The Question Day 32: What is the Most Difficult Issue Facing the Solar Industry?

19 january 2013

It’s been a year of both continued expansion and mounting challenges for the global solar industry. RenewableEnergyWorld asked solar industry executives to share their thoughts and insights on one burning question:

What has proven to be the most difficult issue facing the solar industry during the past year and what are some key strategies to ensure long-term growth?

Responses will be updated daily, and we encourage you to lend your own voice to the discussion in the comments below.

Richard Bozicevich, VP of Business Development, TUV Rheinland PTL

The solar industry is undeniably growing worldwide, and so is the trend to build large-scale, multi-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) power plants. The costs of PV modules and, therefore, system costs are falling, resulting in lower costs per kilowatt. For this reason, banks and investors are finding solar energy an attractive energy market option. This is a key element for the industry’s growth.

However, ensuring long-term bankability of power plants is a major challenge for project planners and investors. Some of the greatest operational failure risks include planning errors, installation defects, weather-related damage, and product performance related reductions in output during operation. The quality of power plants needs to be assured to enhance their bankability and increase cost-efficiency, thus making the solar energy industry worthy of continuous investment.

Project planners and investors can achieve this goal by thoroughly planning, researching and verifying every detail of the power plant design, construction and operation. Specifically, they can partner with the appropriate industry organizations to perform the following:

• Selecting suitable components and modules;
• Testing module output performance to verify the output forecast and nameplate ratings;
• Performing site evaluation;
• Evaluating plausibility of the plant design;
• Ensuring quality of the installation;
• Ensuring plant safety;
• Conducting system monitoring during operation; and
• Verifying plant output.

Richard Bozicevich is vice president of business development for TUV Rheinland PTL, where he directs North American operations for solar technologies. Previously, he has held management and executive management posts for a variety of Silicon Valley start-up ventures. Bozicevich holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.