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.

Policy

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 China a Friend or Foe to the U.S.?

Duke Energy’s David Mohler addresses concerns about the utility’s growing number of deals with Chinese companies, while President Obama meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 17, 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 Market Declines for First Time Ever

Global demand for solar cells and panels is likely to drop 17 percent in 2009, says Navigant Consulting. Market recovery won’t come quickly.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 12, 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
SF Supervisor to SolarCity: Where’s That Job Training Program?

A spat over SolarCity’s promise to provide job training highlights San Francisco’s struggle to create ‘green’ jobs.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 9, 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
Cal May Add 365MW in 2009, Still Short of 20% Mandate

California’s utilities are signing gigawatts of renewable electricity contracts, but getting those electrons hasn’t been so easy.

Policy
Ucilia Wang October 30, 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
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
What the Solar Industry Wants in a Climate Change Bill

The Solar Energy Industries Association is asking members to pony up for a big political battle against oil and coal industries.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 27, 2009
Green Jobs: Trickling In?

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis outlines her department and other federal agencies’ efforts to create green jobs, but the full impact of these programs isn’t likely be felt until 2010.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 27, 2009
National Semi Buys Energy Recommerce

National Semi, which launched devices for boosting solar panel performance earlier this year, now adds power monitoring software and service to its offerings.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 22, 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
Energy and Health: The $120B Hidden Cost

A National Research Council report quantifies how energy production and use poses a significant and expensive risk to humans.

Policy
Ucilia Wang October 19, 2009
Power Consumption Down for a Year in U.S., Solar Dips Too

Blame it on the recession. Power consumption has declined for 12 months, says the EIA. And there’s been a slight dip in solar.

Policy
Michael Kanellos October 16, 2009