Alternative Photovoltaic Solar Cell Technologies: Global Markets

The global market for alternative solar technologies was valued at $12.6 billion in 2012. This market is estimated to grow to more than $22.8 billion by the end of 2018 from a value of about $13.9 billion in 2013, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% for the five-year period, 2013 to 2018.

This report provides:

• Quantification and explanation of market trends in the various non-crystalline silicon solar cell technologies and their relation and importance to global markets.
• Discussion of factors affecting production, acceptance and adoption, and sales and distribution of non-crystalline silicon solar cell technology.
• A presentation of factors such as governmental or environmental factors spurring or inhibiting the market.
• Identification of major players in the market such as research organizations and end-users.

Worldwide interest in renewable energy technologies continues to see strong growth each year, with great amounts of effort and financial resources dedicated to research and development (R&D) of many different technologies. While the renewable energies industry has seen turbulence and consolidation globally over recent years due to myriad external and internal factors, the outlook remains positive – especially so for alternative solar energy technology applications.

Solar energy technologies continue to see strong investment due to the promise of a continually renewable source of energy from our own sun. Predictability of annual and seasonal cloud cover in most parts of the world, strong solar irradiance in many regions of the world, and the associated regular cash flows that solar projects can thus produce in these areas are some of the attractive features of market-competitive solar technology.

Much of the general public is familiar at a basic level with the most well-known solar energy application: photovoltaic (PV) modules. A solar PV module is a collection of solar PV cells, and is typically constructed of a hard substrate with solar cells on top and a layer of glass capping the solar cells.

The bulk of solar PV cells and modules that are currently produced on a global scale are of the crystalline silicon (abbreviated as c-Si; may be either monocrystalline or polycrystalline) cell type technology. The great majority – approximately 85% – of the nearly 30 gigawatts-peak (GWp) of annual (2012) solar PV production represents c-Si technologies, and more than 100 GW of solar PV generative capacity installed worldwide.

There is, however, a small but significant subset of alternative technologies within the broader solar PV segment whose use increases each year, and which many see as the future of the solar PV industries and markets. These are a set of diverse technologies whose market-specific landscapes are analyzed in this report and which meet both of the following criteria:

• Use as their primary material something other than crystalline silicon. 
• Produce electric energy by harnessing the photovoltaic effect.

Such technologies are often referred to as second- and third-generation photovoltaics. This terminology is used to distinguish them from so-called first-generation photovoltaics, which utilize pn junctions and a semiconductor (typically crystalline silicon); this same terminology will be used in this report.

Alternative solar technologies offer the prospect of higher conversion efficiencies, lighter weight, new applications, greater mechanical flexibility and less fragility. They also offer the potential for significantly lower production costs that may be highly competitive with grid electricity produced through traditional generative sources such as carbon-based fuels, as well as with other types of more traditional solar PV technologies such as mono- and polycrystalline silicon modules.

A broad cross-section of researchers and field experts around the world expect that many alternative solar technologies will surpass traditional c-Si PV technologies in their pricing competitiveness and physical as well as market flexibility and adaptability. This is especially true for those technologies considered “third-generation photovoltaics” (organic/plastic photovoltaics, multi-junction photo-voltaics, and concentrating photovoltaics).

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

This report provides quantitative global industry data, paired with qualitative analysis of their significance, for the various interconnected players within the different market channels and loose collection of subsegments that form the larger industry grouping analyzed in this report. Closing the critical information gap for top decision-makers in diverse fields and roles is a key goal of this report, helping to provide a clearer picture of the global market, its interrelations, and its expected trends.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

The subject matter of this study is critical in providing additional intelligence for decision-makers all along the value chain within the alternative solar technologies industries, helping to guide investment and business decisions by providing a frame of reference and forward-looking estimates. At its core, the overarching goal of this study is to strengthen the alternative solar technologies industry by helping to improve its commercial efficiency through provision of a macro-level view of trends and major influencing factors.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

While this report contains a significant amount of technical information due to the inherent nature of the subject and thus provides information valuable to engineers and scientists, it is primarily aimed at business professionals in fields related to alternative solar technologies. These may include manufacturers and their suppliers, financiers and investors, researchers with backgrounds in engineering and sciences, marketing and sales professionals, renewable energy advocates, and others.

This report may also prove valuable to professional analysts, investors, public policy advisors, and others who are seeking a better understanding and definition of how alternative solar technologies fit into the broader global solar PV market, the global renewable energies market, the global electric energy market, and the global energy market.

SCOPE OF REPORT

Topics analyzed within the report include a detailed breakdown and analysis of the global markets for alternative solar technologies by geography, technology and application. Additionally, a review of the different technologies currently in commercial use is included; a review of early-stage technologies that are beginning to see transfer from research to commercialization; a sketch of the industry’s current structure, including competitive and regulatory analysis within this context; and major factors impelling and impeding global growth.

Not included in this report, except for when inclusion of such information provides context for better understanding of the core topics being discussed, are:

• Monocrystalline silicon photovoltaics.
• Polycrystalline silicon photovoltaics.
• Solar thermal technologies.
• Concentrating solar power (as differentiated from concentrating photo-voltaics).
• Other renewable energy generation technologies such as wind, geothermal, etc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION - Complimentary      $0    

    STUDY BACKGROUND
    STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
    REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
    INTENDED AUDIENCE
    SCOPE OF REPORT
    INFORMATION SOURCES
    ANALYST'S CREDENTIALS
    DISCLAIMER

Chapter 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY      $250    

        Table Summary : GLOBAL SALES OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, THROUGH 2018
        Figure Summary : GLOBAL SALES OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, 2012-2018

Chapter 3: OVERVIEW OF THE MARKET      $1197    

    GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITIONS
        DEFINITIONS OF TECHNOLOGY SEGMENTS
            Second-generation Photovoltaics
            Third-generation Photovoltaics
    ANALYSIS OF PATENTS AND TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESSION
        PATENT ANALYSIS
                Table 1 : GLOBAL ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATENTS APPLICATIONS AND ISSUANCES FOR ALL ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY YEAR, BEFORE 2011-2013
                Table 2 : GLOBAL ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATENTS ISSUED, BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE, BEFORE 2011-2013
                Table 3 : GLOBAL ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATENTS ISSUED, BY REGION
        ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESSION
            Silicon Nanowires
            All-Carbon Solar Cells
            Graphene in Solar Cells
            Plasmonic Nanostructures
    DEFINITIONS OF GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS AS REFERRED TO IN THIS REPORT
            Figure 1 : GEOGRAPHIC REGION DEFINITIONS AS USED IN THIS REPORT
    FREQUENTLY USED ABBREVIATIONS

Chapter 4: GLOBAL MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES     $4190    

    MARKETS BY REGION
        REGIONS WITH GROWTH RATES LESS THAN THE GLOBAL AVERAGE
        REGIONS WITH GROWTH RATES MATCHING THE GLOBAL AVERAGE
        REGIONS WITH GROWTH RATES GREATER THAN THE GLOBAL AVERAGE
            Figure 4 : ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES CAGR% 2013-2018, BY REGION
            Table 6 : GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY CAPACITY, THROUGH 2018
            Table 7 : GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS, BY ANNUAL SALES REVENUES, THROUGH 2018
            Figure 5 : REGIONAL MARKET SHARE FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY ANNUAL SALES REVENUES, 2013
            Figure 6 : REGIONAL MARKET SHARE FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY ANNUAL SALES REVENUES, 2018
    MARKETS BY TECHNOLOGY
        MARKETS FOR SECOND-GENERATION PHOTOVOLTAICS
        MARKETS FOR THIRD-GENERATION PHOTOVOLTAICS
    MARKETS BY APPLICATION
        Table 4 : SWOT ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES
        Table 5 : GLOBAL MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS, THROUGH 2018
        Figure 2 : ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES CAGR% 2013-2018, BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE
        Figure 3 : ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES CAGR% 2013-2018, BY CAPACITY, BY TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION

Chapter 5: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE      $2294    

    MAJOR PLAYERS
        PRIVATE ENTERPRISES
            First Solar Inc.
            Solar Frontier K.K.
        RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
        EMERGING PLAYERS
            Ascent Solar
            Alta Devices
            Plextronics
            Eight19 Limited
            Dyesol, Ltd.
    FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH
        FACTORS ENCOURAGING GROWTH
        FACTORS DISCOURAGING GROWTH
    REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY
            Table 28 : STATUS OF NET METERING POLICIES IN U.S. STATES, 2013
    ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
        DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING OF MODULES
        MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
    MARKET CHANNELS AND SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES
        SUPPLY CHAIN CONSIDERATIONS
    PURCHASING INFLUENCES
        ROOFTOP POWER USER
        UTILITY-SCALE POWER USER
        OFF-GRID INSTITUTIONAL USER
        OFF-GRID INDIVIDUAL USER
            Table 29 : PURCHASING INFLUENCES FOR DIFFERENT USERS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES

Chapter 6: COMPANY PROFILES      $1596    

    ALTA DEVICES INC.
    ASCENT SOLAR
    BELECTRIC OPV GMBH
    DYESOL LTD.
    EIGHT19 LIMITED
    FIRST SOLAR INC.
    G24I POWER LIMITED
    GLOBAL SOLAR ENERGY INC.
    HELIATEK GMBH
    HELIOVOLT CORP.
    IBM RESEARCH
    KANEKA SOLAR
    MIASOLE
    MICROLINK DEVICES INC.
    PLEXTRONICS INC.
    POLYERA CORP.
    POWERFILM INC.
    RSI (REEL SOLAR INC.)
    SHARP SOLAR
    SOLAR FRONTIER K.K.
    SOLAR JUNCTION
    SOLARMER ENERGY INC.
    SOLARONIX SA
    SOLARPRINT LTD.
    SOLIBRO GMBH
    SONY CORP.

 
List of Tables

    Summary Table : GLOBAL SALES OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, THROUGH 2018
    Table 1 : GLOBAL ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATENTS APPLICATIONS AND ISSUANCES FOR ALL ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY YEAR, BEFORE 2011-2013
    Table 2 : GLOBAL ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATENTS ISSUED, BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE, BEFORE 2011-2013
    Table 3 : GLOBAL ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATENTS ISSUED, BY REGION
    Table 4 : SWOT ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES
    Table 5 : GLOBAL MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS, THROUGH 2018
    Table 6 : GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY CAPACITY, THROUGH 2018
    Table 7 : GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS, BY ANNUAL SALES REVENUES, THROUGH 2018
    Table 8 : MARKET PREFERENCES WITHIN EUROPEAN REGION, 2013 AND 2018
    Table 9 : MARKET PREFERENCES WITHIN CHINA, 2013 AND 2018
    Table 10 : MARKET PREFERENCES WITHIN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, 2013 AND 2018
    Table 11 : MARKET PREFERENCES WITHIN NORTH AMERICAN REGION, 2013 AND 2018
    Table 12 : MARKET PREFERENCES WITHIN LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN REGION, 2013 AND 2018
    Table 13 : MARKET PREFERENCES WITHIN AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST REGION, 2013 AND 2018
    Table 14 : MARKETS BY APPLICATION FOR THIN-FILM CADMIUM-TELLURIDE PV MODULES BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 15 : MARKETS FOR CIGS MODULES BY APPLICATION BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 16 : GLOBAL MARKETS FOR THIRD-GENERATION SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 17 : MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS, BY APPLICATION BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 18 : MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS, BY APPLICATION, BY ANNUAL SALES REVENUES, THROUGH 2018
    Table 19 : TECHNOLOGICAL MIX FOR GRID-TIED APPLICATIONS BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 20 : MARKETS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS, BY GENERAL APPLICATION, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 21 : TECHNOLOGICAL MIX FOR OFF-GRID APPLICATIONS BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 22 : TECHNOLOGICAL MIX FOR OFF-GRID BUILDINGS BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 23 : TECHNOLOGICAL MIX FOR TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, THROUGH 2018
    Table 24 : GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS FOR TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY ANNUAL SHIPMENT CAPACITY, THROUGH 2018
    Table 25 : TECHNOLOGICAL MIX FOR REMOTE SENSING BY ANNUAL SHIPMENT CAPACITY, THROUGH 2018
    Table 26 : TECHNOLOGICAL UTILIZATION FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE POWER APPLICATIONS BY ANNUAL SHIPMENT CAPACITY, THROUGH 2018
    Table 27 : MARKETS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE POWER APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PV ADDITIONS BY ANNUAL SHIPMENT CAPACITY, BY GEOGRAPHY, THROUGH 2018
    Table 28 : STATUS OF NET METERING POLICIES IN U.S. STATES, 2013
    Table 29 : PURCHASING INFLUENCES FOR DIFFERENT USERS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES

List of Figures

    Summary Figure : GLOBAL SALES OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, 2012-2018
    Figure 1 : GEOGRAPHIC REGION DEFINITIONS AS USED IN THIS REPORT
    Figure 2 : ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES CAGR% 2013-2018, BY TECHNOLOGY TYPE
    Figure 3 : ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES CAGR% 2013-2018, BY CAPACITY, BY TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION
    Figure 4 : ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES CAGR% 2013-2018, BY REGION
    Figure 5 : REGIONAL MARKET SHARE FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY ANNUAL SALES REVENUES, 2013
    Figure 6 : REGIONAL MARKET SHARE FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY ANNUAL SALES REVENUES, 2018
    Figure 7 : MARKET SHARES OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY CAPACITY, BY TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION, 2013 (TOTAL MARKET SIZE 6.3 GWp)
    Figure 8 : MARKET SHARES OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY CAPACITY, BY TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION, 2018 (TOTAL MARKET SIZE 12.1 GWp)
    Figure 9 : ILLUSTRATION OF EXPECTED MID- AND LONG-TERM GROWTH TRAJECTORIES FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES MARKETS
    Figure 10 : APPLICATION MARKET SHARE OF CADMIUM-TELLURIDE PV TECHNOLOGICAL SUBSEGMENT, BY CAPACITY, 2013 (TOTAL MARKET 1.95 GWp)
    Figure 11 : APPLICATION MARKET SHARE OF CADMIUM-TELLURIDE PV TECHNOLOGICAL SUBSEGMENT, BY CAPACITY, 2018 (TOTAL MARKET: 2.81 GWp)
    Figure 12 : MARKET SHARE OF APPLICATIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY ANNUAL CAPACITY SHIPMENTS (GWP), 2013 (TOTAL CAPACITY 6.27 GWp)
    Figure 13 : MARKET SHARE OF APPLICATIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES BY ANNUAL CAPACITY SHIPMENTS (GWP), 2018 (TOTAL CAPACITY: 12.15 GWP)
    Figure 14 : MARKET SHARE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION ADOPTION MIX FOR GRID-TIED APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2013 (TOTAL MARKET: 4.71 GWP)
    Figure 15 : MARKET SHARE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION ADOPTION MIX FOR GRID-TIED APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2018 (TOTAL MARKET: 7.14 GWP)
    Figure 16 : MARKET SHARE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION ADOPTION MIX FOR OFF-GRID APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2013 (TOTAL MARKET: 1.55 GWp)
    Figure 17 : MARKET SHARE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION ADOPTION MIX FOR OFF-GRID APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2018 (TOTAL MARKET: 5.02 GWP)
    Figure 18 : MARKET SHARE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION UTILIZATION FOR TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2013 (TOTAL MARKET: 74 MWp)
    Figure 19 : MARKET SHARE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL GENERATION UTILIZATION FOR TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2018 (TOTAL MARKET: 410 MWP)
    Figure 20 : MARKET SHARE OF GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS FOR TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2013 (TOTAL MARKET: 76 MWp)
    Figure 21 : MARKET SHARE OF GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS FOR TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, BY GENERATIVE CAPACITY DEMANDED, 2018 (TOTAL MARKET: 412 MWP)
    Figure 22 : MAJOR PLAYERS' GLOBAL SHARE OF TOTAL ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES MARKETS, 2013