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.

Technology

BIPV Offers Reasons to be Cheerful

Senior Analyst Eric Wesoff reports on Building Integrated Photovoltaics from the floor of Solar Power International where the mood is cautiously optimistic.

Solar
Eric Wesoff October 16, 2008
Solar Industry Talks Economy

As shares fall again, along with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, companies discuss how a weak economy could impact solar.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 15, 2008
Suniva to Start Production Next Week

The Atlanta-based startup will begin making its monocrystalline silicon solar cells to fulfill the almost $1 billion in contracts it already has signed.

Solar
Jeff St. John October 15, 2008
Solar Mergers: Guarding Against a Slumping Economy

Execs from solar installers Solar Works and SolarWrights discuss their merger, the latest in what could become a trend as companies bolster themselves for the possibility of a more competitive market.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 15, 2008
Gainesville Considers German Solar Tariff

In a move that would emulate Germany's feed-in tariff, a utility in Gainesville, Fla., could become the first to pay residents and businesses for solar power.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 14, 2008
Soliant Lands $21M

General Electric Energy Financial Services leads the round with a $2.5 million investment in the concentrated photovoltaic solar startup

Solar
Jeff St. John October 14, 2008
Sharp Guns for U.S. Thin-Film Market

The Japanese solar firm has built a thin-film production line and is constructing another 480-megawatt factory for 2010. It also is testing concentrating-solar-power systems in Spain and Italy.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 14, 2008
1366 CEO Lays Out Strategy, Funding Plans

The silicon solar module maker from MIT says it will seek $50 million for a 25-to 30-megawatt plant after the U.S. presidential election.

Solar
Michael Kanellos October 13, 2008
Funding Roundup: 1366 Tech Looks for $50M

Raising money will be tough for startups and public companies, and the greentech world could see "big-name cleantech startups implode" in a depressed economy.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 13, 2008
Solar Roundup: First Look at Solar Power International

News begins to trickle out as companies head to San Diego for a conference and expo next week, while Schott Solar plans to unveil a new solar panel and SkyFuel has released a glass-free solar concentrator.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 10, 2008
A New CIGS Company Emerges: Telio Solar

Telio Solar is nudging its way into an already crowded CIGS market, but what sets it apart?

Solar
Michael Kanellos October 9, 2008
Schott Solar Shoots Down IPO

German solar manufacturer cites poor market conditions in decision to end its on-again, off-again plans to go public.

Solar
Jeff St. John October 8, 2008
Konarka Claims 1GW in Organic PV Production

Massachusetts-based Konarka says its new plant can make 1 gigawatt of its organic photovoltaic solar "power plastic" material, while thin-film leader First Solar expands Ohio facility, and SolarWorld opens new U.S. crystalline solar cell plant.

Solar
Jeff St. John October 7, 2008
3-D: The New Word in Solar Cells

Why produce only flat solar cells? Companies are now emerging from with more geometric ideas, says Senior Analyst Michael Kanellos.

Solar
Michael Kanellos October 7, 2008
Solyndra Rolls Out Tube-Shaped Thin Film

UPDATED 6:15 PM: The solar startup, which has lined up two customers, is discussing its solar technology publicly for the first time.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 7, 2008
Funding Roundup: Investors Back Solar, Car Tech

Privately owned Ausra and Solar Power Partners nabbed new investments while publicly traded Chinese car and battery maker BYD enticed Warren Buffett's company into buying a 10-percent stake.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 5, 2008
Moser Baer India Signs $500M in Thin-Film Contracts

In another move to bring amorphous-silicon solar panels to significance, the company says it has orders to deliver its films to European integrators through 2012.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 2, 2008
Suntech Buys EI Solutions, Teams Up With MMA

Solar-panel maker Suntech Power is getting into the solar-power financing and project-management business with the purchase of solar installer EI Solutions and by starting a joint venture with MMA Renewable Ventures.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 2, 2008
Ausra Bags $60.6M to Finish Plant

The California solar-thermal developer plans to use part of the money it has raised to complete a 5-megawatt power plant.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 1, 2008
Hunting for Cash at the Cleantech Forum

Solar-cell developer Ampulse said it is looking to raise $10 million in its first round of financing, and morphing wind-blade developer FlexSys wants $8 million.

Rachel Barron September 17, 2008