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.
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.