Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC)

Rise of Non-Si Solar Cells: CIS Solar Cell Market to Expand 105 Times in 4 Years
Mami Akasaka, Tech-On! Sep 12, 2007
Source: Tech-on
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20070912/139059/

The solar cell market is growing favorably. The worldwide solar cell market is expected to grow 3.7 times that of fiscal 2006 to 2.7716 trillion yen in fiscal 2010, according to research company Fuji Keizai Co. Ltd. Polycrystalline Si solar cells are the current mainstream in the market, but sales will significantly expand for solar cells using no or a small amount of Si materials amid the tightening supplies of Si wafer, Fuji Keizai forecast.

The market for CIS solar cells containing no Si will sharply grow from the 4.5 billion yen in fiscal 2006 to 472.5 billion yen in fiscal 2010, according to this survey. CIS solar cells are primarily made of Cu (copper), In (indium) and Se (selenium). CIS solar cells have achieved relatively higher photoelectric conversion efficiency than other thin-film solar cells and verified long-term stability, Fuji Keizai said. WurthSolar GmbH & Co. KG of Germany and Global Solar Energy Inc. of the United States are major CIS solar cell manufacturers in overseas. In Japan, Showa Shell Solar K.K. is currently constructing the world's largest class plant for CIS solar cells.

The market for dye-sensitized solar cells, which also contain no Si, are expected to be established at 3.5 billion yen in fiscal 2007, which is predicted to expand 16.6 times larger to 58.1 billion yen in fiscal 2010. Despite a challenge of low conversion efficiency, dye-sensitized solar cells have an advantage of low manufacturing cost, which is about 1/2 to 1/10 that required to manufacture crystal cells. G24 Innovations Ltd. of the United Kingdom is anticipated to start volume production ahead of any other rivals within fiscal 2007. Japanese domestic manufacturers are likely to start volume production around 2008.

On the other hand, the market for spherical Si solar cells is expected to be established at 2 billion yen in fiscal 2007 and to grow 14.4 times larger to 28.8 billion yen in fiscal 2010. The key feature of spherical Si solar cells is the smaller amount of Si materials they use, which results in lower manufacturing costs, compared with crystal cells.

Fuji Pream Corp. is seen closest to volume production among the market entrants. The company plans to complete its volume production plant within fiscal 2007, start production at 1 MW per month and gradually enhance output at the new plant. Among other manufacturers, Kyocemi Corp. displayed a prototype module at the Expo 2005 Aichi, while Kyocera Corp. has applied for a number of related patents.