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

Funding Roundup: Investors Go for Thin Solar and Hybrid-Electric Cars

Fisker Automotive and Think Global both get new capital to boost production. SoloPower reportedly has raised nearly $200 million, reflecting investors' strong interest in thin-film solar.

Solar
Ucilia Wang September 14, 2008
LG Plots Solar Partnership With Conergy

The venture would be LG's first move into solar-panel manufacturing, and could be a boost for Conergy to meet investors expectations.

Solar
Jeff St. John September 11, 2008
Which Concentrating Solar Companies Are Doomed?

Greentech Media's senior analyst Eric Wesoff says only about 10 percent of venture-backed concentrating photovoltaic companies will survive.

Solar
Rachel Barron September 11, 2008
Concentrated Photovoltaic Poetry Corner With Sunrgi

Sunrgi's founders are developing a CPV system with a claimed 2000X concentration, when they're not taking time to wax poetic.

Technology
Eric Wesoff September 11, 2008
Morgan Solar: Staggered Panel Key to Concentrator

The Toronto-based startup says its concentrators will consist of staggered rows of optics that will allow air – and heat – to pass through.

Solar
Jennifer Kho September 9, 2008
Enphase Raises $15M, Boosts Production

The startup plans to expand production of a system that monitors solar-power systems while converting solar power into usable electricity.

Solar
Ucilia Wang September 9, 2008
Analysts Pick Next Year's Solar Winners

Solar stocks have fared so-so this week as solar companies and analysts meet in Spain and are forecasting a potentially tough year for the industry.

Solar
Ucilia Wang September 5, 2008
Out of Africa: New Concentrating-Solar Tech Inspired by Congo Stint

Morgan Solar claims its new solar concentrator is simpler – and up to four times cheaper. The company has raised $1.5M and plans to raise an additional $10M to $12M to reach production. It also plans to install its first test panel this month.

Solar
Jennifer Kho September 2, 2008
Going Solar: For Ships, Planes and Cars

Two Japanese companies plan to partly propel a cargo ship with solar panels. Meanwhile, QinetiQ says its unmanned solar-powered aircraft broke a world record and Sunrise Solar introduces a solar sunroof for cars.

Solar
Ucilia Wang August 26, 2008
Solar Roundup: Honda Drives Thin-Film Expansion

Honda says it will expand its thin-film manufacturing capacity. Meanwhile, Solar Thin Films and Amelio Solar team up to bring more CIGS solar cells to market and India claims it's building Asia's biggest solar-thermal plant.

Solar
Rachel Barron August 20, 2008
Netcrystal Stretches the Limits of Solar Performance

Could Netcrystal's MEMS-style solar tech exceed that of SunPower while also beat Nanosolar's prices? Senior Analyst Eric Wesoff checks it out.

Solar
Eric Wesoff August 20, 2008
Federal Lab Breaks Efficiency Record With 'Mismatched' Solar Cell

NREL says it has created a solar cell that can convert a record 40.8 percent of the sunlight that reaches it into electricity. Centrotherm, Oerlikon and the DOE also are taking steps toward more solar innovation.

Solar
Rachel Barron August 13, 2008
Applied Materials' Solar Biz Has Sunny Outlook

The equipment maker reported higher revenues for its solar segment for the recent quarter, while also noting that the European Patent Office has ruled in favor of its customer Sunfilm in a patent dispute.

Solar
Ucilia Wang August 12, 2008
Protecting Solar Cells With Cotton and Castor Beans

After two years of secrecy, BioSolar unveils a bio-based protective sheet for solar cells that it hopes will give chemical giant DuPont some competition.

Solar
Rachel Barron August 12, 2008
LDK 2Q Profit Triples, Margin Falls

The Chinese solar-wafer company beats expectations, sending shares up 20 percent, while Canadian upgraded-metallurgical-silicon firm Timminco posts a widening loss.

Solar
Jennifer Kho August 11, 2008
Solyndra's CIGS Solar Patents and More

Greentech Media Analyst at Large Eric Wesoff dug up some info from Solyndra's patents about some big supply agreements.

Solar
Eric Wesoff August 11, 2008
Funding Roundup: DIY Solar, Electric Cars and Water Disinfectant

VCs invested a record amount during the second quarter of this year. Ausra, Rive Technology, Zap, ReCellular, BPL Global and Nextreme Thermal were among the companies to raise funding last week.

Solar
Ucilia Wang August 10, 2008
GT Solar IPO Attracts Class-Action Suits

Solar-equipment manufacturer GT Solar faces at least seven class-action lawsuits less than two weeks after its IPO.

Solar
Jennifer Kho August 4, 2008
First Solar Posts Blockbuster 2Q

The thin-film solar panel maker's net income jumped 57 percent in the second quarter compared to the year ago period. Investors cheer.

Solar
Ucilia Wang July 30, 2008
Xantrex Sells for $489M

Schneider Electric is buying the Canadian company, which supplies inverters to major solar companies.

Solar
Ucilia Wang July 28, 2008