Solar PV Market Analysis

Unstable Boom Times Continue for PV Market

Even using the latest available installation data for Germany as REW goes to press – there is no doubt that more than 4 GWp will have been installed by July 2010, and it is highly likely that despite the upcoming decrease in the tariff, between 6 GWp and 8 GWp are likely by commissioned by the end of 2010 – bringing about significant margin pressure.

How NOT to install solar panels! :-)

I was visiting a small rural hospital here in Haiti (in the town of Verettes, L'Artibonite) the other day and stumbled upon this nice solar water purification installation, installed by Venezuelans as a gift to Haiti after the earthquake.

They used Cuban panels (Numen) and put them on nicely elevated poles to make it more difficult to steal them (which is a major problem here).

So far so good...

However, have a close look at the photos...

The 2 arrays are overlapping and causing serious permanent shading! Quite amazing they left it like this.

Even worse, they were pointing North. Venezuela is in the Southern hemisphere, so these guys are used to pointing their panels North. Haiti is north of the equator though... :-)