Solar Cell would reach 8GW by 2010, poly-silicon solar cells will make up more than 50% of capacity and will continue until 2020.

    Solar power is a topical area in the global renewable energy industry and as such enjoys vast investment in its research and development. Under continuous material and technological innovation, the development of the solar cell has created much prosperity. Depending on the material used, solar cells can roughly be divided into three major categories, including silicon, compound semiconductor, and others (e.g. DSSC and organic material). Of these silicon can further sib-divided into poly-silicon (including c-Si and mc-Si) and amorphous silicon (a-Si; mainly in thin film solar power cells).

    It is estimated by the Topology Research Institute that an overall production capacity of the solar cell would reach 8GW by 2010, and poly-silicon solar cells will make up more than 50% of capacity. This shows that at current stages, poly-silicon still dominates solar cells technology, and likely will continue until 2020. However, due to supply shortages of the poly-silicon solar cells, on the one hand and their limits to development; growth now is in the area of a-Si solar cells, especially for thin film solar cells.

    Thin film solar cells offer several advantages, which include material efficiency, a simple manufacturing process and low costs. Its market share is expected to grow from a mere 8% in 2010 to 30% by 2020, thus putting an enormous pressure on the poly-silicon solar cells.

    New Generation Technology Boosts up Business Growth

    There are many technologies relevant to the thin film solar cells, apart from a-Si solar cells that have gone into mass production. These include CdTe and compound semiconductors (CIS/CIGS). CdTe has the advantages of low costs, less material consumption, and low operating temperature, and they are projected to have a market share of 5% by 2020. Compound semiconductors consist of high photovoltaic conversion efficiency, and low cost, therefore it is highly anticipated that they will achieve a 10% market share by 2020.

    In order to continuously improve production costs and conversion efficiency, some new solar cells technologies are worth a mentioning including the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Although the technology is currently in its early stage of development, the DSSC due to its simple manufacturing process and the subsequent low cost factor is expected to become an essential aspect of solar power generation between 2040 and 2050. Furthermore, the Concentrated PhotoVoltaics (CPV) that applies reflective and refractive principles can also be a potential hopeful new technology.

    Data from the Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association shows that Taiwan has already been listed as a global top 4 solar cell producing country since 2007. In addition, active investments from major Taiwanese manufacturers such as Motech, E-Ton Solar, DelSolar, GinTech, Neo Solar Power, and Green Energy have enabled prosperous growth of the solar cell industry in Taiwan. The majority of key manufacturers will be present at the Taiwan International Photovoltaic Forum & Exhibition 2008 a gathering that will let select buyers check the latest innovative new technologies and products at one time.

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