With the current PV market conditions it may seem counter-intuitive to invest in PV innovation. But since not much more can be squeezed from the cost structure of incumbent PV manufacturing techniques, innovations in materials and cell designs are needed to retrieve profit margins. Disruptive PV technologies that are easy to scale, result in module efficiency gains, and reduce capital and materials costs will be the likely game changers.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Landscape
Innovation in Materials and Cell Design is Critical for Future PV Profit Margins
Government and Academic Research Labs Will Drive a Significant Portion of PV Innovation
Landscape Conclusions
Analysis
Scalability and Low $/W Will Drive the Innovation in PV Technologies
Kerfless Wafering Techniques are a Mixed Bag of Potential and Bust
Anti-Reflective and Light-Trapping Coatings Provide Cheap Alternatives for Cell Efficiency Increase and Cost Reduction
ITO Replacements Are Becoming Attractive for the CIGS and OPV Market
CZTS, a Low-Cost Replacement for CIGS, Has a Ways to Go, but with the Potential to Deliver
Quantum Dots Solar Cells Show Potential for High Efficiencies at Low Cost
Despite Millions of R&D dollars, Nanowire-Based Solar Cells Have a Long Way to Go
Single-Junction III-V-Based Cells May Enter Terrestrial PV Market in the Next Few Years
Outlook
About Lux Research
Endnotes
Searching for Game Changers in Photovoltaic Materials Innovations: Next-Generation Technologies that Drive Down $/W published by Lux Research in March 26, 2012. This report consists of Pages: 33 and the price starts from US $ 3500.
The contents of this page may be different from the latest version. Please contact us for details.
