News Article
Europe Leads Push For Solar Standards
Europe's Photovoltaic Industry pushes for global standards to help lower cost, advance innovation and achieve grid parity.
"For the first time, Europe has a real chance to set standards in the Photovoltaic Industry," says Dr. Dietmar Roth, CEO of Roth & Rau AG, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, at a press conference at the 3rd Photovoltaic Fab Manager Conference. "To strengthen Europe's number one position in the solar industry, it is important that innovations continue to come from here. This is how we can ensure the continued competitiveness of the companies in this sector.”
The PV Group Fab Managers Forum gathered more than two hundred photovoltaic business leaders and technology experts. They met to discuss how manufacturers of photovoltaic cells and modules can better cooperate with their suppliers. To lower costs more effectively, the PV industry increasingly needs to focus on standardization and supply chain management, which aims to improve manufacturing supply chain effectiveness.
The ultimate goal of standardization efforts in the Solar industry is to achieve so-called 'grid parity'. Grid parity is achieved, when the price for photovoltaic electricity is equal to power-outlet electricity. The competitiveness of the PV industry depends significantly on this goal being reached. Solar energy is becoming more competitive, faster than initially predicted. Prices for modules today are already much lower than only three month ago. Modules produced by Chinese manufacturers are already offered at 2.30 Euro per watt. Which is priced a third lower than in fall of 2008. This trend forces European PV manufacturing businesses to optimize their production and to reduce cost considerably.
The PV group is committed to helping the solar industry in its efforts. In doing so it can draw on Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International's (SEMI) more than thirty years experience in microelectronics. SEMI is the world leading industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the semiconductor equipment and materials industry, as well as for the display and photovoltaic industries.
"The industry's first standard is silicon," explains Joachim Nell, chief executive of Masdar PV GmbH, in Erfurt, Germany. "Our next step will be to set standards for the material properties of silicon, since silicon for the solar industry differs from high-rate silicon in the semiconductor industry. In addition we need equipment specifically developed for the photovoltaic industry."
"In certain areas standardisation could be achieved within one year," says Dr. Hubert A. Aulich, Board-member of PV Crystalox Solar AG, in Erfurt, Germany. "But in general, standardization is an ongoing process, subject to constant optimization. Pressure for change always comes from the industry leaders. Only they have the power to push for standardization in processing and technology with equipment manufacturers."
"To ensure the solar industry's survival, setting standards is crucial," says Heinz Kundert, President of SEMI Europe. ?But it is a difficult process, because it requires a major commitment from all involved, and because companies concerned often have different interests. We have long standing experience in moderating these processes, and have at our command the international network required to involve all parties world-wide. For this reason the PV Group is the ideal platform to enact standards in the photovoltaic sector. We aim to support companies in lowering costs so they can work economically in even the most difficult market environments until grid parity is achieved and new markets are opened."
"Until standards are achieved in the solar industry for all important materials and processes, much work still needs to be done," Roth says. "We are at the stage of a transistor radio, but want to get to the iPod."
The PV Group Fab Managers Forum gathered more than two hundred photovoltaic business leaders and technology experts. They met to discuss how manufacturers of photovoltaic cells and modules can better cooperate with their suppliers. To lower costs more effectively, the PV industry increasingly needs to focus on standardization and supply chain management, which aims to improve manufacturing supply chain effectiveness.
The ultimate goal of standardization efforts in the Solar industry is to achieve so-called 'grid parity'. Grid parity is achieved, when the price for photovoltaic electricity is equal to power-outlet electricity. The competitiveness of the PV industry depends significantly on this goal being reached. Solar energy is becoming more competitive, faster than initially predicted. Prices for modules today are already much lower than only three month ago. Modules produced by Chinese manufacturers are already offered at 2.30 Euro per watt. Which is priced a third lower than in fall of 2008. This trend forces European PV manufacturing businesses to optimize their production and to reduce cost considerably.
The PV group is committed to helping the solar industry in its efforts. In doing so it can draw on Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International's (SEMI) more than thirty years experience in microelectronics. SEMI is the world leading industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the semiconductor equipment and materials industry, as well as for the display and photovoltaic industries.
"The industry's first standard is silicon," explains Joachim Nell, chief executive of Masdar PV GmbH, in Erfurt, Germany. "Our next step will be to set standards for the material properties of silicon, since silicon for the solar industry differs from high-rate silicon in the semiconductor industry. In addition we need equipment specifically developed for the photovoltaic industry."
"In certain areas standardisation could be achieved within one year," says Dr. Hubert A. Aulich, Board-member of PV Crystalox Solar AG, in Erfurt, Germany. "But in general, standardization is an ongoing process, subject to constant optimization. Pressure for change always comes from the industry leaders. Only they have the power to push for standardization in processing and technology with equipment manufacturers."
"To ensure the solar industry's survival, setting standards is crucial," says Heinz Kundert, President of SEMI Europe. ?But it is a difficult process, because it requires a major commitment from all involved, and because companies concerned often have different interests. We have long standing experience in moderating these processes, and have at our command the international network required to involve all parties world-wide. For this reason the PV Group is the ideal platform to enact standards in the photovoltaic sector. We aim to support companies in lowering costs so they can work economically in even the most difficult market environments until grid parity is achieved and new markets are opened."
"Until standards are achieved in the solar industry for all important materials and processes, much work still needs to be done," Roth says. "We are at the stage of a transistor radio, but want to get to the iPod."
