SUN’S PARTS DRIVING ITS WHOLE

PV R&D Increasingly Driven by Supply Chain, According to Report
Bettina Weiss, March 3, 2011 (PV Group)

"…R&D spending by cell and module makers…remains very low…in comparison to other high-tech industries. In c-Si…[t]he majority of process innovations are currently being generated by the equipment manufacturers. Patent applications are also dominated by material and equipment suppliers…according to the recently released report on the PV Materials Market by SEMI and Linx-AEI Consulting.

"This underscores the need for effective industry collaboration and the absolute requirement that supply chain participants need to have a shared cost reduction strategy…through scaling product or process efficiency improvements…[l]ong term technical developments…[and] leveraging cost savings through standards across the global supply chain…"

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"...[A]dvanced chemicals and materials used in PV solar cells and modules…grew by 89 percent in 2010 to $8.6 billion…[and] is projected to grow to a forecasted $22.4 billion in 2015. The outlook for materials sales in 2011 will slow slightly as PV module demand in Germany adjusts to new incentive policies and module prices decline. Growth resumes in 2012 as new markets emerge, according to the industry report…"

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"Summaries of the IP filings in the USPTO and WPO show that over 2000 publications were screened in 2010 and the most prolific filers are DuPont and Applied Materials…Trailing with less than 50% of the number of solar patent applications were leaders Sunpower, Sanyo, and LG Electronics. More patents were filed in process and equipment than PV device or system technology…

"The report outlines key PV technology developments in major market segments…[such as] c-Si…[and] thin film…a-Si / Tandem…CIGS…[and] CdTe…As the industry implements these new technologies, it is opening the door for greater participation from chemicals and materials suppliers and OEMS to drive more innovative solutions…"