Total shipments of solar photovoltaic (pV) modules, which reached 399 MW in 2001, are projected to grow by an average annual rate of 21 per cent to reach 1022 MW by 2006 according to a study by Business Communications Company Inc.
The report, Photovoltaics: Markets and Technologies, predicts that silicon technology will dominate the pV market through that period. Polycrystalline silicon will command the highest volume of the market, with shipments expected to reach 451 MW by 2006. Single crystal silicon shipments, 162 MW in 2001, are projected to achieve 399 MW by 2006. Thin film silicon products sold only 8 MW in 2001. Shipments should reach 20 MW by 2006.
Overall, thin film technologies are expected to show strong growth during the study period. These are considered less expensive than their crystalline rivals though generally less efficient too. Collectively the shipments of amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide and gallium arsenide totalled 47 MW in 2001. They are projected to reach 153 MW by 2006, an average annual growth of 26 per cent.
The value of pV modules in 2001 was estimated to be $2.07 billion. It is expected to reach $3.73 billion by the year 2006.
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