Abstract
LEXINGTON, Massachusetts (February 26, 2010) - WinterGreen Research
announces that it has a new study on Photovoltaic Solar Strategies,
Technologies And Opportunities: Market Shares and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2010 -
2016. The 2010 study has 700 pages, 306 tables and figures.
Large solar farms are more popular initially, but solar is anticipated to be
built out on commercial roof tops in increased quantity. The electricity
generated will be fed to local substations and distributed to homes from
there. The electricity generated will be used for both stationary power and to
charge electric vehicles. Photovoltaics PV market growth depends on volume
production to achieve economies of scale.
Solar energy market driving forces relate to the opportunity to harness a
cheap, long lasting, powerful energy source. Solar energy can be used to
create electricity in huge quantity. Solar panels are mounted in a
weatherproof frame, are mounted in areas with direct exposure to the sun to
generate electricity from sunlight.
Solar power systems are comprised of solar modules, related power electronics,
and other components. Solar panels are used in residential, commercial and
industrial applications. Solar compositions of arrays that comprise electric
utility grids appear to be the wave of the future.
The demand for solar energy is dependent on a lower prices for solar and
higher prices for petroleum. A combination of economies of scale being
realized in the manufacturing along with increases in the current prices for
petroleum will drive solar energy adoption.
The overall solar market has attained enough critical mass to boost
competitive technologies of thin film and monocrystalline, polycrystalline,
and multicrystalline silicon based systems.
First Solar, the market leader, in commercial systems is participating in the
solar markets at a level of $1.9 billion of a total 2009 market of $19.6
billion for 2009. First Solar is well positioned to gain significant market
share over the next five years. First Solar basically does monolithic
integration on glass, making things on the module level.
First Solar PV modules are thin film PV modules. The achievement of reaching
1GW of modules in installations bodes well for the entire industry, bringing
credibility to the solar energy effort. To support the growing demand, First
Solar continues to push the limits on volume manufacturing. First Solar is
integrating each production step.
Sharp, the market leader, has achieved remarkable penetration of residential
markets. Mass production of tandem - type thin - film solar cells means two
types of cells are offered - crystalline types suitable for colder
temperatures at high latitudes, and thinfilm types better suited to warmer
regions. Sharp is a unique manufacturer in that they offer both types.
Key market transitions are being made relative to smart grid, the increasing
centrality of the local power substation, and implementation of the smart grid
as a distribution center for electricity generated by solar power.
Solar energy is being adopted because the petroleum reserves are facing
depletion. Solar offers plentiful, cheap energy source with panels that have a
25 year life and payback within 10 years. The payback is within 8 months if
the solar electricity generated is used to charge an electric vehicle.
Thin film batteries and new utility level electricity storage are evolving.
Thin film batteries are expected to power electric vehicles and sit on the
ground outside homes and apartment buildings to store the electricity
generated by solar. Thin film batteries provide the bridge to offer
electricity when the sun it not shining.
Thin film batteries fuel growth in solar markets. These markets are set to
evolve even faster than anyone has thought. Sharp, First Solar, Trina Solar,
Suntech, and Ascent Solar Technologies are among the companies anticipated to
benefit from the build out of solar energy. These are the companies positioned
to leverage solar energy market growth. These market participants continue to
be very aggressive in both internal innovation commitments, as well as
partnership and acquisition strategies.
According to Susan Eustis, President of WinterGreen Research, "Worldwide solar
markets are poised to achieve significant growth as solar energy is widely
adopted, creating economies of scale and funding new technology efficiencies.
Manufacturing efficiencies are expected to create new uses and permit users to
leverage existing ones. Costs of solar panels are expected to decrease rapidly
in response to the continuing economies of scale. Market strategies of the
leaders Sharp First Solar, and Trina are compelling in their innovation and
flexibility"
Emerging markets depend on 100 successful trials and reference accounts. Solar
energy has now surpassed that magic number and is poised for rapid growth. The
reference accounts are in place, the prices of the solar modules are
decreasing at a faster pace than the industry had predicted, grid parity has
been achieved in some places and is on track to be achieved everywhere.
Investment in solar energy is anticipated to continue. Participants will come
and go, industry consolidation and high growth patterns will alternate until
the nascent industry stabilizes, but solar energy is here to stay.
Solar energy is in place. It works, it is no longer a dream or a long shot, it
is real. Read the study, look at the pictures of the large number of
installations, this is an amazing market, emerging long after early efforts to
bring these technologies to reality: Why is it here now? Solar energy is
evolving because the price of gasoline in going to continue to climb.
Solar energy markets are big. At $19.6 billion in 2009 solar panels are
anticipated to reach$125.5 billion by 2016. Market growth comes because the
technology has caught the imagination of everyone, consumers, vendors,
governments, politicians, oil producers, and the utility industry. The
technology works, its benefits have a positive ROI over the useful life of the
panels, even a significant payback. Solar provides the cheap, clean,
dependable energy source needed to drive industrial growth, available.
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