Abstract

Issues, such as global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, safety of nuclear power plants, and disposal of radioactive waste products, are prompting broad debate as to the viability of conventional sources of energy on economic and environmental terms. The combination of a rising demand for reliable, low cost energy. This increased awareness of environmental quality issues is creating new business opportunities for photovoltaics, especially in applications without an installed electric utility grid line.

The photovoltaic (PV) industry has been evolving since the 1970’s and is now rapidly expanding. In the last 4 to 5 years the compound growth rate of the PV industry has been around 40% with the 2005 worldwide market estimated to be ~1,500 MW/year; ~$5 billion for PV modules and nearly an equal amount of revenue from balance of systems components and installation. Much of this growth is a result of government support programs, particularly in Japan, Germany and California. Additional factors contributing to the rapid growth include technological advances resulting in cost reductions and improved reliability and public awareness of the PV’s ability to provide green electricity.

The PV market expansion is being filled primarily by well established crystalline silicon technology, which is low-cost, larger area relative to integrated circuit technology. The rapid expansion has provide opportunities for various new thin film technologies to begin significant commercial production. Government support of PV is designed to reduce the PV system costs to the level where they can compete directly with residential utility rates. At that level PV growth will be self sustaining.