GLOBAL PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL MARKET AT $19.6 BILLION WILL REACH $125.5 BILLION BY 2016
A new study on Photovoltaic Solar Strategies, Technologies And Opportunities: Market Shares and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2010?2016. The 2010 study has 700 pages, 306 tables and figures.
Large solar farms are more popular initially, but solar is anticipated to be built out on commercial roof tops in increased quantity. The electricity generated will be fed to local substations and distributed to homes from there. The electricity generated will be used for both stationary power and to charge electric vehicles. Photovoltaics PV market growth depends on volume production to achieve economies of scale.
Solar energy market driving forces relate to the opportunity to harness a cheap, long lasting, powerful energy source. Solar energy can be used to create electricity in huge quantity. Solar panels are mounted in a weatherproof frame, are mounted in areas with direct exposure to the sun to generate electricity from sunlight.
Solar power systems are comprised of solar modules, related power electronics, and other components. Solar panels are used in residential, commercial and industrial applications. Solar compositions of arrays that comprise electric utility grids appear to be the wave of the future.
The demand for solar energy is dependent on a lower prices for solar and higher prices for petroleum. A combination of economies of scale being realized in the manufacturing along with increases in the current prices for petroleum will drive solar energy adoption.
The overall solar market has attained enough critical mass to boost competitive technologies of thin film and monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and multicrystalline silicon based systems.
First Solar, the market leader, in commercial systems is participating in the solar markets at a level of $1.9 billion of a total 2009 market of $19.6 billion for 2009. First Solar is well positioned to gain significant market share over the next five years. First Solar basically does monolithic integration on glass, making things on the module level.
First Solar PV modules are thin film PV modules. The achievement of reaching 1GW of modules in installations bodes well for the entire industry, bringing credibility to the solar energy effort. To support the growing demand, First Solar continues to push the limits on volume manufacturing. First Solar is integrating each production step.
Sharp, the market leader, has achieved remarkable penetration of residential markets. Mass production of tandem?type thin?film solar cells means two types of cells are offered—crystalline types suitable for colder temperatures at high latitudes, and thinfilm types better suited to warmer regions. Sharp is a unique manufacturer in that they offer both types.
