Materials Markets for CIGS Photovoltaics

Materials Markets for CIGS Photovoltaics published by NanoMarkets in January, 2009. This report consists of 106 Pages and the price starts from US $ 995.

Introduction

Abstract

CIGS offers some of the brightest hopes for the future of thin-film photovoltaics (TFPV) and also some of its greatest problems. Potentially, CIGS panels could provide the high conversion efficiencies of crystalline silicon with all the advantages of a thin-film material; flexibility, manufacturability and low weight. But CIGS is also a complex material whose characteristics are not yet well understood and it is clear that the road forward for CIGS PV as a whole will be driven by developments at the material level.

The major goal of this report is to analyze and quantify the opportunities that are emerging for materials suppliers and device manufacturers as the result of both established and emerging trends in development of CIGS materials. The report focuses on the core CIGS absorber materials, but also covers materials for electrodes, encapsulation, dielectrics, etc, since all of these materials are critical to the performance of CIGS PV. The report begins with a full review of the state of the art in CIGS materials and manufacturing, but its main focus is on business cases rather than technical issues. It includes strategic profiles of leading suppliers of materials into the CIGS space and of the materials-related activities of the emerging CIGS panel makers.

This report will be invaluable reading for strategic planners and marketing managers at materials, equipment and device firms, as well as some investor organizations.

Methodology of this Report

The information for this work is derived from a variety of sources, but principally comes from primary sources, including NanoMarkets' ongoing interview program of technologists, business development managers and academics involved in thin�]film, organic and printable electronics of all kinds. We also drew on an extensive search of technical literature, relevant company Web sites, trade journals, and various collateral items from trade shows and conferences. Statistics and technical reports from various groups within the U.S. Department of Energy have been of specific interest in putting together the forecasts at the end of this report.

As with all of NanoMarkets' reports, our assessment of the business prospects for CIGS PV is based on an analysis of the underlying needs for the features and capabilities that CIGS offers, as well as its inherent limitations. On the demand side, many of the applications and sectors in which CIGS will be used are ones that NanoMarkets has explored in many of its other reports, so we already have a substantial database and familiarity in these areas. The forecasting approach taken in this report is explained in more detail in Chapter Four. However, the basic approach taken here is to look at the underlying markets and assess the likely penetration by CIGS technology in each of them. We also take into consideration the stated plans for expansion of the leading CIGS PV manufacturers.

Table of Contents

• E.1 Key developments in CIGS materials and manufacturing
• E.2 Opportunities for materials firms
• E.3 Opportunities for production equipment firms
• E.4 Opportunities for solar panel firms
• E.5 Impact of developments in CIGS on the PV market as a whole
• E.6 Summary of eight-year forecasts

Chapter One: Introduction

• 1.1 Background to this report
  • 1.1.1 CIGS Cost Advantages
  • 1.1.2 CIGS Applications Advantages 1.2 Objectives and scope of this report
• 1.3 Methodology of this report
• 1.4 Plan of this report

Chapter Two: CIGS Materials Technology

• 2.1 Introduction: CIGS PV overview
  • 2.1.1 CIS versus CIGS
  • 2.1.2 CIGS compared to other thin-film PV technologies
• 2.2 Evolution of CIGS cell architectures
  • 2.2.1 Performance and expected improvements
• 2.3 CIGS absorber layer materials
  • 2.3.1 Current materials options
  • 2.3.2 Film composition effects and control
  • 2.3.3 Film grain size and control
  • 2.3.4 The role of nanomaterials
  • 2.3.5 The role of defects and impurities
• 2.4 Other materials
  • 2.4.1 Top contacts
  • 2.4.2 Bottom contacts
  • 2.4.3 The role of transparent conductors
  • 2.4.4 Anti-reflection layer materials
  • 2.4.5 Encapsulation
  • 2.4.6 Substrates
  • 2.4.7 Dielectrics
• 2.5 The impact of manufacturing choices on CIGS material choices
  • 2.5.1 Evolution of Manufacturing Processes for CIGS PV Cells
  • 2.5.2 Printing and other low-cost/low-temperature methods
  • 2.5.3 Sputtering and other deposition methods
  • 2.5.4 Electroplating
• 2.6 Summary of key materials-related R&D trends in CIS/CIGS
• 2.7 Materials related safety and environmental concerns in CIS/CIGS manufacturing
• 2.8 Key points made in this chapter

Chapter Three: CIGS Materials Markets and Opportunities

• 3.1 Introduction: Overview of CIGS materials markets
• 3.2 Materials for absorber layer
  • 3.2.1 Current and future demand patterns for absorber layer material
  • 3.2.2 Major suppliers of materials for absorber layer
  • 3.2.3 Opportunities for absorber layer materials suppliers
• 3.3 Materials for contacts and antireflection layers
  • 3.3.1 Current and future demand patterns for contacts and antireflection layer material
  • 3.3.2 Major suppliers of materials for contacts and antireflection layers
  • 3.3.3 Opportunities for contacts and antireflection layer materials suppliers
• 3.4 Materials for CIGS substrates and encapsulation
  • 3.4.1 Current and future demand patterns for substrate and encapsulation material
  • 3.4.2 Major suppliers of materials for substrate and encapsulation
  • 3.4.3 Opportunities for substrate and encapsulation layer materials suppliers
• 3.5 Impact of commodities pricing and availability on CIGS materials markets
  • 3.5.1 Copper
  • 3.5.2 Indium
  • 3.5.3 Selenium
  • 3.5.4 Other
• 3.6 Key points made in this chapter

Chapter Four: Eight-Year Forecasts of CIGS PV Materials

• 4.1 Forecasting methodology
  • 4.1.1 Data sources
  • 4.1.2 Scope of forecast
  • 4.1.3 Alternative scenarios and other factors taken into consideration
• 4.2 Forecasts of CIGS PV materials by type
• 4.3 Forecasts of CIGS PV materials by manufacturing technology
  • 4.3.1 CIGS Deposition Technology
  • 4.3.2 CIGS Electrode Material Technology
  • 4.3.3 CIGS Junction Layer Material Technology
  • Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Report
• About the Author

List of Exhibits

• Exhibit E-1: Worldwide CIGS PV Production
• Exhibit E-2: Worldwide Revenue from CIGS PV Materials ($ Millions)
• Exhibit E-3: Summary of Major Materials Contributions to CIGS PV Revenue
• Exhibit 4-1: Company Projections of Capacity
• Exhibit 4-2: Alternative Scenarios for the Evolution of Thin-Film Photovoltaics
• Exhibit 4-3: Alternative Scenarios for the Growth of CIGS vs. Other TFPV
• Exhibit 4-4: Materials Used in CIGS PV Cells
• Exhibit 4-5: Materials Used in the CIGS Absorber Layer
• Exhibit 4-6: Substrate Materials Used for CIGS PV
• Exhibit 4-7: Encapsulation and Antireflection Materials for CIGS PV
• Exhibit 4-8: Materials Used in the CIGS Absorber Layer by Manufacturing Technology
• Exhibit 4-9: Materials Used in the CIGS Electrode Layers
• Exhibit 4-10: Junction Layer Materials for CIGS PV

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