Intersolar Europe – New Processes for a Growing Global Market

In 2010, the international photovoltaics industry saw its turnover double with around 15 GW of newly installed photovoltaic capacity, making 2010 the industry’s most successful year to date. By way of comparison, new capacity totalled 7.1 GW in 2009, and 2008 saw approximately 5.7 GW installed worldwide. Huge price cuts in 2009 combined with the positive effects of international subsidisation programs played a significant role in this development.

A forum for PV production equipment suppliers

In order to stand up to increasing competition and price pressure in this dynamic market, both now and in the future, manufacturers constantly need to optimise their production processes. To address this need, the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry, Intersolar Europe, is increasing its range of offerings of PV production technology by presenting the most innovative companies, power plants, machines, technologies, and systems in this field from June 8–10 in Hall A5 at the New Munich Trade Fair. Key players in production technology from across the globe are showcasing their innovations, products, services, and much more, in the following areas: automation, cell and module production, thin film technology, software, gases and chemicals, and solar glass. The importance of this industrial segment is reflected in the Intersolar AWARD 2011. In addition to the most innovative developments in Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal Technology, the most promising international products and services in the PV Production Technology category are being presented with awards on the first day of Intersolar Europe.

Higher efficiency at lower cost

Even though Germany’s feed-in tariff has been reduced, in line with those of France, the Czech Republic, and Spain, the global market is still expected to grow by 25 percent in 2011 to around 20.4 GW. Global PV manufacturers plan to continue expanding their production capacities, which will lead to a further fall in prices in the medium term. If costs continue to drop faster than the feed-in tariffs, the industry can hope for multi-digit growth in the future. The ongoing automation of manufacturing and new manufacturing techniques have already led to reduced production costs on an almost daily basis, resulting in lower module prices.

Increasing expenditure for PV production

The American market research institute, iSuppli, estimated the PV industry’s expenditure on production equipment to be approximately $11 million for 2010. In 2008, the volume of this market was still only around $5 million. Furthermore, the global market for module manufacturing automation components alone was estimated at just under $450 million in 2008. Currently, experts predict that this market volume will exceed $1.2 billion by as early as 2013.

„New manufacturing technologies for high efficiency cells with cell efficiencies larger than 19 % or even 20 % will lower the costs per Watt again. Selective Emitter, Backside Contact, new passivation methods on the front side and backside of the cells as well as ASYS’ Double and Dual Print Technology will be part of this evolution. The competitive advantage of cost-efficient automated manufacturing solutions offering high quality, low maintenance, high uptimes, and reliable process performance will remain as long as ‘Made in Germany’ is at least one step ahead in the technology development. Manufacturing solutions with low technology level may get copied faster and easier, and offered at lower prices by Asian suppliers.“

 

 

 

 

„For this year we expect from our side a minimum 25 % increase of the PV market demand. On the other side we see the capacity built up on the supply side is heavily increasing the demand growth in a way that the price pressure on the module and cell manufacturer will increase. This on the other side will bring us faster to grid parity. The Japanese nuclear power plant disaster will of course provide a rethinking in a lot of areas and will be a platform for additional growth potential in the mid and long term. The Intersolar will be for us an interesting indicator how well industry mainly in Europe has accepted the local FITs.“

 

 

 

 

„To renewable energy concepts, there is no alternative in the future, and technological progress and natural events such as in Japan will accelerate the speed of this process. The introduction of new technologies for high-efficiency cells and modern highly automated production with intelligent production control systems provide the potential for price reductions. Important turning screws are effective methods of production and high product quality. Both can be supported by intelligent software solutions for production control systems and continuous quality assurance.“

 

 

 

 

 

„Konica Minolta Sensing sees the PV market as an opportunity to utilise it’s many years of expertise in the field of radiometric instruments. The strategic decision to do so, however, was taken long before the tragic events in Japan. Without any doubt, these events will have an important global impact on discussions about “Future Energy”. Regardless of the political decisions and directions in different countries, we are confident that PV will be one of the world’s energy sources in the future and we therefore see our commitment as a long-term investment.“

 

 

 

 

 

„With the help of suppliers such as the plant constructor, KUKA Systems, manufacturers can not only reduce production costs but also utilize quantity effects generated by new processes. In the long term we need innovations to ensure that our market position can be maintained. In order to establish contacts and to learn more about new global developments.“

 

 

 

 

Contact www.intersolar.de