Photovoltaics

According to the assessment of British market research company IMS Research, the photovoltaics market will again achieve two-figure growth internationally in 2011, increasing by a total of 19 gigawatts (GW). For Germany, however, the institute is predicting a decline. The decline in expansion from the construction of new plants in Germany will, however, be compensated both by the strong demand from established photovoltaic markets such as Italy and the USA and by solar newcomers in Eastern Europe and Asia.

This comes from a IMS quarterly increase among suppliers of solar cells, manufacturers of modules and inverters, and large photovoltaic system integrators. In five markets alone, the rise in 2011 will exceed the three GW mark. These countries account for around 40 percent of international demand.

“We have identified 18 markets, each of which will install at least 100 megawatts (MW) next year. Last year, there were only eight such markets. This is very promising for the future of photovoltaics and means that it is less dependent on only one or two countries and less susceptible to large fluctuations in demand as a result of changes in funding conditions,” reports Ash Sharma, Photovoltaics Research Director at IMS Research.

According to IMS Research, the share of world market leader Germany will fall to 46 percent in 2010, drop to under 35 percent in the coming year of 2011, then continue to decline. By contrast with this, the British institute is forecasting an increase in the American and Asian shares of the international market in the next five years. By 2015, IMS Research is expecting an international rise in solar plants with an output of over 100 GW.

The entire report can be viewed on the IMS Research website.

In the last 2 years, this sector has enjoyed growth averaging 40%. You can be glad with us if we also operate in this market – although under entirely different conditions: our modules will achieve considerably higher outputs at the same market price level and at the same time carry a significantly lower CO² signature.

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