Low cost and optimum efficiency of thin film PV cells is driving the growth of the thin film PV in overall photovoltaic market. The global thin film photovoltaic market is expected to grow from $3,406 million in 2009 to $19,422 million in 2015, at an estimated CAGR of 32.2% from 2010 to 2015.

The amorphous silicon market is contributing maximum to the total thin film PV market. On the other hand, CIS/CIGS are expected to grow with a maximum CAGR of 43.9% from 2010 to 2015. While grid connected power supply application is expected to have the highest CAGR of 39.1% from 2010 to 2015.

Scope of the report

This research report categorizes the global market for thin film PV on the basis of types and geography; forecasting revenues and analyzing trends in each of the thin film cells
on the basis of applications:

Applications such as Consumer Electronics, BIPV, grid connected power supply and military & space applications are covered in the report
on the basis of geography:

North America, Europe, Asia and ROW are covered in the report

Each section will provide market data, market drivers, trends and opportunities, top-selling products, key players, and competitive outlook. This report will also provide market tables for covering the sub-segments and micro-markets. In addition, the report also provides more than 35 company profiles covering all the sub-segments.

Key questions answered

- Which are the high-growth segments/cash cows and how is the market segmented in terms of applications and materials?
- What are market estimates and forecasts; which markets are doing well and which are not?
- Where are the gaps and opportunities; what is driving the market?
- Which are the key playing fields? Which are the winning edge imperatives?
- How is the competitive outlook; who are the main players in each of the segments; what are the key selling products; what are their strategic directives, operational strengths and product pipelines? Who is doing what?

TABLE OF CONTENTS    
    
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY    
1 INTRODUCTION   
 1.1 Key Take-Aways  
 1.2 Report Description  
 1.3 Markets Covered  
 1.4 Stakeholders  
 1.5 Research Methodology  
    
2 SUMMARY   
    
3 MARKET OVERVIEW   
 3.1 Evolution of PV Cells  
  3.1.1 First Generation PV Cells 
  3.1.2 Second Generation PV Cells or Thin Films PV Cells 
  3.1.3 Third Generation PV Cells 
  3.1.4 Fourth Generation PV Cells 
 3.2 Types of PV Cells  
  3.2.1 Crystalline Silicon PV Cells 
  3.2.2 Thin Films PV Cells 
 3.3 Thin Film PV Modules  
 3.4 Industry Life Cycle  
  3.4.1 Amorphous-Silicon 
  3.4.2 Cadmium Telluride (CDTE) 
  3.4.3 Copper Indium Diselinide/Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIS/CIGS) 
 3.5 Porter’s Five Forces Model  
 3.6 Thin Film PV Applications  
 3.7 Market Dynamics  
  3.7.1 Market Drivers 
   3.7.1.1 Low cost of production
   3.7.1.2 Government policies, mandates and subsidies
   3.7.1.3 Low silicon consumption
   3.7.1.4 Shorter energy payback time
   3.7.1.5 Creation of green jobs
   3.7.1.6 Better performance in low light conditions
   3.7.1.7 Harvesting capability of infrared light spectrum
  3.7.2 Market Restraints 
   3.7.2.1 Low conversion efficiency
   3.7.2.2 Multi-junction PV cells
  3.7.3 Opportunities 
   3.7.3.1 Research initiatives
   3.7.3.2 Venture capital funding
 3.8 Burning Issues  
  3.8.1 Shift of Geographic Demand in The Global Market 
  3.8.2 Changing Strategies in Growing Markets 
  3.8.3 Recycling and Disposal of Cells and Modules 
 3.9 Winning Imperatives and Market Trends  
  3.9.1 Technology Innovation 
  3.9.2 Products and Services Differentiation 
  3.9.3 Collaborations with Regulatory and Standards Bodies 
 3.1 Patent Analysis  
    
4 THIN FILM PV CELLS MARKET   
 4.1 Amorphous Silicon (A-SI) PV Cells Market  
  4.1.1 Market Drivers 
   4.1.1.1 Low temperature coefficient and low power loss
   4.1.1.2 Cost advantage of a-Si
   4.1.1.3 Good performance in low light condition
  4.1.2 Market Restraints & Opportunities 
   4.1.2.1 Low conversion efficiency
   4.1.2.2 Opportunity for new a-Si materials
  4.1.3 Geographical Distribution 
 4.2 Cadmium Telluride (CDTE) PV Cells Market  
  4.2.1 Market Drivers 
   4.2.1.1 High light absorption property
   4.2.1.2 Higher efficiency than a-Si
   4.2.1.3 Cadmium is abundant and cheap in nature
  4.2.2 Market Restraints 
   4.2.2.1 Toxic in nature
   4.2.2.2 Possibility of Tellurium shortage
  4.2.3 Opportunities 
   4.2.3.1 Increase in R&D activity to achieve higher level of efficiency
  4.2.4 Geographical Distribution 
 4.3 Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS)/copper Indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) PV Cells Market  
  4.3.1 Market Drivers 
   4.3.1.1 High efficiency
   4.3.1.2 High versatility and flexibility
  4.3.2 Market Restraints 
   4.3.2.1 High cost as compared to cadmium telluride and polycrystalline PV cells
  4.3.3 Opportunities 
   4.3.3.1 Reduction in thickness of absorbing layers
  4.3.4 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 
 4.4 Others  
  4.4.1 Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) 
  4.4.2 Organic Solar Cell 
    
5 THIN FILM PV MODULE MARKET   
 5.1 Introduction  
 5.2 Amorphous Silicon (A-SI) Module Market  
 5.3 Cadmium-Telluride (CDTE) Module Market  
 5.4 Copper Indium Diselenide/Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS) Module Market  
    
6 THIN FILM PV MATERIALS MARKET   
    
7 APPLICATIONS MARKET   
 7.1 Consumer Electronics  
 7.2 Building Integrated PV Cell Applications  
 7.3 Grid Connected Power Supply Applications  
 7.4 Military and Space Applications  
 7.5 Other Applications  
    
8 GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS   
 8.1 North America  
 8.2 Europe  
 8.3 Asia  
 8.4 Rest Of The World (ROW)  
    
9 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE   
 9.1 Market Share Analysis  
  9.1.1 Amorphous Silicon (A-SI) 
  9.1.2 Cadmium Telluride (CDTE) 
  9.1.3 Copper Indium Diselenide/ Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIS/CIGS 
 9.2 Key Growth Strategies  
    
10 COMPANY PROFILES   
 10.1 ABOUND SOLAR  
  10.1.1 Overview 
  10.1.2 Primary Business 
  10.1.3 Strategy 
  10.1.4 Developments 
 10.2 ANWELL TECHNOLOGIES LTD  
  10.2.1 Overview 
  10.2.2 Primary Business 
  10.2.3 Strategy 
  10.2.4 Developments 
 10.3 ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES  
  10.3.1 Overview 
  10.3.2 Primary Business 
  10.3.3 Strategy 
  10.3.4 Developments 
 10.4 AVANCIS GMBH  
  10.4.1 Overview 
  10.4.2 Primary Business 
  10.4.3 Strategy 
  10.4.4 Developments 
 10.5 BEST SOLAR HI TECH. CO. LTD  
  10.5.1 Overview 
  10.5.2 Primary Business 
  10.5.3 Strategy 
  10.5.4 Developments 
 10.6 BOSCH SOLAR ENERGY AG  
  10.6.1 Overview 
  10.6.2 Primary Business 
  10.6.3 Strategy 
  10.6.4 Developments 
 10.7 ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES  
  10.7.1 Overview 
  10.7.2 Primary Business 
  10.7.3 Strategy 
  10.7.4 Developments 
 10.8 EPV SOLAR, INC  
  10.8.1 Overview 
  10.8.2 Primary Business 
  10.8.3 Strategy 
  10.8.4 Developments 
 10.9 FIRST SOLAR, INC  
  10.9.1 Overview 
  10.9.2 Primary Business 
  10.9.3 Strategy 
  10.9.4 Developments 
 10.1 GLOBAL SOLAR ENERGY  
  10.10.1 Overview 
  10.10.2 Primary Business 
  10.10.3 Strategy 
  10.10.4 Developments 
 10.11 KANEKA CORP  
  10.11.1 Overview 
  10.11.2 Primary Business 
  10.11.3 Strategy 
  10.11.4 Developments 
 10.12 MASDAR PV GMBH  
  10.12.1 Overview 
  10.12.2 Primary Business 
  10.12.3 Strategy 
  10.12.4 Developments 
 10.13 MIASOLE  
  10.13.1 Overview 
  10.13.2 Primary Business 
  10.13.3 Strategy 
  10.13.4 Developments 
 10.14 MITSUBISHI HEAVY ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES  
  10.14.1 Overview 
  10.14.2 Primary Business 
  10.14.3 Strategy 
  10.14.4 Developments 
 10.15 MOSER BAER INDIA LTD  
  10.15.1 Overview 
  10.15.2 Primary Business 
  10.15.3 Strategy 
  10.15.4 Developments 
 10.16 NANOSOLAR, INC  
  10.16.1 Overview 
  10.16.2 Primary Business 
  10.16.3 Strategy 
  10.16.4 Developments 
 10.17 Q-CELLS AG  
  10.17.1 Overview 
  10.17.2 Primary Business 
  10.17.3 Strategy 
  10.17.4 Developments 
 10.18 RITEK CORP  
  10.18.1 Overview 
  10.18.2 Primary Business 
  10.18.3 Strategy 
  10.18.4 Developments 
 10.19 SHARP CORP  
  10.19.1 Overview 
  10.19.2 Primary Business 
  10.19.3 Strategy 
  10.19.4 Developments 
 10.2 SIGNET SOLAR  
  10.20.1 Overview 
  10.20.2 Primary Business 
  10.20.3 Strategy 
  10.20.4 Developments 
 10.21 SOLAR FRONTIER  
  10.21.1 Overview 
  10.21.2 Primary Business 
  10.21.3 Strategy 
  10.21.4 Developments 
 10.22 SOLYNDRA, INC  
  10.22.1 Overview 
  10.22.2 Primary Business 
  10.22.3 Strategy 
  10.22.4 Developments 
 10.23 SULFURCELLS GMBH  
  10.23.1 Overview 
  10.23.2 Primary Business 
  10.23.3 Strategy 
  10.23.4 Developments 
 10.24 SUNFILM AG  
  10.24.1 Overview 
  10.24.2 Primary Business 
  10.24.3 Developments 
 10.25 SUNTECH POWER HOLDING CO LTD  
  10.25.1 Overview 
  10.25.2 Primary Business 
  10.25.3 Strategy 
  10.25.4 Developments 
 10.26 TRONY SOLAR HOLDINGS CO LTD  
  10.26.1 Overview 
  10.26.2 Primary Business 
  10.26.3 Strategy 
  10.26.4 Developments 
 10.27 WUERTH SOLAR  
  10.27.1 Overview 
  10.27.2 Primary Business 
  10.27.3 Strategy 
  10.27.4 Developments 
    
APPENDIX    
•  U.S. PATENTS
•  EUROPE PATENTS
•  JAPAN PATENTS
   
    
BIBLIOGRAPHY    
  
  
LIST OF TABLES    
    
1 THIN-FILM PV MARKET ENGINEERING MEASUREMENT CHART   
2 GLOBAL THIN FILM PV MARKET 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
3 IMPACT ANALYSIS OF DRIVERS   
4 IMPACT ANALYSIS OF RESTRAINTS   
5 R&D INITIATIVES   
6 AMORPHOUS SILICON PV CELL MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
7 CADMIUM -TELLURIDE PV CELLS MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
8 COPPER INDIUM - GALLIUM - DISELENIDE PV CELLS,  BY GEOGRAPHY  2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
9 DSSC RESEARCH INITIATIVES   
10 OTHERS THIN FILM PV CELLS MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
11 THIN FILMS MATERIALS MARKET  2008  – 2015 ($MILLION)   
12 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS (2008 – 2010)   
13 JOINT VENTURES (2008 – 2010)   
14 NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS (2008 – 2010)   
15 PARTNERSHIPS, AGREEMENTS & COLLABORATIONS (2008 – 2010)   
   
 
LIST OF FIGURES    
    
1 THIN FILM PV TECHNOLOGIES AND THE MAJOR PLAYERS   
2 EVOLUTION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGIES   
3 CLASSIFICATION OF PV CELLS   
4 COST VERSUS EFFICIENCY OF PV CELLS   
5 THIN FILM PV MODULES MARKET SHARE (2010 & 2015)   
6 INDUSTRY LIFECYCLE: AMORPHOUS SILICON CELLS   
7 INDUSTRY LIFECYCLE: CADMIUM TELLURIDE   
8 INDUSTRY LIFECYLCE: COPPER INDIUM DISELENIDE/COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM DISELENIDE   
9 PORTER'S FIVE FORCES MODEL   
10 THIN FILM PV CELL APPLICATIONS ADOPTION LEVEL   
11 SOLAR CELLS MANUFACTURING STEPS   
12 GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN PV MARKET   
13 ENERGY PAYBACK TIME IN YEARS   
14 JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THIN FILM PV MARKET   
15 VC FUNDED COMPANIES BY CELL TYPE   
16 ONGOING ISSUES IN THE MARKET   
17 GLOBAL THIN FILM PV PATENTS, BY GEOGRAPHY   
18 TOTAL NUMBER OF PATENTS (2005 - AUGUST 2010E)   
19 AMORPHOUS SILICON MODULES COST/WATT & EFFICIENCY   
20 AMORPHOUS SILICON MODULES MARKET 2008 – 2015 (MW)   
21 CADMIUM TELLURIDE MODULES COST/WATT & EFFICIENCY   
22 CADMIUM TELLURIDE MODULES MARKET 2008 – 2015 (MW)   
23 CIS/CIGS MODULES COST/WATT AND EFFICIENCY   
24 CIS/CIGS MODULES MARKET 2008 – 2015 (MW)   
25 THIN FILM PV CELLS MARKET FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS  2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
26 THIN FILM PV CELL MARKET FOR BIPV APPLICATIONS 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
27 THIN FILM PV CELL MARKET FOR GRID CONNECTED POWER SUPPLY 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
28 THIN FILM PV CELL MARKET FOR MILITARY AND SPACE APPLICATIONS 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
29 THIN FILM PV CELL MARKET FOR OTHER APPLICATIONS 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
30 THIN FILM PV CELLS MARKET – NORTH AMERICA 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
31 THIN FILM PV CELL MARKET – EUROPE  2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
32 THIN FILM PV CELL MARKET – ASIA  2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
33 THIN FILM PV CELL MARKET – ROW 2008 – 2015 ($MILLION)   
34 MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS OF AMORPHOUS SILICON MARKET   
35 MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS OF CDTE MARKET   
36 MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS OF CIS/CIGS MARKET   
37 KEY GROWTH STRATEGIES   
38 TOTAL REVENUE OF ANWELL TECHNOLOGIES 2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)   
39 ANWELL TECHNOLOGIES REVENUE, BY GEOGRAPHY (2009)   
40 TOTAL REVENUE OF ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES 2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)   
41 TOTAL REVENUE OF ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES 2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)   
42 ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES, BY GEOGRAPHY (2009)   
43 ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES REVENUE, BY BUSINESS SEGMENT (2009)   
44 TOTAL REVENUE OF FIRST SOLAR, 2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)   
45 FIRST SOLAR, BY BUSINESS SEGMENT (2009)   
46 TOTAL REVENUE OF KANEKA CORPORATION 2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)   
47 TOTAL REVENUE OF MITSUBISHI HEAVY ELECTRICS 2007 – 2009 ($BILLION)   
48 TOTAL REVENUE OF MOSER BAER, 2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)   
49 TOTAL REVENUE OF RITEK CORPORATION  2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)   
50 TOTAL REVENUE OF SHARP CORPORATION  2007 – 2009 ($MILLION)