May 18 2009
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).