Global Market Review of Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation

Publication Date	April 2009
Publisher	Research Analysts
Product Type	Report
Pages	80
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	RAL00001

Buy this product or for assistance call +44 20 7060 7474

PDF £650.00$1066 | €720

FAX Order above formats by FAX

Summary

Assesses the global trends in the demand for thin film photovoltaic
Highlights some of the major investments being made by manufacturers in terms of technology and R&D focus
Describes the encapsulation materials being used for solar photovoltaics, including EVA and PVB
Discusses the current commercial status and future viability of the photovoltaic industry
Reviews status and prospects of the major national solar markets
Profiles the major manufacturers of solar cells and modules
Considers market incentives, political influences, challenges and threats facing the photovoltaic industry

Addresses the key issues facing the photovoltaic industry

Although the solar power industry faces promising prospect for growth, it must address some major challenges in commercializing organic photovoltaics. The report includes comment and coverage of a range of manufacturers, setting out how they are overcoming the major hurdles to commercialization.

Abstract from Global Market Review of Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation

As attention is being focused on the depletion of fossil fuels and the problems of global warming, solar cells are expected to form the core of new sources of energy. A combination of government incentives, interest in investors in 'green and clean' technology coupled with growing demand from consumers for cheaper alternatives to fossil fuels have ignited a boom in all forms of solar energy.

This report is intended to provide an overview of the global solar photovoltaic power generation market, providing detailed information on the main drivers, trends, opportunities and challenges facing the sector. For instance, one of the key issues for photovoltaic market is to reduce the ratio of manufacturing cost to power output, and more specifically for solar modules, the manufacturing cost per kWh. As this report indicates, as the market and industry continues to grow and develop, such cost reductions are being achieved through improvements in technology, economies of scale and increased efficiency in all parts of the value chain.

Chapter 1 reviews solar power as an alternative source of energy, defining the elements, benefits and challenges facing the industry. Solar power is one of the cleanest electric generation sources, capable of generating electricity without air or water emissions, noise, vibration, habitat impact or waste generation.

Chapter 2 considers the market for solar photovoltaic power, defining the key processes and issues. Photovoltaic technology, such as thin film solar panels, converts sunlight into electricity. Growing concern for the climate and the need for additional energy sources have made governments around the world take measures to support investments in and use of renewable energy.

Chapter 3 considers the various market incentives and political influences. It also reviews the current market opportunities and predictions for solar photovoltaic power generation over the next few years alongside the challenges and threats the industry is facing.

Chapter 4 considers the current status and prospects of the major national solar markets, namely Germany, Spain, Japan, US, Italy, France, South Korea and India.

Chapter 5 addresses a number of issues facing the solar photovoltaic market. The solar photovoltaic market is one of fastest growing markets in the renewable energy sector. Over the next decade or so, photovoltaics is on course to become more and more cost competitive due to lower production costs and long term stable technical systems.

Chapter 6 profiles the major manufacturers of solar cells and modules, namely: Ascent Solar
Evergreen Solar Inc; First Solar; Kyocera Corporation; Mitsubishi Electric; Motech Industries; Q-Cells AG; Renewable Energy Corporation; Sanyo Electric; Sharp Corporation; SolarWorld AG; SunLink Corporation; Sunpower Corporation; Suntech Power; and United Solar.

Content

Chapter 1 Solar power: a bright future
1.1 Why solar power?
1.2 Solar conversion process
1.3 Defining the elements
1.4 Solar power benefits
1.5 Challenges facing the solar power industry
1.6 Solar power industry value chain

Chapter 2 Market overview
2.1 Why solar photovoltaic power?
2.2 Defining the elements
2.3 Manufacturing process
2.4 Product lifetime issues

Chapter 3 Market analyses
3.1 Market incentives and political influences
3.2 Market competition
3.3 Recent technical advances
3.4 Market opportunities and seven year forecasts
3.5 Market challenges and threats

Chapter 4 National markets
4.1 Major national solar markets
4.2 Germany
4.2.1 ~ Present
4.2.2 ~ Future
4.3 Spain
4.3.1 ~ Present
4.3.2 ~ Future
4.4 Japan
4.4.1 ~ Present
4.4.2 ~ Future
4.5 United States
4.5.1 ~ Present
4.5.2 ~ Future
4.6 Other key national solar markets
4.7 France
4.8 India
4.9 Italy
4.10 South Korea
4.11 Case studies
4.11.1 ~ Supplying solar photovoltaic electricity generating systems to developing countries
4.11.2 ~ First Solar power plant for the Papal State

Chapter 5 Market prospects
5.1 What are the prospects for the solar photovoltaic solar module market?
5.2 When will grid parity in Europe be achieved?
5.3 What will be the impact on the solar energy market of the change in subsidy policies?
5.4 What will be the impact on the solar photovoltaic industry following the expansion of incentive policy-oriented leadership?
5.5 What are the opportunities for the glass industry?
5.6 What is the long-term challenge of the solar energy sector?
5.7 What will be the impact of the current global financial crisis?

Chapter 6 Major manufacturers of solar cells and modules
6.1 Ascent Solar
6.2 Bosch
6.3 Evergreen Solar inc
6.4 First Solar
6.5 Kyocera Corporation
6.6 Mitsubishi Electric
6.7 Motech Industries
6.8 Q-Cells AG
6.9 Renewable Energy Corporation
6.10 Sanyo Electric
6.11 Sharp Corporation
6.12 SolarWorld AG
6.13 SunLink Corporation
6.14 Sunpower Corporation
6.15 Suntech Power
6.16 United Solar

Appendix 1 Glossary of terms

List of tables

1 Technologies used in the solar power industry
2 Historical development of cumulative installed global and EU photovoltaic capacity, 1998 - 2007, MWp
3 Global annual market (MWp) and annual growth rate of photovoltaic industry in main markets, 2006 – 2012
4 Global cumulative photovoltaic capacity assuming a pessimistic-driven scenario, 2003 - 2012, GWp
5 Pessimistic market forecast for the major global photovoltaic markets, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, US, China, Japan, South Korea, India and the Rest of the World, 2006 - 2012, MWp
6 Policy-driven market forecast for the major global photovoltaic markets, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, US, China, Japan, South Korea, India and the Rest of the World, 2006 - 2012, MWp
7 Mitsubishi Electric’s current and projected growth of annual production capacity for photovoltaic cells and modules, 2003 – 2012, MW
8 Sanyo’s solar production capacity, 2007 - 2009
9 Q-Cells key figures, 2002 – 2007
10 Sharp Corp’s cumulative solar cell production volume, 1998 – 2007

List of figures

1 The roof of the Stillwell Avenue metro station in New York is home to the world's largest building-integrated solar plant with thin film modules
2 A photovoltaic unit from RWE Schott Solar on the roof of a single-family house

3 In 2008, Europe’s first commercial solar thermal parabolic trough power plant went on-stream near Granada, Spain
4 Solar energy is rapidly becoming a valuable supplement to the traditional sources of electricity that are fed into the electricity grids.
5 Solar energy is the perfect solution in remote areas. Once in place, an installation only requires sunshine to produce power for decades.
6 Europe’s first Plus Energy housing estate in Weiz, Austria runs on solar technology from Schott
7 Ersol Solar Energy AG’s manufacturing capacity in Arnstadt, Germany is being extended