Thin-film capacity to hit 29 GWp by 2015, says NanoMarkets
Press release, September 17; Michael McManus
Source: DIGITIMES, 17 September 2008
http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20080917PR203.html
Manufacturing capacity for thin-film and organic photovoltaics is expected to grow from approximately 2 GWp (Gigawatts at peak sunlight) this year to 29 GWp by 2015 according to a new report from NanoMarkets, an industry analyst firm. While First Solar will be hard to pass in the cadmium telluride (CdTe) sector, the race for dominance in the CIGS and OPV sectors has just begun. By 2015 these two sectors combined will account for 19% and 10% of aggregate capacity. At the same time, the value of manufacturing equipment purchased by thin-film PV (TFPV) and organic PV (OPV) firms will grow from US$450 million in 2008 to US$4.8 billion in 2015.
Annual manufacturing equipment purchases by TFPV/OPV firms will reach over US$1 billion in 2009, more than double this year. NanoMarkets projects that the market for TFPV/OPV equipment will flatten in 2010 as solar cell makers fully utilize the capacity they have rapidly put in place since 2007 but resume growth and reach US$4.8 billion in 2015.
Printing promises to reduce manufacturing costs, although it also faces challenges when it comes to producing the highest efficiency cells. Nonetheless, the market for printing equipment used in the manufacture of TFPV cells will grow from around US$40 million in 2008 to over US$750 million in 2015.