CPV today interview Dr. Frank Siebke from Good Energies on CPV´s potential

Where do you see the CPV industry in the next 5 years?

The CPV industry will consolidate. Only companies who are able to stretch their cash until CPV becomes bankable will survive. In five years from now, CPV will serve niche market regions with high direct irradiation. They will be able to compete with other technologies such as flat plate PV or CSP. 

Where do you see the biggest market potential for CPV?

I see the biggest market potential for CPV in the US. There are other regions with high direct irradiation like Italy or Africa which in principle should favour CPV, but there are no support schemes for CPV in those places yet.

Who and what do you think will be making the headlines in 2010?

We will see a continuous improvement of the technology-  higher cell efficiencies in the laboratory and in production as well as more cost effective module designs. The number of demonstration projects around the globe will increase and CPV will prove to perform well.

What are the main challenges still remaining for the industry and where should the industry focus on to move forwards?  

From my point view, the main challenges are to get traction with customers and to become bankable. Only then, will CPV be able to go down the learning curve on costs to catch up with crystalline silicon based PV. Small volumes equal shallow learning curves…

Why are you speaking at the 3^rd CPV Summit EU?

I believe that the CPV industry will continue to grow in the coming years as CPV technology is approaching maturity. However, the market introduction of CPV has been delayed by the financial crisis: Investors and banks became more risk averse. While project finance is back for crystalline silicon-based PV power plants, new technologies are still struggling to get access to bank financing. The 3rd Concentrated PV Summit EU offers a platform to get an update on the latest CPV technology and to discuss and develop strategies to accelerate the market penetration of CPV.

Dr.Frank Siebke will be sharing his perspective on CPV´s financial future at the 3^rd Concentrated Photovoltaics Summit EU in November. For more information visit: http://www.cpvtoday.com/eu/

Disclaimer: This article is based on the interviewee’s comments and do not represent the views of Good Energies.

Contact information:

Maria Slough Rocha

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maria@cpvtoday.com