Solar Energy Products

Solar Energy Products

This study analyzes the US consumer market for solar energy products, including photovoltaic cells and modules. Historical data are provided for 1995, 2000 and 2005, with forecasts to 2010 and 2015. Data are presented for photovoltaic cells, including captive production capacity, by technology (single and multicrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, gallium arsenide, and those featuring copper, indium, gallium and diselenide). Data are presented for photovoltaic modules by cell technology (crystalline silicon or thin film), by application (e.g., on- and off-grid electricity generation, manufactured goods, communications equipment and transportation equipment) and by geographic region. Data covering shipments of complete photovoltaic systems and supply and demand for solar-grade silicon as well as the larger polysilicon industry are also included. Thermal solar energy products, solar water heaters and solar concentrator technologies are excluded from the scope of the study. Demand is presented in both dollar and unit terms. The entire study is framed within the overall industry’s economic and market environment. In addition, major industry participants are identified and profiled, and the key competitive variables are discussed.

INTRODUCTION ix

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

II. MARKET ENVIRONMENT 4
General 4
Macroeconomic Trends 4
Consumer Spending Trends 7
Demographic Trends 9
Manufacturers’ Shipments 12
Construction 15
Building Construction 16
Residential Building Construction 18
Nonresidential Building Construction 20
Nonbuilding Construction 23
Electric Power Generation 25
Energy Consumption 29
Environmental Considerations 31
Government Incentives 33
State & Municipal Level 33
Federal Level 36
Pricing Trends 37

III. WORLD SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCT MARKET 40
General 40
World Demand 40
Germany 43
Japan 45
Others 46
US Trade 48
Photovoltaic Cells 48
Imports 50
Exports 52
Photovoltaic Modules 53
Imports 55
Exports 57

IV. PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS 59
General 59
Silicon Requirements 59
Strategies 61
Suppliers 64
Supply & Demand 65
Types 69
Crystalline Silicon 71
Single Crystalline Silicon 75
Multicrystalline Silicon 78
Thin Films 81
Amorphous Silicon 84
Cadmium Telluride 86
Gallium Arsenide 88
CIS/CIGS 89

V. PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES 92
General 92
Photovoltaic Systems 92
Module Supply & Demand 94
Module Types 97
Applications 100
Electric Power Generation 101
On-Grid 105
Residential 108
Nonresidential 109
Off-Grid 110
Residential 111
Nonresidential 113
Other Applications 114
Manufactured Products 116
Communications 117
Transportation 118
All Other 119

VI. REGIONAL DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION PV MODULES 122
General 122
Regional Demographic & Economic Trends 123
Population Patterns 124
Economic Outlook 126
Construction Activity 127
Housing Trends 129
Regional Demand for Electric Generation PV Modules 132
Northeast 135
New England 137
Middle Atlantic 138
Midwest 141
East North Central 143
West North Central 146
South 148
South Atlantic 150
East South Central 152
West South Central 154
West 157
Mountain 159
Pacific 163

VII. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 167
General 167
Industry Concentration 167
Market Share 171
Competitive Strategies 179
Research & Development 182
Marketing 184
Distribution 186
Acquisitions & Divestitures 188
Cooperative Agreements 191
Company Profiles 199
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Incorporated 200
Atlantis Energy Systems Incorporated 203
BP plc 204
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 208
Deutsche Cell GmbH, see SolarWorld AG
Deutsche Solar AG, see SolarWorld AG
Dow Corning Corporation 211
Energy Conversion Devices Incorporated 213
Energy Photovoltaics Incorporated 216
Evergreen Solar Incorporated 217
EverQ GmbH, see Evergreen Solar Incorporated and Q-Cells AG
First Solar Incorporated 220
General Electric Company 222
Global Solar Energy Incorporated 224
HelioVolt Corporation 226
Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, see Dow Corning Corporation
ICP Solar Technologies Incorporated 227
Iowa Thin Film Technologies Incorporated, see PowerFilm Incorporated
Joint Solar Silicon GmbH & Company KG, see SolarWorld AG
Konarka Technologies Incorporated 229
Kyocera Corporation 230
Matrix Solar Technologies Incorporated, see ATS Automation Tooling Systems Incorporated
Miasole 234
Motech Industries Incorporated 235
Photowatt International SAS, see ATS Automation Tooling Systems Incorporated
PowerFilm Incorporated 237
PowerLight Corporation 238
Q-Cells AG 241
RGS Development BV, see SolarWorld AG
Royal Dutch Shell plc 243
SANYO Electric Company Limited 245
SCHOTT AG 248
Sharp Corporation 251
Silicon Solar Incorporated 253
Solar Factory GmbH, see SolarWorld AG
Solar Plus SA, see Energy Photovoltaics Incorporated
Solar Power Industries Incorporated 255
SolarWorld AG 256
Spire Corporation 260
SunPower Corporation, see Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
Suntech Power Holdings Company Limited 262
United Solar Ovonic LLC, see Energy Conversion Devices Incorporated
XsunX Incorporated 265
Yingli Solar 267
Other Companies Mentioned in Study 269

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE NUMBER PAGE
SECTION I -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Summary Table 3

SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT

1 Macroeconomic Indicators 7
2 Personal Income & Expenditures 9
3 Resident Population & Households 12
4 Manufacturers’ Shipments 14
5 Total Construction Expenditures 16
6 Building Construction Expenditures 17
7 Residential Building Construction Expenditures 20
8 Nonresidential Building Construction Expenditures 23
9 Nonbuilding Construction Expenditures 25
10 Electric Power Generation 28
11 Energy Consumption 30
12 Solar Energy Product Pricing 39

SECTION III -- WORLD SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCT MARKET
1 World Demand for Photovoltaic Modules 42
2 US Trade of Photovoltaic Cells 50
3 US Trade of Photovoltaic Modules 55

SECTION IV -- PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
1 Silicon Requirements for Photovoltaic Cells 61
2 Photovoltaic Cell Supply & Demand 69
3 Photovoltaic Cell Shipments 71
4 Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cell Shipments 75
5 Single Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cell Shipments 78
6 Multicrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cell Shipments 81
7 Photovoltaic Thin Film Shipments 84

SECTION V -- PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
1 Photovoltaic System Shipments 94
2 Photovoltaic Module Supply & Demand 97
3 Photovoltaic Module Shipments 100
4 Photovoltaic Module Demand by Application 101
5 Electric Power Generation Demand for Photovoltaic Modules 104
6 On-grid (Grid Interactive) Electric Generation Demand for Photovoltaic Modules 108
7 Off-grid (Remote) Electric Generation Demand for Photovoltaic Modules 111
8 Other Applications for Photovoltaic Modules 115

SECTION VI -- REGIONAL DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION PV MODULES
1 Resident Population & Households by Region 125
2 Regional Gross Domestic Product 127
3 Regional Construction Expenditures 129
4 Regional Housing Sales, New Units & Stock 132
5 Regional Demand for Electric Generation Photovoltaic Modules 134
6 Northeast Power Generation Photovoltaic Module Demand 137
7 Midwest Power Generation Photovoltaic Module Demand 143
8 South Power Generation Photovoltaic Module Demand 150
9 West Electric Generation Photovoltaic Module Demand 159

SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 Solar Energy Product Sales by Company, 2005 170
2 Selected Acquisitions & Divestitures 191
3 Selected Cooperative Agreements 194

LIST OF CHARTS
CHART NUMBER PAGE
SECTION II -- MARKET ENVIRONMENT
1 Electric Power Generation, 2005 29
2 Energy Consumption by Fuel Type, 1995-2015 31

SECTION III -- WORLD SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCT MARKET
1 Photovoltaic Module Demand by Region, 2005 43
2 Photovoltaic Cell Imports by Source, 2005 51
3 Photovoltaic Cell Exports by Destination, 2005 53
4 Photovoltaic Module Imports by Source, 2005 57
5 Photovoltaic Module Exports by Destination, 2005 58

SECTION V -- PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
1 Electric Power Generation Demand for Photovoltaic Modules by Segment, 1995-2015 105
2 Other Applications for Photovoltaic Modules, 2005 115

SECTION VI -- REGIONAL DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION PV MODULES
1 Regional Demand for Electric Generation Photovoltaic Modules, 2005 135

SECTION VII -- INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
1 Photovoltaic Modules Market Share, 2005 173