Multimedia Research Group,
Inc., publishes market analyses of new technologies for the communications
industries, and provides market intelligence and strategy consulting for its
client companies, announces a comprehensive global report on emerging thin-film
photovoltaic (PV) technologies that will drive improvements in solar energy
production for decades to come.
Because conventional bulk silicon based PV cells have been used since the 1960s,
they are the most costly to manufacture especially when compared with newer
less costly and less carbon-emitting techniques now available. While conventional
cell types accounted for more than 83% of the market share in 2007, thin-film
PV cells (evolving since the early 1970s) and organic PV cells (evolving since
the 1990s) have accounted for about 17% of the total PV market in 2007. They
represent one of the fastest growing technologies in the alternative energy
sector, and are expected to gain 32% SOM (about 4 GW) by 2013.
Since thin cells are made by directly depositing photoactive material onto
a thin substrate, they are much thinner and require less material than conventional
PV cells and offer increasing efficiencies. The report tracks development and
deployment of the 4 major thin-film PV cell types: amorphous silicon (a-Si);
cadmium telluride (CdTe); copper indium diselenide/copper indium gallium diselenide
(CIS / CIGS); and also organic (nanotechnology) systems. In 2007, the NREL (National
Renewable Energy Laboratory) demonstrated CIGS PV cells with 19.9% efficiency,
which is still very far from that reported for crystalline silicon (42.8%),
but nonetheless demonstrates strong potential for thin-film PV and its broad
applicability.
By tracking 48 main thin-film suppliers and 25 global research organizations,
the report is able to forecast application and revenue growth from 2008 to 2013
for segments including a-Si, CdTe, CIGS, DSC and OPV technologies. The report
also investigates key drivers enabling the development and use of organic and
thin-film PV cells including government programs, silicon costs and availability;
and it investigates key applications of PV including large-scale power generation,
conventional electronics and disposable electronics.
Co-produced by MRG, Inc. and Fuji-Keizai, the 152-page report, "Worldwide
Thin-film Photovoltaics Current Status and R&D" is available in a Hard
Copy Print Edition for $1,495 USD, a PDF single-department license for $2,295
USD and a PDF corporate-wide license for $3,495 USD (Published: February, 2009).
Posted May 18th, 2009
