Published: June 02, 2010
Global Solar PV Cell Production Grew 51% to 10.7 GW in 2009, Panel Production to 8.9 GW
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Global photovoltaic cell production last year grew by 51%, from 7.1
gigawatts (GW) in 2008 to 10.7 GW in 2009, according to a research note
published by GTM Research. PV panel production also increased by 41%
over 2008 to 8.9 GW. The bulk of these panels ended up being deployed in
Germany in the third and fourth quarters of 2009, with the threat of
upcoming subsidy cuts and steep declines in panel prices driving an
unprecedented installation volume of 1.3 GW in the last quarter of the
year.
The bumper result masks the reality of 2009 being the most challenging
year for PV suppliers in recent memory. "On one hand, you had severe
oversupply and drastic price drops causing large losses, major layoffs,
and consolidation all across the value chain. On the other hand, it was
yet another record-breaking year in manufacturing thanks to Germany's
late surge: whereas in January, top manufacturers were reportedly
running at factory utilizations of less than 20%, October through
December saw the same companies' supplies being completely sold out. To
call it a volatile year would be an understatement," said GTM Research
Senior Analyst Shyam Mehta.
Fifty percent of the cells produced in 2009 came from China and Taiwan;
this is a far cry from just five years ago, when European and Japanese
firms combined to make up over three-fourths of the market. Crystalline
silicon still dominates the PV technology landscape, with a cell and
panel production share of 81% and 78%, respectively. At the same time,
thin film market share in 2009 continued to increase, from 15% of panels
produced in 2008 to 22% in 2009, and for the first time ever, a
thin-film producer (cadmium telluride-based First Solar) claimed the
title as the largest cell/panel manufacturer. The list of the top ten
global cell and panel manufacturers is as follows:
Top Ten Global Cell Manufacturers
1. First Solar (U.S.)
2. Suntech Power (China)
3. Sharp (Japan)
4. Q-Cells (Germany)
5. Yingli Green Energy (China)
6. JA Solar (China)
7. Kyocera (Japan)
8. Trina Solar (China)
9. SunPower (U.S.)
10. Gintech (Taiwan)
Top Ten Global Panel Manufacturers
1. First Solar (U.S.)
2. Suntech Power (China)
3. Sharp (Japan)
4. Yingli Green Energy (China)
5. Kyocera (Japan)
6. Trina Solar (China)
7. SunPower (U.S.)
8. Canadian Solar (China)
9. Solarfun (China)
10. SolarWorld (Germany)
The complete research note and an excel file with production by
technology and region is available for free download at:
http://www.gtmresearch.com/report/2009-cell-and-module-production-analysis.
Also available on GTM Research is the annual 2010 Global PV Demand
Analysis and Forecast (http://www.gtmresearch.com/report/2010-global-pv-demand-analysis-and-forecast)
and coming soon is PV Technology, Production and Cost, 2010 Forecast.
Contact sales@greentechmedia.com
for more information and ordering.
About GTM Research
GTM Research, a Greentech Media Company, provides economic and strategic
analysis for the global renewable energy industry. Our goal is to
deliver critical intelligence and advisory services that improve
business operations and facilitate informed decision making for our
clients. Our analyst team includes experts across the green technology
value chain and contains diverse backgrounds in energy, economics,
finance, policy analysis, and information technology. Visit http://www.gtmresearch.com
for more information.
Greentech Media
Clare Ondrey, 718-384-5190
Marketing Manager
Ondrey@greentechmedia.com
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