Thin-film organic PV to reach 29 GWp by 2015

Thin-film PV

Thin-film, organic PV to reach 29 GWp by 2015

Manufacturing capacity for thin-film and organic PV likely to grow from 2 GWp this year to 29 GWp by 2015, according to NanoMarkets

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

GLEN ALLEN, USA: Manufacturing capacity for thin-film and organic photovoltaics is expected to grow from approximately 2 GWp (Gigawatts at peak sunlight) this year to 29 GWp by 2015 according to a new report from NanoMarkets.

At the same time, the value of manufacturing equipment purchased by thin-film PV (TFPV) and organic PV (OPV) firms will grow from $450 million in 2008 to $4.8 billion in 2015. These and other findings are from NanoMarkets' new report, "The Future of Thin Film and Organic Photovoltaics Manufacturing".

The report is the next in a series from NanoMarkets that address the emerging thin-film and organic photovoltaics markets. Previous reports in 2008 addressed thin-film and organic photovoltaic materials markets, modules markets and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) markets.

Findings include:

* While First Solar will be hard to pass in the cadmium telluride (CdTe) sector, the race for dominance in the CIGS and OPV sectors has just begun.

* By 2015 these two sectors combined will account for 19 percent and 10 of aggregate capacity.

* Annual manufacturing equipment purchases by TFPV/OPV firms will reach over $1 billion in 2009, more than double this year. NanoMarkets projects that the market for TFPV/OPV equipment will flatten in 2010 as solar cell makers fully utilize the capacity they have rapidly put in place since 2007 but resume growth and reach $4.8 billion in 2015.

* Printing promises to reduce manufacturing costs, although it also faces challenges when it comes to producing the highest efficiency cells.

* Nonetheless, the market for printing equipment used in the manufacture of TFPV cells will grow from around $40 million in 2008 to over $750 million in 2015.

©CIOL Bureau