Summary
CIGS offers some of the brightest hopes for the future of thin-film photovoltaics (TFPV) and also some of its greatest problems. Potentially, CIGS panels could provide the high conversion efficiencies of crystalline silicon with all the advantages of a thin-film material; flexibility, manufacturability and low weight. But CIGS is also a complex material whose characteristics are not yet well understood and it is clear that the road forward for CIGS PV as a whole will be driven by developments at the material level.
The major goal of this report is to analyze and quantify the opportunities that are emerging for materials suppliers and device manufacturers as the result of both established and emerging trends in development of CIGS materials. The report focuses on the core CIGS absorber materials, but also covers materials for electrodes, encapsulation, dielectrics, etc, since all of these materials are critical to the performance of CIGS PV. The report begins with a full review of the state of the art in CIGS materials and manufacturing, but its main focus is on business cases rather than technical issues. It includes strategic profiles of leading suppliers of materials into the CIGS space and of the materials-related activities of the emerging CIGS panel makers.
This report will be invaluable reading for strategic planners and marketing managers at materials, equipment and device firms, as well as some investor organizations.
Check out NanoMarkets' webinar, CIGS Market Opportunities that was held in January.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
E.1 CIGS in Today's Economic Environment
E.2 Development of CIGS PV Materials and Manufacturing Technologies
E.3 Opportunities for Materials Firms
E.4 Opportunities for Production Equipment Firms
E.5 Opportunities for Solar Panel Firms
E.6 Impact of Developments in CIGS on the PV Market as a Whole
E.7 Summary of Eight-Year Forecasts
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background to this Report
1.1.1 CIGS Cost Advantages
1.1.2 CIGS Applications Advantages
1.1.3 CIGS Materials Opportunities
1.2 Objectives and Scope of this Report
1.3 Methodology of this Report
1.4 Plan of this Report
Chapter Two: CIGS Materials Technology
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 CIS versus CIGS
2.1.2 CIGS Compared to Other Thin-Film PV Technologies
2.2 Evolution of CIGS Cell Architectures
2.2.1 Architecture Profiles
2.2.2 Performance and Expected Improvements
2.3 CIGS Absorber Layer Materials
2.3.1 Current Materials Options
2.3.2 Film Composition Effects and Control
2.3.3 Film Grain Size and Control
2.3.4 The Role of Nanomaterials
2.3.5 The Role of Defects and Impurities
2.4 Other Materials
2.4.1 Top Contacts
2.4.2 Bottom Contacts
2.4.3 Transparent Conductors
2.4.4 Anti-Reflection Layer Materials
2.4.5 Encapsulation
2.4.6 Substrates
2.4.7 Dielectrics
2.5 The Impact of Manufacturing Choices on CIGS Material Choices
2.5.1 Evolution of Manufacturing Processes for CIGS PV Cells
2.5.2 Sputtering and Other Deposition Methods
2.5.3 Printing and Other Low-Cost/Low-Temperature Methods
2.5.4 Electroplating
2.6 Summary of Key Materials-Related R&D Trends in CIS/CIGS
2.7 Materials Related Safety and Environmental Concerns in CIS/CIGS Manufacturing
2.8 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Three: CIGS Materials Markets and Opportunities
3.1 Introduction: Overview of CIGS Material Markets
3.2 Materials for Absorber Layer
3.2.1 Current and Future Demand Patterns for Absorber Layer Materials
3.2.2 Major Suppliers of Materials for Absorber Layer
3.2.3 Opportunities for Absorber Layer Materials Suppliers
3.3 Materials for Contact, Junction, and Antireflection Layers
3.3.1 Demand Patterns for Contact, Junction, and Antireflection Layer Materials
3.3.2 Major Materials Suppliers for Contact, Junction, and Antireflection Layers
3.3.3 Opportunities for Contact, Junction, and Antireflection Layer Materials Suppliers
3.4 Materials for CIGS Substrates and Encapsulation
3.4.1 Demand Patterns for Substrate and Encapsulation Materials
3.4.2 Major Suppliers of Materials for Substrates and Encapsulation
3.4.3 Opportunities for Substrate and Encapsulation Materials Suppliers
3.5 Impact of Commodities Pricing and Availability on CIGS Materials Markets
3.5.1 Indium
3.5.2 Gallium
3.5.3 Selenium
3.5.4 Copper
3.5.5 Molybdenum
3.5.6 Other
3.6 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Four: Eight-Year Forecasts of CIGS PV Materials
4.1 Forecasting Methodology
4.1.1 Notes on the Growth of the CIGS PV Industry
4.1.2 Data Sources
4.1.3 Scope of Forecast
4.1.4 Forecasting Concerns and Other Factors Taken Into Consideration
4.1.5 Predicted and Alternative Scenarios
4.2 Forecasts of CIGS PV Materials by Type
4.2.1 CIGS Absorber Layer Materials
4.2.2 CIGS Substrate Materials
4.2.3 CIGS Encapsulation and Antireflection Materials
4.3 Forecasts of CIGS PV Materials by Manufacturing Technology
4.3.1 CIGS Deposition Technology
4.3.2 CIGS Electrode Material Technology
4.3.3 CIGS Junction Layer Material Technology
Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Report
About the Author
List of Exhibits
Exhibit E-1: Worldwide CIGS PV Production
Exhibit E-2: Worldwide Revenue from CIGS PV Materials ($ Millions)
Exhibit E-3: Summary of Major Materials Contributions to CIGS PV Revenue
Exhibit 4-1: Company Projections of Capacity
Exhibit 4-2: Alternative Scenarios for the Evolution of Thin-Film Photovoltaics
Exhibit 4-3: Alternative Scenarios for the Growth of CIGS vs. Other TFPV
Exhibit 4-4: Materials Used in CIGS PV Cells
Exhibit 4-5: Materials Used in the CIGS Absorber Layer
Exhibit 4-6: Substrate Materials Used for CIGS PV
Exhibit 4-7: Encapsulation and Antireflection Materials for CIGS PV
Exhibit 4-8: Materials Used in the CIGS Absorber Layer by Manufacturing Technology
Exhibit 4-9: Materials Used in the CIGS Electrode Layers
Exhibit 4-10: Junction Layer Materials for CIGS PV
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