| Solar panel market growth
to slow in 2009, says analyst
Peter Clarke
EE Times Europe
(03/19/2009 6:37 AM EDT)
LONDON — Sales of solar energy panels
amounted to 5.6-Gwatts in 2008, up 48 percent on 2007, according to The
Information Network market research company (New Tripoli, Pennsylvania).
However, the global economic crisis will result in newly installed solar
capacity reaching only 7.1-GW in 2009, equivalent to a global growth rate of
26 percent, before the strong growth resumes in 2010.
Production of those panels is predominantly done in Asia, the firm said. In
2008 3.3-GW or 60 percent was produced in Asia, 1.5-GW produced in Europe
and just 750-MW produced in the United States.
However, while production has grown the downturn has affected the take up of
alternative energy and manufacturing capacity utilization is below 50
percent, and similar to the semiconductor-for-IT industry.
Similarly polysilicon, which was in shortage for many years, is now in
oversupply pushing prices of crystalline wafers below $5 which is impacting
sales of much lower efficiency amorphous silicon panels
The solar panel market is expected to pick up again in 2010, growing 48
percent to 10.5-GW of newly installed photovoltaic systems. The thin-film
sector, which includes amorphous silicon, CdTe, and CIGS, will represent
less than 20 percent of the market in 2010. Plagued by low optical
conversion efficiencies, in the region of 7 to 12 percent, this sector is
still compensated by low manufacturing costs, the research firm said.
Robert Castellano, president of the Information Network, called for the U.S.
government to stimulate the formation of solar energy manufacturing jobs in
the United States.
"While the use of renewable energy is lauded, what's worse, buying solar
panels from Europe and Asia or oil from OPEC?" he asked in a statement. "The
Obama energy stimulus package must include ways to generate jobs here in the
U.S. The alternative energy program in the U.S. needs an Energy Czar to
enable job production, and I volunteer my services."
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