Just returned from Intersolar--the global trade fair for the solar business.  Over 42 acres of space for 1,000 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors from over 130 nations planning and building a clean, affordable energy future.  My head is still spinning a week later.

The winners are the large solar parks.  The industry has clearly evolved towards larger installations.  Here is the breakout for solar power plant development in Germany:

Much more equipment--inverters, racking, trackers, security systems, and software related to running large solar parks was evident this year.  The dramatic growth in Spain over the last year has changed the tenor of the industry.

My top seven were:

1.  Cents per kWh is the new mantra--as we approach grid parity, the new benchmark is what you can sell power for.  With the present ITC, we will be at grid parity in large parts of California and Hawaii by next year.

2.  Applied Materials' Sunfab line produced a large format, 61SF, 220 pound, glass/glass module that is designed for groundmount installation.  AMAT has sold several lines for installation in Germany, India, and the UAE.  They predict a production cost of under $1/W in about 24 months--the magical grid parity number.

These large format, heavy modules are meant for solar fields/ground mounts.  Particularly suited to Germany and Spain where the array can float and not required to be grounded.  Heard that thin film degrades faster [on the order of 20%] if the array is grounded.

3.  Solar trackers really developed due to Spain and has a number of attractive offerings.  Cost is about $1.50 watt, and you generate 250 to 400 more kWh per kW per year.

4.  Concentrating PV--works well for arid and desert climates where cSi degrades under heat.  You need really accurate tracking--as the sun's rays are focused on a tiny solar cell--that is 99% accurate.  The installs are smaller than solar thermal fields, and don't use any fresh water, a big deal in an arid climate.  They do need to be kept clean--the Pilkington glass [enameled?] is a good candidate because it sheds dust easier.

5.  Racking systems that speed installation, including sliding in modules.  Labor in installation is going to become a critical installation cost component in getting installed cost to grid parity.

6.  Over thirty different module manufacturers from China.  Quality?  How do you value the 25 year warranty?  Production?

7.  Large solar thermal (>500MW) parks are making economic sense where you can interconnect, have access to a secondary heat source (CCGT or methane) and H2O.

The biggest deal may be the fact that Q-Cells announced that it is getting respectable performance from upgraded metallurgical silicon--this will increase module supply much faster than we originally forecast.

Predictions made over 20 years ago were that PV would be providing power cheaper than you can get from the grid by 2010.  Looks like we are going to be there.