Spectacular growth is seen in thin-film solar cellsthroughout
the world. By 2010, its market share is expected to have
grown to 20% from the present 8%.
According to Martin Roscheisen, CEO of Nanosolar,
‘the future’s bright for those who can deliver on
cost below First Solar's -- such as printed CIGS; it’s cloudy
for those who don’t -- such as high-vacuum CIGS or
high-vacuum silicon.’
Roscheisen knows what he is talking about; by his own
admission, his company, Nanosolar, has succeeded in manufacturing the
world’s first sub-$1/W solar cell and panel using a
(non-vacuum) printing process that is significantly faster than even
most other (low-vacuum) processes. And it has been a success with high
demand already outstripping production output for the next 12 months.
Roscheisen will be discussing Nanosolar’s history
and future at the conference entitled ‘Thin-Film
Future–Shortcut to Grid-Parity?’ which is being
held on June 11 in Munich, where he will be one of the speakers. This
conference is where the world’s thin-film companies will be
presenting their experiences, products, and technological developments
and sharing their views on possible cost price reductions.
Among them are leading manufacturers, such as Nanosolar,
Kaneka, Q-cells, Oerlikon Solar, Applied Materials, Nexpower, QS Solar,
Moser Baer, First Solar and Phoenix Solar. The conference is to be held
at the Sofitel in the center of Munich. For registration or further
information, go to www.thethin-filmfuture.com.
The conference is scheduled just before the start of
Intersolar, the world’s largest technology trade fair for
solar energy, which will be taking place in Munich from June 12 through
to June 14, 2008.