By Nick Gilbert
The International Photovoltaic Equipment Association (IPVEA) is expanding its activities in energy storage. It is expanding its remit in order to assist the association’s members to explore the opportunities available in energy storage.
IPVEA is a non-profit organization consisting of producers and suppliers of photovoltaic fabrication equipment and associated materials that are required for production of PV wafers, thin-film cells, crystalline cells, ingots and panels.
The infrastructure requirements for electric vehicle and transportation, and decentralized and renewable energy production now require diverse and complex energy storage facilities. This has led to the necessity of developing novel energy storage technologies. Though the market already exists, significantly larger opportunities are available. Pike Research estimates that the combined total market value for smart energy storage and smart energy will increase by 90%, over four years, to reach $420 billion in 2015.
IPVEA had conducted a survey and consulted with its members, and based on these aspects had taken the decision to expand. PV equipment vendors have experience in tool design for mass manufacturing of pharmaceutical, automotive and semiconductor packaging, and LEDs and flat panel displays. The knowledge may be applied to reduce energy storage technology cost. Specific tools for energy storage device production are being developed by ABB, Oerlikon, Reis Robotics, Jonas & Redmann, and Manz.
IPVEA will be collaborating with important partners to develop a stronger platform, explore energy storage and PV markets, and facilitate new networking opportunities for the energy storage and PV equipment industries
Source: http://www.ipvea.org/