The market-share for thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is forecast to decline each year to 2017 and will account for just 7% of new PV production during 2017, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report.
Having grown from 3% in 2000 to a high of almost 16% in 2009, thin-film technologies have seen a strong decline in investments since 2011. In fact, annual investments in new thin-film equipment exceeded $1 billion from 2007 to 2012, as many new companies entered thin-film production. However, in 2013, thin-film investments are forecast to decline to just $340 million.
Thin-film production is currently dominated by two companies, First Solar and Solar Frontier, which are focused on downstream projects as a means of driving internal production. These two companies will account for almost 75% of thin-film production in 2014. Each is expected to add new thin-film manufacturing capacity during 2014-2017.
According to Finlay Colville, vice-president at NPD Solarbuzz, “For thin-film to return to double-digit market share, investments are required from new entrants. While the focus in the past was for new thin-film capacity in Europe and the U.S., emerging regions across the Middle-East, Africa and Latin America may provide the funding and resources for the next investment cycle.”
