Abstract
This report provides NanoMarkets' latest analysis and forecast of the
opportunities for the materials used by the three main thin-film photovoltaic
(TFPV) technologies; CIGS, silicon, and CdTe. We cover both the absorber and
electrode materials, as well the latest materials-related PV developments such
as the use of nanocrystalline silicon, PV inks, flexible substrates and
advanced antireflection materials and barrier films.
These products and markets are discussed in the context of where the PV
industry as a whole stands today, and where the profitable opportunities will
be found as the worldwide economy improves. The materials strategies of the
key cell and module players in TFPV are also discussed in this report, as well
as the product/market strategies of the key materials firms supplying into
this segment. NanoMarkets also explores in this report the strong relationship
between materials, manufacturing, cost, and applications. In addition, we
include eight-year forecasts of materials volumes and revenues.
NanoMarkets is unique in its coverage of the materials used in TFPV and this
report is essential reading for business development managers and marketing
executives in the businesses of the various materials that are used by TFPV.
Methodology of this Report
The information for this work is derived from a variety of sources, but
principally comes from primary sources, including NanoMarkets' ongoing
interview program of technologists, business development managers, and
academics involved with emerging electronics of all kinds, including
photovoltaics and thin-film electronics. We also drew on an extensive search
of the technical literature, relevant company Web sites, trade journals,
government resources, and various collateral items from trade shows and
conferences. Some of the data for this report comes from other NanoMarkets
reports including “Materials Markets for CIGS PV” and
“Materials for Thin-Film Silicon Photovoltaics,” and much of the
historical and background information comes from last year' s version of this
report, “Materials Markets for Thin-Film and Organic
Photovoltaics.” Where information has been used from an earlier report,
it has been reinvestigated, reanalyzed, and reconsidered in light of current
developments and updated accordingly.
The forecasting approach taken in this report is explained in more detail in
Chapter Six, but the basic approach taken here is to look at the underlying
needs and markets, as well as the different TFPV technologies and types of
products available or under development, to assess the suitability and likely
volume of each TFPV technology and of each of the materials used by them over
the next eight years. The stated plans of the key firms are of course of
special interest, although NanoMarkets critically considers these claims in
light of all available data.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
- E.1 The Current State of the TFPV Market
- E.1.1 TFPV in the Downturn
- E.1.2 What About the Recovery?
- E.2 Key Opportunities in Absorber and Junction Materials
- E.2.1 Materials Opportunities for Thin-Film Silicon Materials Suppliers
- E.2.2 Materials Opportunities for CdTe Materials Suppliers
- E.2.3 Materials Opportunities for CIGS Materials Suppliers
- E.3 Key Opportunities for Other TFPV Materials
- E.3.1 Materials Opportunities for Substrate Suppliers
- E.3.2 Materials Opportunities for Electrode Materials Suppliers
- E.3.3 Materials Opportunities for Encapsulation and Antireflection
Materials Suppliers
- E.4 Metals Markets and Pricing: The Impact on TFPV
- E.5 Firms to Watch
- E.6 Summary of Eight-Year Forecasts of TFPV Materials Markets
Chapter One: Introduction
- 1.1 Background to this Report
- 1.1.1 Thin-Film vs. Crystalline Silicon Materials
- 1.1.2 Materials, BIPV and Flexible Modules
- 1.1.3 Thin-Film Silicon: The Old Way or Something New?
- 1.1.4 CdTe: Some Mice among the Elephants?
- 1.1.5 CIGS: Lowered Expectations
- 1.2 Objectives and Scope of this Report
- 1.3 Methodology of this Report
- 1.4 Plan of this Report
Chapter Two: Materials for Thin-Film Silicon Photovoltaics
- 2.1 Overview of Thin-Film Silicon PV
- 2.1.1 Evolution of Architectures, Cell Performance, and Cost Framework
- 2.1.2 Hybrids: Thin-Film Silicon on Crystalline Silicon
- 2.1.3 Silicon Supply and Silicon Prices
- 2.2 Silicon Absorber Layer Materials
- 2.2.1 Silicon Materials
- 2.2.2 Silicon-Germanium Materials
- 2.2.3 Microcrystalline Silicon Materials
- 2.2.4 Nanocrystalline Silicon Materials
- 2.2.5 Printed Silicon PV and Silicon Inks
- 2.3 Substrates, Electrodes, and Other Materials for Thin-Film Silicon
PV
- 2.3.1 Substrates
- 2.3.2 Transparent Electrode Materials
- 2.3.3 Nontransparent Electrode and Reflector Materials
- 2.4 Silane and Chemical Safety Issues
- 2.5 Key Suppliers of Thin-Film Silicon Materials
- 2.6 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Three: Materials for CdTe Thin-Film Photovoltaics
- 3.1 Overview of CdTe PV
- 3.1.1 Evolution of Architectures, Cell Performance, and Cost Framework
- 3.2 CdTe Absorber Layer Materials
- 3.2.1 CdS Junction Layer Materials
- 3.2.2 Next Generation Absorber Materials Developments
- 3.3 Substrates, Electrodes, and Other Materials for CdTe PV
- 3.3.1 Substrates
- 3.3.2 Transparent Electrode Materials
- 3.3.3 Nontransparent Electrode Materials
- 3.4 Metals Concerns: Cadmium and Tellurium
- 3.4.1 Cadmium
- 3.4.2 Tellurium
- 3.5 Key Suppliers of CdTe Materials
- 3.6 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Four: Materials for CIGS Thin-Film Photovoltaics
- 4.1 Overview of CIGS PV
- 4.2 Evolution of Architectures and Materials
- 4.3 CIGS Absorber Layer Materials
- 4.3.1 Absorber Layer Composition: CIS vs. CIGS
- 4.3.2 Other Absorber Layer Compositional and Structural Features
- 4.4 CIGS Deposition and Raw Materials
- 4.4.1 Vacuum Deposition
- 4.4.2 Printing and CIGS Inks
- 4.4.3 Electrodeposition
- 4.5 Other Materials Specific to CIGS PV
- 4.5.1 Substrates, Rigid and Flexible
- 4.5.2 Transparent Electrodes
- 4.5.3 Non-Transparent Electrodes
- 4.5.4 Junction Layer Materials
- 4.5.5 Antireflection Materials
- 4.5.6 The Encapsulation Issue
- 4.6 Indium and CIGS
- 4.7 Key Suppliers of Materials Unique to CIGS PV
- 4.8 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Five: General Purpose Material Considerations
- 5.1 Substrates
- 5.1.1 Rigid Substrates
- 5.1.2 Flexible Substrates and BIPV Products
- 5.1.3 Key Suppliers of TFPV Substrates
- 5.2 Transparent Electrode Materials
- 5.2.1 TCOs for TFPV: FTO, ITO, and AZO
- 5.2.2 Future Approaches: CNTs, Other Nanomaterials, and Composites
- 5.2.3 Key Suppliers of Transparent Electrode Materials for TFPV
- 5.3 Nontransparent Electrode Materials
- 5.3.1 Key Suppliers of Nontransparent Electrode Materials for TFPV
- 5.4 Encapsulation and Antireflection Materials
- 5.4.1 Key Suppliers of Encapsulation and Antireflection Materials
- 5.5 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Six: Eight-Year Forecasts of Thin-Film PV Materials Markets
- 6.1 Forecasting Methodology
- 6.1.1 Data Sources
- 6.1.2 Scope of Forecast
- 6.1.3 Alternative Scenarios and Other Factors Taken Into Consideration
- 6.2 Absorber Material Revenues by TFPV Technologies
- 6.3 Forecasts of Materials Specific to Thin-Film Silicon PV
- 6.3.1 Thin-Film Silicon PV Materials Overview
- 6.3.2 Major Thin-Film Silicon Absorber Materials
- 6.3.3 Thin-Film Silicon PV Substrate Materials
- 6.3.4 Back Electrode Materials for TF Si PV
- 6.3.5 Printed Silicon Hybrid Cells
- 6.3.6 Printing for Thin-Film Silicon Cells
- 6.4 Forecasts of Materials Specific to TF CdTe PV
- 6.4.1 CdTe PV Materials Overview
- 6.4.2 Tellurium and CdTe Absorber Materials
- 6.4.3 CdTe PV Deposition Methods
- 6.4.4 CdTe PV Substrate Materials
- 6.4.5 Back Electrode Materials for CdTe PV
- 6.5 Forecasts of Materials Specific to Thin-Film CIGS PV
- 6.5.1 CIGS PV Materials Overview
- 6.5.2 CIGS Absorber Layer Materials
- 6.5.3 CIGS Deposition Methods
- 6.5.4 CIGS PV Substrate Materials
- 6.5.5 Back Electrode Materials for CIGS PV
- 6.6 Forecasts of Materials Shared by the Thin-Film PV Technologies
- 6.6.1 Transparent Electrode Materials
- 6.6.2 Encapsulation and Antireflection Materials
- 6.7 Summary of Market Forecasts
Acronyms and Abbreviations Used In this Report
About the Author
