PV Status Report 2007: Research, Solar Cell Production and Market Implementation of Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics is a solar power technology to generate Electricity using semiconductor devices, known as solar cells. A number of solar cells form a solar "Module" or "Panel", which can then be combined to solar systems, ranging from a few Watts of electricity output to multi Megawatt power stations. The unique format of the Photovoltaic Status Report is to combine international up-to-date information about Research Activities with Manufacturing and Market Implementation data of Photovoltaics. These data are collected on a regular base from public and commercial studies and cross-checked with personal communications. Regular fact-finding missions, with company visits as well as meetings with officials from funding organisations and policy makers, complete the picture. Growth in the solar photovoltaic sector has been robust. Yearly growth rates over the last five years were on average more than 40%, thus making photovoltaics one of the fastest growing industries at present. Business analysts predict that the market volume will increase to € 40 billion in 2010 and expect rising profit margins and lower prices for consumers at the same time.