Growth, Market Share and Dynamic Change in The PV Inverter Industry

The PV inverter market, once short of innovation, has seen a surge of investment in the last few years. Spurred by startup advances, established firms like SMA, Satcon, and National Semiconductor are developing new distributed PV electronics technologies in-house or through acquisition. This Special Report from Greentech Media, sponsored by Enphase Energy, takes a look at the state of innovation in the inverter market, VC investment activity, and the emerging leaders in the $2.4 billion PV inverter market.

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As the price of PV falls, the technology will become more competitively priced in Europe and the U.S. before its prices are competitive in China.

CPV: New Applications and Emerging Markets
November 16, 2009

Hot Startup »

Solar Startup Solasta Seeks Next Round

The solar firm was founded in 2006 with A round funding from Kleiner Perkins and claims its process could increase the efficiency of conventional amorphous silicon PV by up to 150 percent.

Projects

India Wants 20GW of Solar by 2020

The government approves a $19 billion program to boost manufacturing and generation, but getting to that goal might not be so easy.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 20, 2009
Is the DOE Loan Guarantee a Good Deal?

The sought-after renewable energy loan guarantee program is underway, but it may not pan out as a cost-effective way to borrow money.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 17, 2009
Here Comes China’s $3B, ‘Golden Sun’ Projects

China’s finance ministry has selected hundreds of projects totaling nearly $3 billion in costs for its subsidy plan to dramatically boost the country’s solar energy production.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 16, 2009
Solar Research Hits the Sunshine State

University researchers in Florida are exploring ways to use sun’s power for desalination and killing germs in water. Other ideas possibly on the way involve module containing a solar cell and a LED and lithium-ion battery.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 16, 2009
Solar Industry Lobbies for Manufacturing Tax Credit, Cash Grant

A new federal bill introduced this week would make it eligible for solar energy equipment makers to apply for a cash grant for factory construction.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 11, 2009
Konarka Runs ‘Solar Curtain Wall’ Pilot

The organic solar cell developer teams up with Arch Aluminum & Glass to test colored solar panels for building wall construction.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 10, 2009
Vela Solaris Tackles the Solar Puzzle

The Swiss startup licenses software for designing solar thermal heating and cooling or electric systems. Expect more software developers to jump into the solar market.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 5, 2009
First Solar Buys Land Option From Ausra for Topaz Project

The land, next to the parcel originally set aside for Topaz, will help First Solar avoid political tussles over building on farmland protected by Williamson Act.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 4, 2009
Stimulus Money for Energy Companies Going, Going…

Matt Rogers, Senior Advisor to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, says 85 percent of the selections for grants have been made.

Policy
Michael Kanellos October 30, 2009
SPI: Solar Quandaries and Strategies

Another Solar Power International has come and gone. This year was cautiously optimistic as the industry has begun to recover from a shaky 2008.

Solar
Frank Smith October 30, 2009
Germany Installs 2.34GW, FIT to Decline 9-11%

Demand in Germany has picked up since mid-year. The new ruling coalition seeks to calm fears of a cut to the country’s solar incentives.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 30, 2009
Is Energy the Key to China’s Brand Name Dreams?

China is moving from supplying equipment to building energy parks in the U.S. and financing them.

Solar
Michael Kanellos October 29, 2009
Masdar PV: First Commercial Project and Factory Expansion

The startup amorphous-silicon thin-film maker, backed by Abu Dhabi, plans to ship panels with two layers of amorphous silicon next year.

Manufacturing
Ucilia Wang October 29, 2009
Robert Kennedy on Being Subversive

The environmental activist and VC talks up his love of green energy, opposition to a Feinstein bill, and concern about Chinese solar companies ‘flooding the market’ with their products.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 28, 2009
Solar Roundup: 6MW Solar Neighborhood, PG&E Buys 500MW

Solar companies have announced products, deals and manufacturing plans ahead of a major industry conference.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 26, 2009
Chinese Company to Build Solar Power Plants in U.S. With Duke

China’s ENN gets its factories from Applied Materials in the U.S. and will work with Duke to build power plants here.

Projects
Michael Kanellos October 23, 2009
Solar Winners: Auto Parts Makers

Skyline Solar, which is raising another round of funding, lines up a car parts maker to produce its concentrating solar systems.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 22, 2009
Suntech Forms Alliances to Launch ‘Reliathon’ for Utility Market

The solar panel maker is packaging a new line of panels with trackers and inverters from other makers to entice project developers.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 21, 2009
Solar Declines in Price by More than 30%, But Don’t Credit the Panel

Being cheap to employees and cutting overhead has helped drive the solar market.

Policy
Michael Kanellos October 20, 2009
Feds Budget $750M for ‘Conventional’ Renewable Energy Generation

The new loan guarantee program will support as much as $8 billion in loans for power plants using more mature solar, wind and other technologies.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 7, 2009