Opportunities in the Solar Market for Crystalline and Thin Film Solar Cells

Introduction

Crystalline silicon is currently used in over 90% of PV cells. Despite the lower potential cost of emerging thin-film technologies (less material, higher theoretical efficiencies), crystalline silicon is expected to remain the dominant PV technology for at least the next 10 years due to its higher current average efficiency and its greater stability. This report analyzes the market for both crystalline and thin film solar cells, equipment to make them, and polysilicon as a starting point.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Solar Cell Technology

• 2.1. Introduction
• 2.2. Generations of development
  • 2.2.1. First Generation
  • 2.2.2. Second Generation
  • 2.2.3. Third Generation
• 2.3. History
• 2.4. Theory of Operation
  • 2.4.1. Simple explanation
  • 2.4.2. Photogeneration of charge carriers
  • 2.4.3. Charge carrier separation
  • 2.4.4. The p-n junction
  • 2.4.5. Connection to an external load
  • 2.4.6. Equivalent circuit of a solar cell
• 2.5. Solar cell efficiency factors
  • 2.5.1. Maximum-power point
  • 2.5.2. Energy conversion efficiency
  • 2.5.3. Fill factor
  • 2.5.4. Quantum efficiency
  • 2.5.5. Comparison of energy conversion efficiencies
    • 2.5.5.1. Peak watt (or Watt peak)
    • 2.5.5.2. Solar cells and energy payback
• 2.6. Light-absorbing materials
  • 2.6.1. Bulk
    • 2.6.1.1. Silicon
  • 2.6.2. Thin films
    • 2.6.2.1. CdTe
    • 2.6.2.2. CIGS
    • 2.6.2.3. CIS
    • 2.6.2.4. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) multijunction
    • 2.6.2.5. Light absorbing dyes
    • 2.6.2.6. Organic/polymer solar cells
    • 2.6.2.7. Silicon Thin Films
  • 2.6.3. Nanocrystalline solar cells
• 2.7. Concentrating photovoltaics (CPV)
  • 2.7.1. Introduction
  • 2.7.2. Commercial reflectors
• 2.8. Overview of research on materials and devices
  • 2.8.1. Silicon processing
  • 2.8.2. Thin-film processing
  • 2.8.3. Polymer processing
  • 2.8.4. Nanoparticle processing
  • 2.8.5. Transparent conductors

Chapter 3 - Solar Cell Manufacturing

• 3.1. Introduction
• 3.2. How Solar Cells Are Made
  • 3.2.1. Silicon Solar Cell
  • 3.2.2. Etching And Texturing
  • 3.2.3. Diffusion And Edge Isolation
  • 3.2.4. Anti-Reflection Coating
  • 3.2.5. Metallization

Chapter 4 - Thin Film Technology

• 4.1. Introduction
• 4.2. Silicon Deposition Technologies
  • 4.2.1. Amorphous Silicon Deposition
  • 4.2.2. Microcrystalline Silicon Deposition
• 4.3. Compound Semiconductor Deposition Technologies
  • 4.3.1. Introduction
  • 4.3.2. CdTe - Cadmium Telluride
  • 4.3.3. CIGS - Copper Indium Gallium Selenide
  • 4.3.4. GaAs - Gallium Arsenide

Chapter 5 - Solar Markets

• 5.1. Introduction
• 5.2. Key Growth Drivers
  • 5.2.1. Government Incentives
  • 5.2.2. Fossil Fuel Supply Constraints
  • 5.2.3. Growing Awareness Of The Advantages Of Solar Power
  • 5.2.4. Advances In Technologies
  • 5.2.5. Large Market Among Underserved Populations
• 5.3. Challenges Facing The Solar Power Industry
• 5.4. Cost Of A Photovoltaic System
• 5.5. Operating Metrics Of A Photovoltaic System
• 5.6. Types Of PV System
  • 5.6.1. Grid Connected Sector
  • 5.6.2. Off-Grid Sector
  • 5.6.3. Market Development
• 5.7. Market Analysis
  • 5.7.1. Solar Cell Market
  • 5.7.2. Polysilicon Solar Cell Market
  • 5.7.3. Thin Film Solar Cell Market
    • 5.7.3.1. Driving Forces
    • 5.7.3.2. Competing Technologies
    • 5.7.3.3. Third-Generation Technologies
  • 5.7.4. Consummables For Thin Films
    • 5.7.4.1. Indium
    • 5.7.4.2. Gallium
    • 5.7.4.3. Cadmium
    • 5.7.4.4. Tellurium
  • 5.7.5. Thin Film Solar Cell Equipment Market
  • 5.7.6. Substrates
  • 5.7.7. Manufacturing Costs
• 5.8. Disruptive Technologies

Appendix: List of Equipment and Material Suppliers

• 3.1. Polysilicon Capacity Forecast
• 4.1. Thin Film CIGS Solar Cells Efficiencies
• 4.2. Polycrystalline Thin Film PV Modules
• 5.1. Cost Per Watt Forecasts For Thin Film Cells
• 5.2. Efficiency Ranges Of Solar Cells
• 5.3. Historic Solar Cell Consumption By Region 1990-2010
• 5.4. Solar Cell Producer Capacity 2008-2010
• 5.5. Solar Cell Forecast 2005-2015
• 5.6. Market Share Of Solar Cells By Technology 2005-2015
• 5.7. Polysilicon Production Capacities By Company 2004 - 2010
• 5.8. Solar Power And Polysilicon Consumption Forecast
• 5.9. Thin Film Solar Cell Producers
• 5.10. Cost Comparison Of Thin Film Technologies
• 5.11. Production Figures For Indium
• 5.12. Production Figures For Gallium
• 5.13. Production Figures For Cadmium
• 5.14. Production Figures For Tellurium
• 5.15. Affect of Substrate Material On CIGS Solar Efficiency
• 5.16. Cost of Ownership Report

• 2.1. Light Absorption Through Layers In A Multijunction Cell
• 2.2. Triple Junction a-Si/a-SiGe/a-SiGe Cell Structure
• 2.3. A Two-Junction Amorphous-Silicon Solar Cell
• 2.4. Best Research-Cell Efficiencies
• 2.5. Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Schematic
• 2.6. Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cell
• 2.7. Schematic Of Sliver Cell
• 3.1. Diagram Of Solar Cell
• 3.2. Cross Section Of A Solar Cell Under Illumination
• 3.3. Polysilicon Manufacturing And Supply Chain
• 4.1. Sharp' s Triple-Junction Solar Cell
• 4.2. Factory Flow For 20 MW/Year CGS Facility
• 4.3. Schematic Of CdTe And CIGS Device Structures
• 4.4. CdTe Thin Film Deposition By VTD
• 4.5. CdTe Thin Film Deposition By Close Space Sublimation (CSS) Schematic
• 4.6. CdTe Thin Film Deposition By VTD2
• 4.7. CIGS Deposition System By Evaporation
• 4.8. Cross-Sectional Schematic Diagram Of The InGaP/InGaAs/Ge ATJ Cell
• 5.1. 150kWp Commercial System Cost Per Watt
• 5.2. Best Research-Cell Efficiencies
• 5.3. Solar Cell Production By Region - 2010
• 5.4. Historic and Future Solar Cell Consumption By Region
• 5.5. Solar Cell Production By Type
• 5.6. Thin Film Solar Cell Production By Type - 2005-2015
• 5.7. Polysilicon Capacity Market Share 2004
• 5.8. Polysilicon Capacity Market Share 2010
• 5.9. Polysilicon Consumption In Grams Per W And Production (MT)
• 5.10. Polysilicon Production And Consumption (MT)
• 5.11. Best Research-Thin Film Cell Efficiencies
• 5.12. Schematic Diagrams Of Thin-Film CdTe, CIGS, and a-Si Thin Film PV Devices
• 5-13. Thin Film Solar Cell Power As A Percentage Of Total Solar Power 2003-2012
• 5.14. Schematic Thin-Film Roll-To-Roll Equipment
• 5.15. Market Forecast for Solar Cell Production Equipment
• 5.16. Market Shares for Solar Cell Production Equipment - 2010

Opportunities in the Solar Market for Crystalline and Thin Film Solar Cells published by The Information Network in April 1, 2013. This report price starts from US $ 2495.

Press Release

Applied Materials is King in Solar Equipment Market

Global Information Inc. would like to present a new market research report, "Opportunities in the Solar Market for Crystalline and Thin Film Solar Cells" by The Information Network.

Applied Materials (AMAT) led the solar cell equipment market for the fourth rear in a row in 2011 as revenues for the top 8 manufacturers grew 10.7 according to The Information Network.

"Applied Materials continued to lead the market on the strength of its solar product line that includes Precision wafering systems and Baccini screen printers. Revenues grew 28.5% between 2010 and 2011", noted Dr. Robert Castellano, president of The Information Network.

Meyer Burger maintained its second place position, growing 59.1%. Organic growth was 44%, whereas 15% of growth was based on the Roth & Rau acquisition in August 2011.

*Roth & Rau recorded revenues of $280 million prior to its acquisition.

GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) was in fourth place and revenues dropped 16.3% in 2011 on sales of equipment for polysilicon furnaces and cell manufacturing.

RENA products cover the full range of wet processing for the solar industry, including handling, transport and measurement solutions. The company recorded a growth of 62.7% to revenues of $475 million in 2011.

Over capacity will continue to dominate in 2012. Subsidy cuts in Europe have triggered a global glut of solar panels and driven down prices sharply, and the equipment market has been damaged by oversupply and weak pricing. Due to the European financial crisis, subsidy reductions are occurring faster than both cost reductions and technological advancements.

Equipment spending will drop in 2012 as a result. Suntech (STP) recently announced CapEx for its most recent quarter was $23 million compared to $129 million in the year ago period. The company is restricting its CapEx in 2012 to payments for already levered equipment and services and technology upgrades. Other solar manufacturers are following suit.

Survival tactics of solar cell manufacturers will be a bright spot for equipment manufacturers. China Sunergy CEO, Stephen Cai recently presented four key strategic business developments, which need to occur, if companies are to weather the solar storm: (i) higher efficiencies; (ii) downstream investment; (iii) global operation; and (iv) diversified channels.

The first item, higher efficiencies, is critical for equipment manufacturers. As new solar cell designs are implemented or new processes designed to increase efficiency, new or additional equipment is needed. For example, privately held SolarPA (www.solarpa-inc.com) has developed a proprietary nanocrystal coating that increases the efficiency of solar cells by more than 1%, and has recently announced a reduction in cost of goods to $0.20 per panel or less than 0.1 cent per watt. The coating is applied on a completed cell with no disruption to the cell manufacturing process and can be applied using a screen printer. Hence, screen printer companies can generate added revenue because of the need for cell manufacturers to increase efficiencies.