markets and climates.unavoidable kerf loss. Together, these wires have the same total With the growing global spread of cross-section, but the distance that theIn recent years, however, the diamond photovoltaics, however, the focus is current has to flow within a finger iswire sawing process (DW) has become increasingly directed towards glass/glass reduced since the many wires now conductthe industry standard. A diamond-coated modules and their benefits. Through the current from the finger every 12 or evenwire is used that can cut through the ongoing research it was possible to 8mm. SmartWire Connection Technologysilicon ingot much faster. In this minimise the weight increase of the (SWCT™) not only contacts rigid fingersenvironmentally friendly process which modules through the development of thin, produced during the firing, but also softeruses water instead of glycol, thinner wires tempered solar glass panes. Glass/glass low-temperature pastes for cells with highwith a core diameter of less than 60 µm solar modules are enjoying great popularity efficiency and ITO surfaces. Thiscan be used. All this significantly reduces because the solar cells are mechanically evolutionary new cell connectionmanufacturing costs. The switch from embedded in the encapsulation phase, a technology reduces conduction losses andslurry to diamond wire achieves design that provides very good protection production costs and its use is regarded assignificant savings in production costs. for the fragile solar cells. the next step in the natural evolution of cell connection technology.Megatrend 3: Modules with 2 glass Megatrend 4: Small wires replace thickpanes (G/G modules): strip conductors Megatrend 5: Modules that are light- sensitive on both sides (bifacialSolar modules predominantly consist of Solar cells in solar modules are connected modules)glass on the front and an insulating plastic in series or string to increase the powerfilm (backsheet) on the rear. Up to now, voltage. The current is first collected by the Modules are aligned to or even track thethis was the most cost-efficient way of fingers printed on each solar cell and then sun. The rear of standard solar modulesencapsulating solar cells reliably and passed on to the ribbons or busbars. The only receive a small fraction of the energyprotecting them against environmental SWCT™ Cell connection station26 PES Solar

PES ESSENTIAL ‘Heterojunction is the technology of the future that is already available today and will gain significantly in importance in the near future.’captured by the front of the module. Megatrend 6: Heterojunction (HJT) increasingly been on heterojunctionNevertheless, the back surface can cell technology technology and thus also on thecontribute 5 to 30% of the overall energy In silicon, electrons must have a specific development of manufacturing equipment.balance. With Al-BSF cells, the bandgap energy in order to jump to the For example, the Meyer Burger HELiA®performance deteriorates when the back conduction band. By modifying this coating tool enables a high-throughputsurface is opened to the sun. bandgap, the solar cell can be optimised for production of HJT solar cells with high-New passivation technologies have made sunlight. Heterojunction solar cells have a pn quality a-Si coatings.it possible today to partially open the back junction that no longer consists of puresurface for light and to utilise a portion of silicon (homojunction or SHJ for Single HJT is the technology of the future that isthe energy generated. It is advisable to use Junction Technology). They consist of a already available today and will gainglass/glass modules for this purpose different material, amorphous silicon (a-Si), significantly in importance in the nearbecause they are optimally transparent to which has proven to be highly suitable for future. The main reasons for this are thelight on both sides. By mounting these this purpose. It has the great benefit of higher energy yields of an HJT module andmodules on a tracker that follows the sun, passivating the wafer surface extremely well. the reduced space required for thethe tracker gain is 2 to 4% higher with a Monocrystalline n-type silicon is of course production equipment, with a simultaneous reduction in manufacturing costs. A bifacialSWCT™ Cell connection station used in HJT cells for maximum efficiency. version of HJT cells can also be produced These cells have already been produced in very cost-effectively.bifacial solar module than with a large sizes in test environments withmonofacial module plus the bifacial gain of efficiencies of over 25%. An average of The low-temperature process for5% to 30%. In very sunny locations, a 23% HJT cell efficiency is currently manufacturing HJT cells is ideal becauselarge proportion of diffuse light is available attainable in mass production. Up to now, HJT cells cannot be heated above 250°C,on the back surface, significantly expensive machines formerly used for the otherwise the a-Si coatings recrystalliseincreasing the energy yield of bifacial manufacture of semiconductor circuits have and the passivation is lost. For thismodules. Since this yield can be achieved been employed for a-Si deposition. In reason, SmartWire Connectionat almost identical module production recent years, however, the focus has Technology, as described above, is ideallycosts, bifacial solar modules are already suited for connecting heterojunction cellsgrowing in popularity in the PV market. because it eliminates the need for high-temperature soldering. SWCT™ connects the HJT cells using a thin wire mesh at low temperature. Thanks to the interaction between n-type material, glass/glass modules and SmartWire Connection Technology, heterojunction cell technology is widely regarded as the future of solar cell technology. This is an outlook for the coming major trends in photovoltaics, many of which are already clearly emerging as next generation solar technologies which will have a decisive influence on the future of photovoltaics. As a rule, solar systems with modules of higher efficiency are cheaper and we can expect the trend to go in the direction of steadily increasing efficiencies and lower specific costs ($/Wp module and $/Wp solar system). Meyer Burger is the only PV technology and equipment supplier currently able to cover all of the megatrends outlined above with industrialised machines, solution and processes, as well as certified modules and the entire bill of materials. www.meyerburger.com www.pessolar.com 27

TALKING POINTComplete monitoring solution‘Made in Germany’ for utilityscale PV plants worldwideWords: Jörg Scholz, CEO at Gantner Instruments Environment Solutions GmbHGantner has been selected numerous times to supply three parallel string inputs, 50A fuses andcomplete monitoring solutions for new, large solar power DC main switches, which comply with theplants in e.g. Egypt, Denmark, Thailand and the Netherlands. Australian standard AS5033.In the past 12 months we have repeatedly confirmed ourposition as a leading global player in utility scale PV industry. In terms of the technological development we expect the final breakthrough of plantsAfter participating in two 50MW projects in production certainly leads to increased with 1500V DC system voltage, whichKazakhstan previously, Gantner will now asset value. enables higher power output capability byprovide its complete monitoring solution to up to 50 percent, thus decreasing systemthe biggest solar farm in Central Asia, In the following we will guide you through losses and balance-of-plant costs. TheSaran, expanding its exposure in the the main components of a monitoring application of higher voltages affects thecountry by another 100MW. This includes solution emphasizing recent technological solution design as well as insulationthe Q.reader as data logger and power challenges and trends. requirements. Components need to ensureplant controller, DC combiner boxes, safe processing of 1500 V DC power, asmeteo stations and Gantner.webportal, a Combiner boxes (DCBs) well as reduced power losses, reducedSCADA system. number of poles, integrated heat In a photovoltaic system the connection dissipating and advanced arcThanks to the dropping cost in solar energy of modules in series to strings is made on extinguishing technologies.production and an increasing global the modules themselves, while theawareness of the advantages of clean parallel connection of the strings is Also, temperature resistance of appliedenergy, we are confident that the recent provided inside string combiner boxes components is a challenging demand inupward trend in solar industry will continue (DCBs). DCBs accommodate, along with many geographical regions (e.g. in Egyptfor several years. Now the application of the interconnection systems, also main and Australia), where PV plants oftensolar energy is not only justified by its switch disconnectors, surge protection operate at high temperatures reachingadvantages to the environment but has also devices and components necessary for 70°C. We offer especially designedbecome economically competitive. string protection. add-ons to its boxes, such as sun shields and cooling for hot weather conditions andWitnessing significant growth in PV in most The string combiner boxes can be also heating devices for cold winters withgeographical regions, the installed assets classified according to the number of temperatures down to -40°C (e.g. inand investments require reliable and effective strings collected (typically 8 to 32 string Kazakhstan, Belarus and Mongolia).data monitoring solutions to meet the rising inputs), voltage and rated current. Differentexpectations of the plants’ stakeholders. product types are offered and each can be Monitoring of measurement values down to individually composed according to string level is an important requirement forA monitoring system should serve to reduce specific installation conditions. medium and large-scale installations, sincerisks for investors and to provide reliable it helps to improve the performance and toinformation about O&M, track record and Gantner is permanently working to further effectively support maintenance of theplant performance, as well as provide the improve its DC combiner boxes. The latest system. For that purpose, combiner boxesability to control the plant. Optimized PV additions are DC combiner boxes can be equipped with useful devices for engineered for the Australian market, with string monitoring. We supply our monitored combiner boxes with ‘string.bloxx’ measurement modules, which Gantner’s R&D team have developed.28 PES Solar

TALKING POINTGantner Egypt 2018The latest ‘string.bloxx’ products are it easy for logistics and installation at site. can be applied for both the commercial anddesigned for 1500V voltage and up to 32 PV utility scale market. The data acquisitionstrings can be connected. Using DC shunts Q.reader as data logger and power plant system grows with the requirements in thethe string.bloxx provides current controller (PPC) plant and distributed Q.series measurementmeasurements typically 10 times more modules can be integrated at any time. It isaccurate and not susceptible to The increasing share of regenerative energy possible to configure the monitoringtemperature variance. contributing to the total available energy in solution individually with auto-alarming via the energy grid, leads to make a huge email, as well as with local arithmeticThe achieved high accuracy technological effort for grid integration. The functions provided.measurements contribute to better power provided from e.g. solar and windunderstanding of the plant performance plants leads to fluctuations in grid As grid feed-in management has becomeand to detect underperformance due to frequency. PPCs are essential tools needed an important topic for properlylong-term degradation (PID) of panels. In to tackle this challenge. connecting PV systems to the power grid,addition, string voltage (up to 1500V) and in its role as PPC, Q.reader also providesDC power on every string, can be The heart of our monitoring solution is the support for grid connected solar systemscontinuously monitored ensuring data logger Q.reader, which tracks and with export limitations. A power analyzermaximum system productivity. Due to its controls all power plant information: string measures the total power at the gridvery low power consumption (<1.5W) level current and voltage, inverter data, connection point and compares it with thepower supply for the ‘string.bloxx’ can be meteorological data from weather stations, adjustable set point of the controller, in aprovided by the RS485 communication grid measurements and other state closed control circuit to ensure thecable, or if preferred, by the customer via a variables (e.g. switch gear and transformer precision and the times set as defined bystring powered DC/DC converter. status). In parallel it also acts PPC for the the grid operator, including failsafe grid operator. Its accurate data acquisition operation. Features like direct marketing,Gantner provides combiner boxes as and control concept is inverter independent reactive power supply and zero exportindividually engineered ‘plug & play’ and gives feedback about losses due to can be provided.solutions, which are finally wired and inverter malfunction, soiling, shading, PVcertified, ready to be easily connected to module degradation etc. The Linux based In Germany Gantner is a leading supplierthe strings e.g. by MC4 or Phoenix Contact platform can control up to 100MW plants for ground mounted PV and especiallysunclix connectors. with just one controller and fulfils all valued for its knowledge in the grid international requirements. integration for the several 100 utilities, withEfficient design enables configurations from their absolutely different requirements for8 to 32 strings in a single enclosure, making Due to its scalability the monitoring and control and communication. control based on the Q.reader datalogger www.pessolar.com 29

TALKING POINTSCADA solution Gantner.webportal Q.reader-cabinet-Kazakhstan-2018 to ensure a smooth start to its operation.Our Gantner.webportal provides world-wide comprehensive and individually To sum up, there is growing pressure on theaccess to operation data, monitoring of configurable report functions. The solar industry to supply up-to- dategeographically distributed PV power plant availability of the plant can be calculated information on the generation of power andportfolios and remote supervision (fleet and forecasts for energy output, based on the identification of potential faults. As mostmanagement of all in the field installed the physical plant structure and on solar farms are unmanned, availability ofdevices). To facilitate this all information meteorological prognoses, are integrated. remote monitoring is essential. To accessacquired by the Q.reader datalogger is the relevant installed devices of a PV plantperfectly integrated into the Gantner. The Gantner.webportal - being fully in the field remote support is provided bywebportal. It is used to collect a huge compliant with international standards: IEC Gantner via a high security connection, viaamount of data (about 5,000 channels per 61724-2 - is the preferred SCADA solution with the ‘Gantner.RAS’ - a remote accessMWp and minute) and assists the user to for several leading market players, each of service for global fleet management ofgenerate reliable information, about the them with an installed power of about onsite DAQ devices.latest status of the plant. All data is stored 500-1000MW.in the cloud and accessible via a secured www.gantner-environment.comconnection and also from mobile devices The power plant commissioning can bewith HTML5 and W3C. performed onsite by our qualified engineersThe main objective of the Gantner.webportal is to support the customers intheir daily tasks, in order to reliably reachROI targets. The intelligent traffic lightsystem and sophisticated alarm featuressave plenty of time in the day-to-day O&Mroutines. Important features to prevent thesystem from false alarms is the integrationof logic, which takes into account e.g. AIO(angle of incidence) and shading angles.Meteorological data, such as solar irradiance,ambient temperature, module surfacetemperature and wind parameters aremonitored according to IEC 61853 standard.With the numerous analysis functions of theGantner.webportal it is possible to e.g.separate main reasons for productionlosses, for example, hardware failures,potential induced degradation on panels(PID), temperature influence, soiling etc.Visualization of all measured values downto string level is provided, including30 PES Solar



APsystems setsa new standard.A smart grid needs a smart microinverter – and APsystems sets thestandard worldwide with the new YC600. With its groundbreakingdesign, new features and an unprecedented 300VA peak output perchannel, the YC600 is the new pinnacle of microinverter technology.

Find out why it’s being called the most advanced solar microinverter in the world.YC600The all-new  Dual-module  Highest peak power  ZigBee wireless 3x microinverter with output of 300VA per faster than PLC independent MPPT per channel panel  Meets NEC  Utility interactive with CA Rule 21 (UL1741 2017 690.12 Reactive Power Control SA) Rapid Shutdown requirements (RPC)  More PV modules per string than  Accommodates panels  NEMA 6 enclosure comparable from 200W-365W+ microinverters POWERFUL I N N O VAT I O Nusa.apsystems.com | [email protected]

THINK TANKOptimise solarthe smart wayThe history of the global PV industry is one that is defined by innovation. And now, morethan ever, the continuing growth and sustained health of the solar sector is further enablingcompanies to invest in R&D. From tech start-ups to global electronics companies, newcomponents that deliver marginal improvements or game-changing solutions, the efficiencyand performance of PV systems across the world continues to be advanced bytechnological innovation.One characteristic that unites innovators isolating individual panels in order to requirements and differing residentialacross the solar industry is the unwavering improve overall system performance. layouts that need to be accommodated, thefocus on optimizing solar PV systems, increased flexibility that MLPE facilitatesalways looking to deliver higher yields, The introduction of MLPE marks a shift means that they are being increasinglyreduce O&M costs and increase the ROI from the conventional PV system design, incorporated into residential PV systems.for system owners. So, it’s perhaps where the inverter would be responsible forunsurprising that in recent years there has handling so many of the functions and The rise of MLPEbeen a significant increase in the use of processes that a PV plant is required tomodule-level power electronics (MLPE), carry out. The proliferation of MLPE has in The two main MLPE that are currently beingsuch as power optimizers or part been driven by the strong levels of used are across the solar industry aremicroinverters. As the name suggests, sustained growth that the residential PV microinverters and power optimizers.MLPE place power electronics on the segment has witnessed in recent years. Microinverters are smaller inverters that aremodules of the PV system, with the aim of Given the huge variety of customer placed on each solar module, either integrated into the panel or placed on the34 PES Solar

THINK TANK more detail on many aspects in our life and across the residential segment, there are none more so than in the solar industry. several characteristics which need to be MLPE help to facilitate module-level considered, including the multiple- monitoring, providing the customer with the orientated roof layouts, shading and the ability to assess the performance of the most efficient string configuration. These modules and subsequently maximize factors can be compounded further by efficiency and improve ROI. limitations with respect to PV system design that result in a sub-optimal use of So just as with so many aspects of PV roof space. Previously, PV systems would systems available today, MLPE presents require that all PV modules in one string yet another choice for installers and had to face the same direction and could homeowners as to which technology to opt not be located in shade-prone areas. for. Yet recent analysis from industry Similarly, individual strings would require analysts IHS Markit has shown that power identical module type while parallel strings optimizer solutions have begun to gain had to be identical in length. Without the favor with PV installers over appropriate PV system design these factors microinverters, with one of the main can have a significant impact on both the reasons being the flexibility of system upfront cost and energy yields over the design that they enable. For installers and lifetime of the system, having a direct effect customers alike, the benefits of flexible on a customer’s ROI. residential systems are obvious. Being able to offer a solution that they know can It is perhaps no surprise there is a trend of cope with the full range of requirements installers favoring PV systems that are able across the market means that they no to cope with the huge variety of residential longer need to purchase multiple solutions layouts, enabling customers to maximize from different suppliers, which helps to rooftop kWh yields in all scenarios. significantly reduce operational costs. Systems that can accommodate the use of PV optimizers on selected modules that An optimal solution may have shading or different roof orientation, such as Huawei FusionHome, If we consider the variability of rooftops help to effectively avoid module mismatchpanel mount. With PV systems utilizing FusionHome SUN2000L Inverter and Smart PV Safety Boxmicroinverters, there is no need for aseparate string or central inverters, as theDC current generated by the array isconverted to AC right at the site of thepanel. Power optimizers are also installedat each panel, though instead of convertingthe DC energy to AC, they increase thepower yield of the module before sendingan optimized DC voltage to the systeminverter for conversion. They do this bytracking the maximum power point of eachindividual module, fixing the voltage of theDC energy so that the inverter can convertit more efficiently to AC, fully utilizing therooftop and removing restriction concerns.The increase in uptake of MLPE can also beattributed to well-informed customerswanting to get the most from the solutionthey have. In the age of fitness applicationsmonitoring steps walked each day to smartmeters monitoring energy usage in realtime, there is a want from customers for www.pessolar.com 35

THINK TANKIllustration of PV layout with optimisers installed only on modules affected by shade.caused by dust, shadows, PV module distributed MPP architecture compared and MLPEs are just one example of howattenuation, and hot spots, maximizing the evaluated under unshaded and partially innovation within the industry is facilitatingenergy yield from each PV module. Taking a shaded conditions, which are often found in customer choice and optimizing therooftop that may have a chimney-shaded the urban built environment. During performance of PV systems. If customersarea equivalent to the size of four modules, operation under shaded conditions the are truly to benefit from the increasedfor example, FusionHome allows efficiency of the MLPE devices is reduced functionality of MLPEs, the flexibility thathomeowners to install modules with by 1–2% depending on the voltage input. they offer must be matched by the PVoptimizers in the shaded area enabling system. Enabling customers to install MLPEthem to fully utilize their rooftop. Over 25 At system level, traditional architecture only on modules where required ensuresyears these four modules can generate seems to perform better in unshaded that the increased revenues and higheraround 22,400 – 33,600 kWh in additional conditions, whereas MLPE solutions offer yields that they deliver are not undercut byyields, comfortably covering the upfront up to 35% better energy yields at certain unnecessary installation costs. This is ancost of the modules. partially shaded conditions. important consideration and one that companies will increasingly need to make.However, the MLPE debate is one that ’The conclusion is definitely in line with the As the technology advances, the benefitsshouldn’t be solely characterized by Huawei FusionHome partial optimizer brought by the innovative partial optimizermicroinverters versus power optimizers. solution. The modules are connected in solution are becoming clearer, enhancingHow a PV system interacts with optimizers strings in unshaded areas of roofs and with their value and better meeting the needs ofcan make a huge difference in terms of cost the optimizer only connected in the shady the modern customer. It is truly a solarto the homeowner. Most PV systems area, to maximize the energy yields. solution that you ‘pay less’ but get more.require optimizers to be installed across anentire array even though they may only be Meeting customer needs www.solar.huawei.comneeded on one module. This means thathomeowners are required to spend The increase in use of optimizers and othersignificant amounts of money on optimizersfor modules that do not actually require A happy customer with a Huawei FusionHome installation.them. Furthermore, in overcast or rainyconditions, optimizers can operate in lightload mode, meaning power is converted ata low efficiency and eventually results in agreater loss of power. This is in contrast toHuawei FusionHome, with its high inverterefficiency and unique functionality toenable customers to only add optimizerswhere they are needed, helping to keepupfront costs and improve their ROI.Referring to the article ‘Outdoorcharacterization and comparison of stringand MLPE under clear and partially shadedconditions’, issued jointly by the SolarEnergy Application Centre and theCopernicus Institute of Utrecht University inthe Netherlands, after carrying out variousexperiments, it concluded that ‘string and36 PES Solar

Our experience is your advantageAttention to precision and reliability. In every detail.As a pioneer and global market leader for connectors, Stäubli Electrical Connectors has amassed over 20 years of experience in thephotovoltaics industry. To date, more than 200 GW or 50% of the PV power worldwide has been successfully installed using over 1billion original MC4 connectors.As of January 2017, original MC4 inventor Multi-Contact conductsits business and services as Stäubli Electrical Connectors.Your bankable partnerVisit us: Solar Power International | September 24-27, 2018 | booth 2814The Stäubli team will be happy to welcome you at our booth.www.staubli-alternative-energies.com Original MC4 ConnectorStaubli is a trademark of Stäubli International AG, registered in Switzerland and other countries.© Stäubli 2018 | Photocredits: Stäubli

TALKING POINTCredit: Studio SolarixStanding out by blending inWords: Guust Verpaalen, CEO of Kameleon Solar It’s been three years since the founding of Kameleon Solar and I find myself, only now, writing the first in-depth article about our company. It’s not that we’ve never had news worth sharing, as you will find, there have been plenty of milestones. Your first publication largely defines who you are as a company, and I prefer to share what we have accomplished rather than what we plan to. Guust Verpaalen Kameleon Solar was founded mid 2015 recipe simply doesn’t work when you’re with the aim of producing custom-made dealing with architects, custom-made PV38 PES Solar flexible, glass/backsheet and glass/glass and BIPV façades, in general. modules for BIPV and PIPV (product integrated photovoltaics). Like most solar Our first issue was that we weren’t the only companies, we focused on price, ones to step up to the increasing demand efficiency, on warranties. Production-wise, of custom-made PV. Based in a high-wage we focused on quality, costs, and country like the Netherlands, it is difficult to efficiency. It didn’t take long for us to find compete with countries that can offer the out why this standard solar manufacturing same services at a lower cost, if you don’t

TALKING POINTColorBlast exampleshave any unique qualities about your The milkmaid of Vermeer in ColorBlast precise and controllable coating. Secondly,product. The fact that a solar panel comes ceramic inks maintain their color for morein custom sizes does not change the fact consciously reducing the efficiency of a PV than 50 years, which is ideal for the buildingthat it looks like a solar panel and most module. We started having trouble getting industry. The fact that the inks arearchitects, to put it plainly, think solar ahold of some of our standard color options tempered with the glass means you canpanels are ugly. and it became clear that the only way for us pre-print the glass and use them in the to reliably move forward was to develop our existing production process withoutWe needed to re-think our strategy. Our own color technology. changing the color of the material. It’sproblem was simple, we were thinking utterly scratch resistant and there are really‘solar’ when we should have been thinking ColorBlast™ no drawbacks on the durability of the‘building’. Efficiencies, watt peaks, module. Once you know how to control thewarranties, and all the usual USPs were put ColorBlast was developed around a sort of distortion of colors and translate themon a backburner and we started thinking in ceramic pixel principle. By printing small correctly to the printer, it becomes easy toaesthetics, in square meters, in surface dots and leaving space around those dots make new colors, too.finishes and in terms of building materials. for light to pass through, we could coverWe needed to become an expert in color, to only a portion of the surface area whilst The challenge with colored modules,produce solar panels that didn’t look like allowing the majority of light to pass however, is that you create expectations.solar panels. Hence Kameleon Solar was through to the cells. This phenomenon is Orders start coming in asking for atruly born and, so too, our motto: standing particularly popular for large specific color code and you have to beout by blending in. advertisements on buildings, where able to meet those expectations. This is windows and glass façades produce a where the fun begins.We started work on SwissINSO’s larger image outside, but can still be seenKromatix™ and LOF Solar’s colored cells. through from the inside. How it worksOffering these color options in custom sizesmade architects eager for more. A small Ceramic printing is ideal for coloring a solar The printed dots create an optical illusioncolor range was not enough. Architects are panel. First of all, the colors can be printedall about pushing boundaries so we needed digitally which allows for an extremelyto push boundaries, too.We had been working on an idea for a colortechnology that seemed so counter to solarnorms that it took a while before we startedto consider its implementation. The idearevolved around the ceramic printing ofglass to create a color and thereby www.pessolar.com 39

TALKING POINTfrom a certain distance where they all coverage needed to attain a specific color. Currently, we are capable of developingseem to meld together. This only happens, This way, you can ensure that any color is thousands of colors using more than threehowever, if there aren’t any disruptions in always created with the highest efficiency color technologies with the flexibility ofthe design behind the dots, that is, the and with the lowest coverage. design and durability that is expected of asolar panel. Ceramic dot printing, then, façade element.only works where the whole module The efficiency loss of ColorBlast modulesalready appears to be a single color. Since may be shocking in terms of the solar norms. Last week we shipped out our firstsolar cell material is, in general, Losses of 20% – 30% are common with ColorBlast façade to London. It will be aoverwhelmingly black, we would have to mid-range colors, 10% – 15% in the darker barrier wall that separates a high-rise fromwork with an entirely black module, range and up to 40% – 50% in the brighter the Eurostar line. Every day, passengers willribbons and busbars included. range. Architects, however, see only an zip by this façade and be oblivious to the increase in power. A typical HPL façade fact that it generates solar energy. TheseWhen you print dots over a black element generates no energy but is available ‘Dusty Grey’ panels blend in a little too well.background, the even color that appears at in an enormous range of colors and sizes. As I write this article we are in production ofa distance is very different from the color With ColorBlast, we can come close to the our next project, a smart design façadethat is printed. Working with architects you flexibility of such an element whilst also here in the Netherlands.quickly realize how vital it is to know how generating electricity at acceptable prices.the color transforms and whether a given Design façadescolor is even feasible. From past to present From the beginning of our color crusade,When you print dots, you cover a part of the Those first two years of struggle were we have listened to architects and façadesurface area. Increasing the size of the dots invaluable and utterly necessary for us to engineers. One of these partners is Studioincreases this coverage while increasing come to where we are now. We failed when Solarix, a Dutch architect and productthe space between the dots decreases it. we tried to convince architects that they designer who focuses on creating designBrighter colors require more surface area to wanted solar panels, or when we tried to solar façade products. Their mission is tobe printed whereas darker colors require convince the building industry to become create beautiful, smart façade elementsless. Using a fixed coverage results in a more like the solar industry. Instead, we that generate electricity and communicatefixed loss across colors, but far more needed to convince ourselves to become a information whilst contributing to a moreinteresting is calculating the minimum manufacturer of building products and not sustainable urban environment. of photovoltaics. Example of LOF Cells40 PES Solar

TALKING POINTCredit: Studio SolarixFor the Dutch Design Week in 2017, the Installatie, in October this year. the combination of different expansioncompany presented the prototype of their coefficients, structural integrity all play theirSolarix product, a combination of a folded The project, as well as being the first of its part and cannot be decided by a singlefaçade element, LED-lighting and colored kind, highlights the complexity of BIPV party. This project underlines thePV modules; ColorBlast. A year later, the façade projects. Intense communication is impossibility of a one-size-fits all solution toprototype has grown to a full-fledged required between the architect (Studio BIPV façades and the importance ofproduct and will be installed as a renovation Solarix), the façade engineer (Sorba), aesthetics over efficiency.of the façade for a Dutch company, Kuijpers Kuijpers as the client and us, Kameleon Solar. Color-coordination across materials, This project rightly suggests that making sustainability beautiful and smart increases its uptake more so than efficiency and price cuts. Particularly for the urban environment, where rooftops simply can’t generate the required energy, this is the case. In October, the results of this combined effort can speak for itself with the first smart solar façade in the world. Conclusion We don’t really see ourselves as a PV manufacturer anymore, at least not in the traditional sense. Our PV elements are a building material, they are functional in a very different sense than traditional modules. If the main goal of a project is to generate as much energy as possible at low costs, we kindly refuse it, pass it on; we’re simply not the right company for this. If a project’s focus is on smart building designs that must be beautiful and integrated, projects where sustainability and aesthetic value go hand-in- hand, that’s where we stand out. www.kameleonsolar.com www.pessolar.com 41

WORLDYOUR SOLAR 2019OmUeTdiNaOdaWta COVERED Studer Innotec Huawei ABB Solar IMT EKO Instruments Kipp & Zonen Kameleon Solar Conference Call Eurotron Huawei Alencon MESIA Pablo Muñoz, Technical Support PES takes a look at Huawei’s Leonardo Botti talks to PES Photovoltaic in the fast lane from An exciting update for the Ruud Ringoir brings us the latest We hear exclusively from We preview of two of the Back contact is no longer a Alison Finch brings Hanan Fishman on retrofitting Gives PES a view of the solar Manager at Studer Innotec talks new, flexible PV systems for about ABB Solar's solid technical Dirk Tegtmeyer IMT global PV market leading industry events concept – It’s proven us digitalisation existing PV assets market in the MENA region Mini-grid solutions home owners expertise and knowledge scheduled for 2018SOLAR/PV from an industry pioneer CEO, Guust Verpaalen SOLAR/PV SOLAR/PV It’s Intersolar time once again both in Europe and in the US. It’s that time of year again! We look ahead and preview two As ever, we bring you the latest technological & innovative In this issue PES brings you our usual event previews and of the biggest and most important events on the global solar developments and advances from many of the industry’s appetisers for 2 of the most important Solar PV shows in the calendar in 2018. The Intersolar Europe in Munich & the key players. world, make sure you book your tickets, see inside for details. Intersolar North America in San Francisco 2018 Plus, our usual dose of expert opinion, insight & analysis. Plus, our eagerly awaited, exclusive interviews and Plus, enjoy our frequent offering of opinion, product articles, bringing you the latest in developments, products, advances and industry insight. technology, innovation and services.POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 32, 2018 POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 33, 2018 POWER & ENERGY SOLUTIONS • ISSUE 30, 2017 BREAKING NEW SMARTER PV? GLOBAL GROUND CONNECTIONS The Industry is continuing to evolve at quite a pace. As the industry continues its rapid evolution, Are the advances in both knowledge & technology Aximos id et dolut is earum dolorum ra quam there are continuing technological advances leading us toward a PV market which is becoming unt quias diate coribea del modit del mint, adi and breakthrough developments that look smarter by the day? set to shape the future of our industry SOLAR ENERGY’S ESSENTIAL MEDIA DESTINATION 24,000+ READERS EXTENSIVE ONLINE AND MOBILE REACH BIG NAME INTERVIEWS NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYSIS UNMISSABLE FEATURES AND AGENDA-SETTING COMMENT email [email protected] today www.pessolar.comPES Solar



ASK THE EXPERTSCutting edge solutionsfor the PV market Monica Manara, CCO Photovoltaics, for Coveme gave PES a frank interview on the ups and downs in the PV market. This company has been in photovoltaics since the beginning and is still finding new, innovative and technological advances to share with their customers. They have invested in two R&D sites to further these developments. Monica Manara PES: Thanks for meeting up with us Coveme’s business strategy. In fact, our Monica, it’s great to talk with you. company’s photovoltaic business unit was44 PES Solar Coveme is a regular contributor to our set up at the same time as photovoltaics publication so, for the benefit of our new became a market. Coveme back then was readers, would you like to begin by the very first producer of backsheets in explaining a little about the background Europe and the world. of Coveme and the importance of the solar/PV industry to you? Nevertheless, this is a challenging market with many ups and downs, but it is still Monica Manara: The solar and Coveme’s focus. We have two state-of-the- photovoltaic market has always been and is art production sites in Europe and Asia that still today of crucial importance in guarantee the capacity and flexibility to

ASK THE EXPERTS ‘Coveme’s know-how and production processes in converting film are unique in the world. Our production lines cover lamination, heat-stabilization, surface treatments and are equipped with latest UV and solventfree coating technologies. The result are high performingfilms for any industry where substrate versatility, thermal stability, high bonding and printability are required.’face these challenges. PES: Would you say that Coveme’s main where EOL and LCA are an important issue, focus is residential or larger scale is that PET employed in Coveme productsPES: We have been hearing a lot about utility products? is a 100% recyclable material and is hazardyour innovative materials and would like free in any disposal process. This meansto know more. MM: Both types of installations are equally financial and ecological advantages for our important for Coveme, since our production clients, as disposal and recycling areMM: The photovoltaic market moves and sales spans globally and the focus of possible with the most efficient andconstantly and rapidly towards ever more our customers, the module manufacturers, environmentally friendly processes.efficient solar modules. Coveme’s two may vary from region to region.specialized R&D hubs in Italy and China are PES: Where do you operate and wherefocused on finding new solutions and PES: Coveme’s unique know-how is are your key markets and are there arematerials for a higher module output, new good for PV, but is it also good for solar any areas, geographically speaking, thatcell technologies, special environments like and products other than back sheets? you would like to work in?floating installations, and last but not leastfor an ever more efficient production in MM: Coveme’s know-how and production MM: From our production sites located inCoveme and in the manufacturing processes in converting film are unique in Italy and China we supply the worldwideprocesses of our clients. the world. Our production lines cover market. In India, a market which is growing lamination, heat-stabilization, surface more and more, Coveme has been presentPES: We know you provide backsheets treatments and are equipped with latest from the beginning, and in 2017 thefor cutting edge applications such as UV and solvent free coating technologies. Coveme Engineered Films Private Ltd wasbifacial cells, where and what are these The result are high performing films for any established in Aurangabad. This allows usused for? industry where substrate versatility, to give a 360º service to the local module thermal stability, high bonding and producers and those with manufacturingMM: Among the many innovations we have printability are required. sites in India, from a commercial, technicalrecently brought to the market, transparent and financial point of view.backsheets and also frontsheets, for PES: Please tell us about your greenbifacial cell modules, have been one of the policy, is this a company policy which PES: What has 2018 been like so far formost requested, especially our dyMat® permeates through everything you do? Coveme and how do you see the futureSelective, a transparent backsheet with an in the solar/PV industry?integrated highly reflective grid. Other MM: Besides being an ISO 14001:2015cutting-edge applications are special certified company, we constantly MM: Well, while the first quarter of 2018 waslaminates for flexible, printed and organic improve our production sites and very positive, the second quarter saw somePV as well as back contact backsheets and processes with regards to our carbon downturn to the restrictive policies in Chinamirror solutions for CPV and CSP. footprint and optimization and conversion and the global custom duties dispute. of energy consumption. However, this hasn’t stopped Coveme fromPES: What are the benefits and financial moving forward in this sector with recentimplications of these products? Our headquarters and plant in Italy both and on-going investments in production have rooftop solar panels installed, which technology and capacity, as well as researchMM: In today’s PV market where cover over 85% and 20% of the annual and development. In fact, we see thisincentives for installations are less and energy consumption respectively. On our scenario as an opportunity the Covemeless, the urge to bridge this gap through Chinese manufacturing site, a regenerative Group needs to seize, by becoming an evenhighly efficient modules has become of thermal oxidizer has been installed, which more flexible and prepared partner for ourparamount importance. The two main generates thermal energy recovery. current and future customers.factors through which this can be achievedare cells and backsheets. On the material side a very important factor, www.coveme.com especially for the photovoltaic industry www.pessolar.com 45

TALKING POINTWeather stations to complywith IEC-61724-1PES brings you the latest exciting news from EKO. With the constant increase of PV projectsglobally and new standards in place, there is an increasing requirement for a compliant andcost-effective solution to monitor plant performance.Last year was another successful year for Figure 1 - PVmet 500 M1 with MS-80the Photovoltaic (PV) market, withapproximately 96 GW of PV installedglobally. Following this trend, 2018 is set tosurpass 2017 with nearly 105 GW of PVprojects forecasted, an increase of 10%.This substantial increase would have beeneven higher, were it not for the sanctionson new solar projects by Chinesegovernment entities.Worldwide PV investment and developmentis set to maintain its stellar performance forthe foreseeable future – for example, theEuropean market, after several years ofstagnation, is now entering a period ofrapid development and investment, with aforecasted 14GW of PV installed per yearby 2022.With this growing increase in PVinvestment and development, the industryis becoming more aware of the importanceof performance monitoring. Optimalenergy output of a PV plant is essential toensure an adequate return on investment,and this can only be assured withcontinuous performance monitoring of theyield and efficiency of PV plants. Inaddition, scheduling ongoing maintenancecan be more appropriately planned witheffective monitoring.This performance monitoring concerns thearea with the greatest impact, i.e. SolarIrradiance, however there are othermetrological parameters which couldimpact on PV performance, such asambient temperature, wind and rainfall –46 PES Solar

TALKING POINTthese should also be monitored. With a new range of weather stations Data on wind speed is imperative from theContinuously monitoring on-site compatible with EKO pyranometers, EKO PV plant safety standpoint as high windmetrological data will reveal certain instruments are well placed to ensure that speeds at a site could potentially causeconditions that could have a negative effect our clients are able to monitor their PV damage to PV modules. By having accurateon the efficiency of the PV plant i.e. plants accurately and comply with the wind speed and direction sensors on site,shadowing, soling and panel temperature. new standard. the necessary steps can be made to prevent any damage in the future.To ensure the industry is able optimize PVmet 500future PV performance, the International Air temperature, relative humidity, wind andElectrotechnical Commission (IEC) released EKO has teamed up with RainWise to PV module temperature can have aa new standard in 2017: Photovoltaic provide the first multi-functional significant effect on the efficiency of the PVsystem performance - Part 1: Monitoring component-based professional weather modules. Furthermore, the degradation rate(61724-1). This standard details the station, explicitly designed for monitoring of PV modules is temperature and humidityminimum requirements to achieve a specific PV performance, the PVmet 500 - the latest dependent, knowledge of these parametersclassification of the accuracy of the Solar PV weather station from the PVmet family. provides insight on the variance inplant monitoring. performance of the modules. In compliance with IEC-61724-1, the PVmetThe new IEC 61724-1: 2017 standard includes: 500 is a cost-effective, durable weather The PVmet 500 series is compatible with all station capable of measuring wind speed & EKO ISO9060 Secondary standard, First• 3 different accuracy classes, A, B, and C, direction, ambient temperature, relative Class, and Second Class pyranometers. for monitoring systems (for non- humidity, rainfall, photovoltaic panel Also, the EKO ventilation and heater unit, concentrating photovoltaics) temperature and irradiance in real-time, MV-01, can be used to comply with Class A transmitting sensor measurements to a monitoring according to the IEC-61724-1.• A ccuracy requirements for monitoring data logger or data center. The MV-01 provides heat and sufficient equipment (Solar irradiation sensors and ventilation to keep the pyranometer sensor other meteorological sensors) The PVmet-500 is ideal for monitoring the free of dew, ice and snow. efficiency and performance of a PV plant.• N ecessary quality checks (i.e. calibration Data from the PVmet 500 can be used to The PVmet 500 is delivered ready for and cleaning) obtain vital information concerning the installation and use; only requiring the operation of a PV plant and insights on installer to mechanically mount the system• Recommended minimum number of where improvements can be made to on a user-supplied mast, connect to a measurement stations/instruments increase the PV plant output. required for a specific sized PV plantTable 1 - PVmet 500 configurations www.pessolar.com 47

TALKING POINTTable 2 - PVmet 500 connection diagrampower source and to configure the system instrumentation in commercial PV precision and reliability. Up to 3 EKOaccordingly. No special tools, software, or applications supporting it. Modbus works pyranometers can be connected to theon-site calibration is required. on the principle of a single master working PVmet 500, enabling monitoring of Global with numerous slaves; theoretically, a Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Plane of ArrayWhat sets the PVmet 500 apart from other Modbus master can communicate with any (POA) and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiancemetrological stations in the market is its Modbus slave as long as the master is (DHI) – tracker or shading ring required.multiple communications protocols. It individually configured to each one. Thefeatures a Modbus RTU interface and is programming of each master to the Which system to select?SunSpec certified, making it an ideal separate slaves is usually a time-station for inverter companies. All of the consuming and costly operation. The standard details out the class ofmeasurement values communicate via a pyranometer, frequency of calibration andsingle configurable digital interface to a SunSpec has solved this issue by outlining cleaning required for each monitoringdata logger or SCADA system. a set of communication standards relating accuracy class (A, B or C). Class A to the Modbus data structure that allows monitoring is the only class in the standardSunSpec the master to identify, read and control the where onsite monitoring is mandatory, slave automatically. When instruments are Class B and C may be estimated based onThe SunSpec Alliance was formed to SunSpec certified, the requirement to local or regional meteorological data oraddress the issue of interoperability manually configure the master to read satellite data, rather than measured on site.between various instrumentation in a PV individual slaves is removed, providingplant. Historically, a single solar plant may significant cost savings and time. For class A – High accuracy monitoring, aincorporate components from multiple Secondary standard thermopilevendors and manufacturers, often using Available systems pyranometer as per ISO 9060 or Highdifferent communication protocols. Getting quality per WMO Guide No. 8 is required.the various instrumentation on a solar plant Wind speed and direction, ambient Ventilation is required for the thermopileto communicate effectively can be temperature, air pressure, and humidity are pyranometers to comply with class Achallenging and time-consuming. all measured within one unit; external rain monitoring, while heating is only a gauge and irradiance sensors are connected requirement in locations whereNowadays, Modbus is the commonly to the PVmet 500 but mounted separately. condensation and/or precipitation wouldaccepted method of communications influence the measurements for more thanprotocol, with the majority of EKO pyranometers are known for their 7 days per year.48 PES Solar

TALKING POINTTable 3 - Monitoring accuracy classes. In addition, class A monitoring systemFigure 2 - PVmet 500 M3 with MS-80 requires the monitoring of the following parameters: ambient temperature, PV module temperature, wind speed and direction and rainfall (estimation of soiling losses). As the wind direction sensor must have an accuracy of 5° ultra-sonic wind and direction sensors are required to comply with Class A monitoring (PVmet- M3 or M4). Selecting an MS-80 secondary standard pyranometer with MV-01 and PVmet 500 M3/ M4, achieves compliance with Class A monitoring. With the PVmet 500 M4 the user will have the added precipitation measurements for estimating soiling losses. With these cost-effective solutions, measurement accuracy and compliance with the standards can be easily achieved, allowing projects in the solar industry to leap forward. With these cost-effective solutions, measurement accuracy and compliance with the standards can be easily achieved, allowing projects in the solar industry to leap forward. www.eko-eu.com www.pessolar.com 49

ASK THE EXPERTSStorage is key to thesolar industry Chip Palombini, Director of Energy Storage at Dynapower Company, LLC, Vermont US, was full of enthusiasm when PES caught up with him. Customers value their complete energy storage solutions, which they deploy world wide to commercial and utility-scale companies. Chip Palombini PES: Welcome to PES Solar/PV Dynapower to design, build, and deploy magazine, it’s great to talk with you. more than 425 MW of energy storage50 PES Solar would you like to begin by explaining a inverters for projects ranging from 100 kW little about the background of microgrids to 40 MW. We’ve been fortunate Dynapower and the importance of the to be involved in a number of solar/PV industry to you? groundbreaking solar plus storage projects including the United States first utility-scale Chip Palombini: Dynapower is a fifty-five solar plus storage installation with Green year old power electronics company, Mountain Power in Rutland, Vermont. We headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, with worked with Tesla, and what was then Solar equipment installed worldwide. Over the City, to help the island of Tua in American last decade independent power producers Samoa transition from diesel power to [IPP], utilities, solar developers, and 100% solar power 24/7. Most recently we integrators have been relying on commercially deployed the industry’s first