engineering the solar age - Suppliers for Photovoltaics

After Fukushima, our notion of energy generation has radically changed and will never be the same again. Some early birds like Germany and Switzerland have decided to phase out all their existing nuclear power plants, Italy has decided to give up plans to build new ones and others will follow that trend, sooner or later. The good thing is that the u-turn has been “endorsed” by a vast majority of the population in many countries and prompted politicians to act! However, the sudden change has left us with some unanswered questions: Will there be enough alternative energy resources available by the time nuclear power is no longer available? Are all the stakeholders taking the right decisions to ensure there will be enough capacity to fill the gap and to avoid blackouts?

It is a fact that energy generated by solar cells has already gained its place in the renewables marketplace. Furthermore, cell efficiency is continuously going up while costs are going down. Grid parity has already been reached in some regions and and is imminent in others. Photovoltaic, has enormous potential: From small roof tops to large solar parks, whether grid-connected or off-grid, it works maintenance-free, quietly and with high reliability. The first energy storage devices have now also been launched and will make solar energy available during the night and on cloudy days.

Still, there are challenges to be addressed. A good price-performance ratio is key. Furthermore, manufacturers are advised to improve their business models to respond to strong fluctuations in demand as is typical for cyclical industries. Finally, a master plan covering ambitious goals and milestones is needed as a guideline for industry players, investors, governments and also the public.

Two years ago, a road map program was initiated by the top eight cell and module manufacturers in Europe, the CTM group, which has now grown to include 20 leading companies. The group is rapidly growing thanks to the addition of members from overseas who wish to support the dissemination of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaics (www.itrpv.net). The main goal of the ITRPV activity is to get as many technical areas of the photovoltaic supply chain involved as possible. The role model is the semiconductor industry’s ITRS which has been extremely successful over the last 30 years, helping to grow the electronic market to its current size. It is imperative that all players work hand in hand to achieve these goals.

The CTM activities combined with the ITRPV road-map activities make a significant contribution towards achieving the goals and expectations of the public, governments and the industry and will strengthen confidence into the effectiveness of the energy u-turn.