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:
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:
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:
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