The global thin film solar cell market size reached US$ 15.9 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 41.0 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1% during 2023-2032. The increasing adoption of renewable energy sources due to the rising environmental concerns among the masses is primarily driving the market.
This installation will decrease reliance on grid-connected electricity, leading to cost savings. Similarly, in September 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) released the advancing U.S. thin-film solar photovoltaics funding opportunity, which awarded US$ 36 Million for R&D activities and demonstration projects on two major thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technologies. These policies and incentives are bolstering the adoption of solar panels and increasing the thin film solar cell market share.
Moreover, building accounts for almost 40% of global energy consumption, so in order to minimize this, BIPVs are widely being adopted, which is anticipated to offer significant growth opportunities to the overall market. Additionally, various government authorities of numerous developing nations are investing extensively in the development of sustainable and smart cities which will further propel the application of thin film solar cells.
Moreover, Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), a type of semiconductor used to manufacture thin-film solar cells, has reached 21.7% efficiency in laboratory settings and 18.7% efficiency in the field, making CIGS a leader among alternative cell materials and a promising semiconducting material in thin-film technologies. Such innovations are anticipated to further drive the thin film solar cell market growth in the coming years.
Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin film solar cells are manufactured at low costs, as cadmium can be generated as a byproduct of mining, smelting, and refining of zinc, lead, and copper. Among all solar energy technologies, cadmium telluride requires the least amount of water for production. CdTe thin-film PV solar cells have higher cell efficiencies up to 16.7% than other thin-film technologies. Moreover, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the United States has been at the forefront of research and development (R&D) in this area.
On-grid systems are gaining traction, owing to their cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and the ability to use the grid as a virtual battery, thereby eliminating the need for energy storage in batteries. Consequently, government bodies are also encouraging the use of on-grid thin film solar cells, which is augmenting the market growth in this segment.
The utility sector can be further categorized into military, power plant applications, defense, and industrial applications. Thin film solar cells are widely used in the utility sector, owing to their higher electricity generation at a lower cost. Thin film solar cells are widely adopted to build large-scale solar farms, where vast areas are covered with solar panels to generate electricity. These solar farms can be connected to the utility grid to provide electricity to various industries.
Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the world with the majority of the demand coming from the countries, such as China and Japan. This can be attributed to the increasing deployment of solar panels in utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications.
In 2018, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) had written a draft policy that would increase the renewable energy target from 20% to 35%, by 2030. This, in turn, will augment the demand for thin film solar cells in the country. Around 40 GW of new renewable capacity was connected to the grid in 2019, with around 50% of the new capacity expected to come from large-scale solar plants. With factors, such as the upcoming utility-scale project, along with supportive policies and subsidies, the thin-film solar PV market in the Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth over the forecasted period.
2. What is the future of thin film solar cell market?
3. What are the key factors driving the global thin film solar cell market?
4. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global thin film solar cell market?
5. What is the breakup of the global thin film solar cell market based on the type?
6. What is the breakup of the global thin film solar cell market based on the installation?
7. What is the breakup of the global thin film solar cell market based on the end user?
8. What are the key regions in the global thin film solar cell market?
9. Who are the key players/companies in the global thin film solar cell market?
Global Thin Film Solar Cell Market Analysis:
- Major Market Drivers: The increasing adoption of renewable energy sources, on account of the rising environmental concerns, is primarily driving the market growth. In addition to this, the support provided by government bodies through favorable policies and the elevating focus of key players on enhancing efficiency and minimizing costs are also creating a positive outlook for the global thin film solar cell market.
- Key Market Trends: Ongoing advancements in solar panel efficiency and production processes are propelling the thin film solar cell market. Moreover, the integration of thin film solar cells (TFSC) with artificial intelligence and smart technologies is making solar energy more efficient, which is anticipated to bolster the thin film solar cell market over the forecasted period.
- Geographical Trends: Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the world, with the majority of the demand coming from countries, such as China and Japan. This can be attributed to the increasing deployment of solar panels in utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications.
- Competitive Landscape: Some of the leading players in the global thin film solar cell market include Ascent Solar Technologies Inc., First Solar Inc., Flisom, Hanergy Thin Film Power EME B.V., Kaneka Corporation, Miasole (Hanergy Holding Group Ltd.), Oxford Photovoltaics Limited, Trony Solar Holdings Company Limited, and Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd., among many others.
- Challenges and Opportunities: Some of the primary challenges in the thin film solar cells market are the increasing requirement for enhanced energy storage solutions and the rising competition with traditional energy sources. However, significant opportunities, including ongoing innovations in energy storage and the escalating adoption of novel technologies and materials to improve the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of thin film solar cells, will continue to propel the global market over the forecasted period.
Global Thin Film Solar Cell Market Trends:
Increasing Initiatives by Government Authorities
The thin film solar cell market is witnessing significant growth, owing to the rising adoption of renewable energy as a primary fuel. In addition to this, government authorities of various nations are taking initiatives to minimize greenhouse emissions and increase environmental benefits in the long run, which is creating a positive outlook for the global thin film solar cell market. For instance, in February 2024, the Government of India launched the Rooftop Solar/PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Under the Rooftop Solar Scheme, the government will provide subsidies for installing solar panels for up to 2 kW - Rs. 30,000 per kW and additional capacity up to 3 kW - Rs. 18,000 per kW.This installation will decrease reliance on grid-connected electricity, leading to cost savings. Similarly, in September 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) released the advancing U.S. thin-film solar photovoltaics funding opportunity, which awarded US$ 36 Million for R&D activities and demonstration projects on two major thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technologies. These policies and incentives are bolstering the adoption of solar panels and increasing the thin film solar cell market share.
Integration of Thin Film Solar Cells into Building Materials
The emerging trend towards the integration of thin-film solar cells into building materials, also known as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), is further catalyzing the growth of the market. These films are increasingly being utilized in building materials, such as windows, facades, and roofs. Thin film solar cells offer design flexibility and can seamlessly integrate with various building materials and even with transparent surfaces of the building.Moreover, building accounts for almost 40% of global energy consumption, so in order to minimize this, BIPVs are widely being adopted, which is anticipated to offer significant growth opportunities to the overall market. Additionally, various government authorities of numerous developing nations are investing extensively in the development of sustainable and smart cities which will further propel the application of thin film solar cells.
Numerous Technological Advancements
Numerous innovations, such as advancements in the efficiency of solar panels, which enable more electricity to be generated from the same amount of sunlight, are acting as other significant growth-inducing factors. Various key market players are extensively investing in the production of advanced solar cells, which is positively impacting the market growth. For instance, Verde Technologies, a U.S.-based spinoff of the University of Vermont, developing lightweight and flexible perovskite solar modules, has made progress with its thin film coating technology in a pilot with Verico Technology, a contract manufacturer located in Connecticut.Moreover, Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), a type of semiconductor used to manufacture thin-film solar cells, has reached 21.7% efficiency in laboratory settings and 18.7% efficiency in the field, making CIGS a leader among alternative cell materials and a promising semiconducting material in thin-film technologies. Such innovations are anticipated to further drive the thin film solar cell market growth in the coming years.
Global Thin Film Solar Cell Industry Segmentation:
The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global thin film solar cell market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country levels from 2024-2032. Our report has categorized the market based on type, installation, and end user.Breakup by Type:
- Cadmium Telluride
- Amorphous Thin-Film Silicon
- Copper Indium Gallium Selenide
- Microcrystalline Tandem Cells
- Thin-Film Polycrystalline Silicon
- Others
Cadmium telluride accounts for the majority of the global market share
Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin film solar cells are manufactured at low costs, as cadmium can be generated as a byproduct of mining, smelting, and refining of zinc, lead, and copper. Among all solar energy technologies, cadmium telluride requires the least amount of water for production. CdTe thin-film PV solar cells have higher cell efficiencies up to 16.7% than other thin-film technologies. Moreover, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the United States has been at the forefront of research and development (R&D) in this area.
Breakup by Installation:
- On-Grid
- Off-Grid
On-grid currently exhibits a clear dominance in the market
On-grid systems are gaining traction, owing to their cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and the ability to use the grid as a virtual battery, thereby eliminating the need for energy storage in batteries. Consequently, government bodies are also encouraging the use of on-grid thin film solar cells, which is augmenting the market growth in this segment.
Breakup by End User:
- Residential
- Commercial
- Utility
Currently, the utility sector holds the largest market share
Based on the end user, the global thin film solar cell market can be bifurcated into residential, commercial, and utility. Currently, the utility sector holds the largest market share.The utility sector can be further categorized into military, power plant applications, defense, and industrial applications. Thin film solar cells are widely used in the utility sector, owing to their higher electricity generation at a lower cost. Thin film solar cells are widely adopted to build large-scale solar farms, where vast areas are covered with solar panels to generate electricity. These solar farms can be connected to the utility grid to provide electricity to various industries.
Breakup by Region:
- North America
- United States
- Canada
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- South Korea
- Australia
- Indonesia
- Others
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Spain
- Russia
- Others
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Others
- Middle East and Africa
Asia-Pacific currently dominates the global market
On a regional level, the market has been classified into North America (United States and Canada), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia and Others), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia and Others), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Others), and Middle East and Africa. According to the report, Asia-Pacific currently dominates the global market.Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the world with the majority of the demand coming from the countries, such as China and Japan. This can be attributed to the increasing deployment of solar panels in utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications.
In 2018, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) had written a draft policy that would increase the renewable energy target from 20% to 35%, by 2030. This, in turn, will augment the demand for thin film solar cells in the country. Around 40 GW of new renewable capacity was connected to the grid in 2019, with around 50% of the new capacity expected to come from large-scale solar plants. With factors, such as the upcoming utility-scale project, along with supportive policies and subsidies, the thin-film solar PV market in the Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth over the forecasted period.
Leading Key Players in the Thin Film Solar Cell Industry:
The market research report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:- Ascent Solar Technologies Inc.
- First Solar Inc.
- Flisom
- Hanergy Thin Film Power EME B.V.
- Kaneka Corporation
- Miasole (Hanergy Holding Group Ltd.)
- Oxford Photovoltaics Limited
- Trony Solar Holdings Company Limited
- Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd.
Global Thin Film Solar Cell Market News:
- April 2024: Uppsala University has set a new world record in the generation of electrical energy from CIGS solar cells, achieving an efficiency rate of 23.64%. An independent institute verified this achievement and the findings have been published in the esteemed journal, Nature Energy.
- February 2024: LONGi entered a collaboration with Australia Curtin University and Jiangsu University of Science and Technology to manufacture the first crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cell with high power-to-weight ratio and enhanced high flexibility.
Key Questions Answered in This Report
1. What was the size of the global thin film solar cell market in 2023?2. What is the future of thin film solar cell market?
3. What are the key factors driving the global thin film solar cell market?
4. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global thin film solar cell market?
5. What is the breakup of the global thin film solar cell market based on the type?
6. What is the breakup of the global thin film solar cell market based on the installation?
7. What is the breakup of the global thin film solar cell market based on the end user?
8. What are the key regions in the global thin film solar cell market?
9. Who are the key players/companies in the global thin film solar cell market?
Table of Contents
1 Preface3 Executive Summary11 Value Chain Analysis13 Price Analysis
2 Scope and Methodology
4 Introduction
5 Global Thin Film Solar Cell Market
6 Market Breakup by Type
7 Market Breakup by Installation
8 Market Breakup by End User
9 Market Breakup by Region
10 SWOT Analysis
12 Porters Five Forces Analysis
14 Competitive Landscape
List of Figures
List of Tables
Companies Mentioned
- Ascent Solar Technologies Inc.
- First Solar Inc.
- Flisom
- Hanergy Thin Film Power EME B.V.
- Kaneka Corporation
- Miasole (Hanergy Holding Group Ltd.)
- Oxford Photovoltaics Limited
- Trony Solar Holdings Company Limited
- Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd.
Methodology
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Table Information
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of Pages | 137 |
| Published | August 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2023 - 2032 |
| Estimated Market Value ( USD | $ 15.9 Billion |
| Forecasted Market Value ( USD | $ 41 Billion |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate | 11.1% |
| Regions Covered | Global |
| No. of Companies Mentioned | 9 |
