Solar PV technology roadmap for next five years is defined by efficiency

Market researcher NPD Solarbuzz reported Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules using solar-grade wafers, as offered by 16 of the top 20 solar module suppliers to the industry, will account for 89% of solar capacity forecasted to be installed this year. NPD Solarbuzz has shared below analysis and comments on the solar PV technology roadmap: Thin-film panel manufacturers, led by First Solar and Solar Frontier, will supply nearly 8% of end-market demand in 2014, with premium crystalline silicon (c-Si) suppliers, such as SunPower and Panasonic, supplying the remaining 3% share. “The solar photovoltaic industry will continue to offer strong growth potential for a wide range of PV manufacturing technologies,” said Finlay Colville, vice president at NPD Solarbuzz. “Panel power ratings are expected to constantly hit record levels of performance, provided efficiency enhancements are adequately prioritized.” Over the next five years, solar PV manufacturing and end-market supply will be divided across three specific technology types: standard silicon-based manufacturing, using solar grade wafer substrates; premium c-Si based processes, using semiconductor grade material; and thin-film panels, using deposition techniques, analogous to those used within the flat-panel display industry. “From the early growth phase of the solar PV industry through 2012, there were many differentiated ...