First Solar PV modules are thin film PV modules. The achievement of reaching 1GW of modules in installations bodes well for the entire industry, bringing credibility to the solar energy effort. To support the growing demand, First Solar continues to push the limits on volume manufacturing. First Solar is integrating each production step.

Sharp, the market leader, has achieved remarkable penetration of residential markets. Mass production of tandem©\type thin©\film solar cells means two types of cells are offered¡ªcrystalline types suitable for colder temperatures at high latitudes, and thinfilm types better suited to warmer regions. Sharp is a unique manufacturer in that they offer both types.

Key market transitions are being made relative to smart grid, the increasing centrality of the local power substation, and implementation of the smart grid as a distribution center for electricity generated by solar power.

Solar energy is being adopted because the petroleum reserves are facing depletion. Solar offers plentiful, cheap energy source with panels that have a 25 year life and payback within 10 years. The payback is within 8 months if the solar electricity generated is used to charge an electric vehicle.

Thin film batteries and new utility level electricity storage are evolving. Thin film batteries are expected to power electric vehicles and sit on the ground outside homes and apartment buildings to store the electricity generated by solar. Thin film batteries provide the bridge to offer electricity when the sun it not shining.

Thin film batteries fuel growth in solar markets. These markets are set to evolve even faster than anyone has thought. Sharp, First Solar, Trina Solar, Suntech, and Ascent Solar Technologies are among the companies anticipated to benefit from the build out of solar energy. These are the companies positioned to leverage solar energy market growth. These market participants continue to be very aggressive in both internal innovation commitments, as well as partnership and acquisition strategies.

¡°Worldwide solar markets are poised to achieve significant growth as solar energy is widely adopted, creating economies of scale and funding new technology efficiencies. Manufacturing efficiencies are expected to create new uses and permit users to leverage existing ones. Costs of solar panels are expected to decrease rapidly in response to the continuing economies of scale. Market strategies of the leaders Sharp First Solar, and Trina are compelling in their innovation and flexibility¡±

Emerging markets depend on 100 successful trials and reference accounts. Solar energy has now surpassed that magic number and is poised for rapid growth. The reference accounts are in place, the prices of the solar modules are decreasing at a faster pace than the industry had predicted, grid parity has been achieved in some places and is on track to be achieved everywhere.

Investment in solar energy is anticipated to continue. Participants will come and go, industry consolidation and high growth patterns will alternate until the nascent industry stabilizes, but solar energy is here to stay.

Solar energy is in place. It works, it is no longer a dream or a long shot, it is real. Read the study, look at the pictures of the large number of installations, this is an amazing market, emerging long after early efforts to bring these technologies to reality: Why is it here now? Solar energy is evolving because the price of gasoline in going to continue to climb.

Solar energy markets are big. At $19.6 billion in 2009 solar panels are anticipated to reach$125.5 billion by 2016. Market growth comes because the technology has caught the imagination of everyone, consumers, vendors, governments, politicians, oil producers, and the utility industry. The technology works, its benefits have a positive ROI over the useful life of the panels, even a significant payback. Solar provides the cheap, clean, dependable energy source needed to drive industrial growth, available.

Report Methodology

This is the 437th report in a series of primary market research reports that provide forecasts in solar energy, robots, communications, telecommunications, the Internet, computer, software, telephone equipment, health equipment, and batteries to store energy. Automated process and significant growth potential are a priorities in topic selection. The project leaders take direct responsibility for writing and preparing each report. They have significant experience preparing industry studies. Forecasts are     based on primary research and proprietary data bases.

The primary research is conducted by talking to customers, distributors and companies. The survey data is not enough to make accurate assessment of market size, so looks at the value of shipments and the average price to achieve market assessments. Our track record in achieving accuracy is unsurpassed in the industry. We are known for being able to develop accurate market shares and projections. This is our specialty.

The analyst process is concentrated on getting good market numbers. This process involves looking at the markets from several different perspectives, including vendor shipments. The interview process is an essential aspect as well. We do have a lot of granular analysis of the different shipments by vendor in the study and addenda prepared after the study was published if that is appropriate.

Forecasts reflect analysis of the market trends in the segment and related segments. Unit and dollar shipments are analyzed through consideration of dollar volume of each market participant in the segment. Installed base analysis and unit analysis is based on interviews and an information search. Market share analysis includes conversations with key customers of products, industry segment leaders, marketing directors, distributors, leading market participants, opinion leaders, and companies seeking to develop measurable market share.

Over 200 in depth interviews are conducted for each report with a broad range of key participants and industry leaders in the market segment. We establish accurate market forecasts based on economic and market conditions as a base. Use input/output ratios, flow charts, and other economic methods to quantify data. Use in©\house analysts who meet stringent quality standards. Interviewing key industry participants, experts and end-users is a central part of the study. Our research includes access to large proprietary databases. Literature search includes analysis of trade publications, government reports, and corporate literature.

Findings and conclusions of this report are based on information gathered from industry sources, including manufacturers, distributors, partners, opinion leaders, and users. Interview data was combined with information gathered through an extensive review of internet and printed sources such as trade publications, trade associations, company literature, and online databases. The projections contained in this report are checked from top down and bottom up analysis to be sure there is congruence from that perspective.

The base year for analysis and projection is 2009. With 2009 and several years prior to that as a baseline, market projections were developed for 2010 through 2016. These
projections are based on a combination of a consensus among the opinion leader contacts interviewed combined with understanding of the key market drivers and their impact from a historical and analytical perspective. The analytical methodologies used to generate

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES-1
Solar Energy Market Driving Forces ES-1
Solar Energy Market Shares ES-3
Photovoltaic Solar Energy Market Forecasts ES-5
Solar Industry Outlook ES-6
100 Successful Trials And Reference Accounts ES-7
Solar Utility Market Driving Forces ES-8
Commercial Solar ES

1. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY MARKET DESCRIPTION AND MARKET DYNAMICS 1-1
1.1 Solar Technologies 1-1
1.1.1 Research Initiatives 1-2
1.1.2 Thin Film Material Layers 1-3
1.2 Photovoltaic Conversion Of Sun Light 1-4
1.2.1 Solar Panel Orientation 1-6
1.3 Thin Film Solar Materials 1-8
1.4 Sunlight Intensity in Various Regions 1-9
1.4.1 Sunshine Index 1-13
1.4.2 Economics of PV 1-14
1.5 Variety of Solar Panel Installations 1-16
1.5.1 Off-Grid Systems: 1-21
1.6 Solar Technology 1-25
1.6.1 Cost-Competitive Solar 1-25
1.6.2 Crystalline-Silicon Panels 1-27
1.6.3 Thin-Film Solar 1-27
1.6.4 Silicon or CIGS 1-28
1.7 World's Largest PV Installation German Solar 1-31
1.8 The Basics of Solar Electricity 1-33
1.9 Utility Power Positioning 1-35
1.9.1 Utility Solar Decision Making 1-36
1.10 U.S. Building Construction Industry 1-38
1.11 Silicon Panels Harvest More Energy 1-41
1.11.1 Solar Real Estate 1-42
1.12 Smart Electric Grid Overhaul: Utility 1-43
1.12.1 IBM Smart Grid 1-43
1.12.2 U.S. Electric Grid Needs Major Overhaul: Utility 1-44
1.12.3 Flexible Solar Cells With Silicon Wires 1-44
1.13 Competition and Advanced PV Technologies 1-46
1.14 Parts Of The Solar Cell Manufacturing Process 1-47
1.14.1 Silicon Crystal Growing or Casting Plants 1-47
1.14.2 Solar Cell Plants 1-49
1.14.3 Module Assembly Plants 1-51
1.14.4 Systems Assembly 1-52
1.15 Greenhouse Gases 1-53
1.16 Productionizing Technologies 1-53
1.17 Era Of Cheap Energy 1-55
1.17.1 Unprecedented Level Of Development Worldwide 1-56
1.17.2 Population Increases 1-57
1.18 Tackling Climate Change 1-57
1.19 Power From the Sun 1-58
1.19.1 PV Industry 1-59
1.19.2 SGS Solar Services 1-60   

2. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY MARKET SHARES AND FORECASTS 2-1
2.1 Solar Energy Market Driving Forces 2-1
2.2 Solar Energy Market Shares 2-3
2.2.1 First Solar Thin Film Monolithic Integration On Glass 2-6
2.2.2 Sharp Solar Cells 2-6
2.2.3 Sharp Increasing The Size Of The Output To
Maintain Leading Market Share 2-8
2.2.4 Trina Solar Limited Square Monocrystalline Cell 2-9
2.2.5 SolarWorld Residential 2-10
2.2.6 Suntech Solar Cells 2-11
2.2.7 Canadian Solar 2-13
2.2.8 BP Solar Core Markets Monocrystalline And
Multicrystalline Cells 2-14
2.2.9 LDK 2-14
2.2.10 Yingli 2-15
2.2.11 CIGS 2-15
2.2.12 Q-Cells CIGS Module Positioning 2-16
2.2.13 Ascent Solar Semiconductor Deposition 2-16
2.2.14 NanoSolar and MiaSole Thin Film Technology 2-17
2.2.15 Ascent Solar Thin Film Photovoltaic Devices
CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide). 2-17
2.2.16 Shenzhen Sunshine Electronics Manufacturing
Solar Lighting 2-18
2.3 Photovoltaic Solar Energy Market Forecasts 2-18
2.3.1 Solar Industry Outlook 2-21
2.3.2 100 Successful Trials And Reference Accounts 2-21
2.3.3 Solar Utility Market Driving Forces 2-23
2.3.4 Grid Parity 2-28
2.4 Multiple, Large, Working Solar Energy Installations 2-40
2.5 Commercial Solar 2-41
2.5.1 Residential Solar 2-54
2.5.2 Government, Enterprise, and Capital Market
Funding of Solar Energy Initiatives 2-61
2.5.3 President Obama¡¯s Energy Plan 2-62
2.5.4 Crystalline Modules vs. Thin Film Solar 2-66
2.5.5 Monocrystalline Modules 2-70
2.5.6 CdTe Thin Film Technology 2-74
2.5.7 CIGS Thin Film Technology Photovoltaic Effect 2-80
2.5.8 CIGS On Glass 2-81
2.5.9 Thin Film Vs. Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline 2-81
2.5.10 Solar Market Transitions 2-83
2.5.11 Solar Energy Conversion Efficiency 2-85
2.5.12 Solar Energy Megawatts Shipped 2-88
2.5.13 Solar Energy Cost per Watt 2-91
2.5.14 Solar Manufacturing Capacity 2-91
2.5.15 Shenzhen Sunshine Electronics Manufacturing Capacity 2-93
2.5.16 Solarfun 2010 Capacity Expansion 2-93
2.5.17 Solar Manufacturing Run Rate 2-95
2.5.18 Solar Module Conversion Efficiency 2-95
2.6 PV Technology, Production and Cost, 2009 Forecast 2-103

3. SOLAR PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 3-1
3.1 Commercial Solar 3-1
3.2 First Solar Commercial Systems 3-2
3.2.1 First Solar Positioning 3-3
3.2.2 First Solar Energy High Performance. High Volume 3-4
3.2.3 First Solar Commercial-Scale Solutions 3-6
3.2.4 First Solar Largest Solar Power Plant Built In
China by Americans 3-12
3.3 Trina Solar 3-12
3.4 Energy From Trina Solar Modules 3-14
3.4.1 Trina Solar Monocrystalline Modules 3-16
3.4.2 Trina Solar TSM-PC05, 215W to 235W
Multicrystalline Module 3-21
3.5 Q Cells 3-39
3.5.1 Q-Cells CIGS Modules 3-39
3.5.2 Q Cells Cdte Solar Modules 3-50
3.6 Sharp 3-50
3.6.1 Sharp Solar Cell With The Highest Efficiency Of
Conversion In The World 3-54
3.6.2 Sharp Mass Production Of Solar Cells 3-54
3.7 Mia Sole 3-56
3.7.1 Mia Sole Thin Film CIGS Solar 3-56
3.7.2 MiaSol¨¦¡¯s CIGS Solar Cell 3-59
3.7.3 Miasol¨¦ CIGS-Based Thin Film Solar Panel Manufacturing 3-62
3.8 Nanosolar 3-64
3.8.1 Nanosolar Commercial Production 3-65
3.9 Palios Flexible Glass 3-65
3.10 BYD 3-67
3.10.1 China BYD to invest $3.3 billion in solar battery plant 3-67
3.11 Armageddon Energy 3-68
3.12 United Solar Ovonic 3-68
3.13 NuvoSun 3-68
3.13.1 Dow Chemical / NuvoSun 3-69
3.14 Kyocera 3-70
3.15 SunWize Technologies 3-77
3.16 Sanyo 3-78
3.16.1 Sanyo Hit Solar Panels 3-79
3.17 REC 3-83
3.18 Canadian Solar 3-86
3.19 GE Solar Panel 3-87
3.20 BP Solar 3-88
3.20.1 British Petroleum BP Solar Panels 3-88
3.21 SolarWorld 3-90
3.22 Suntech 3-91
3.22.1 Suntech HiPerformaTM Modules 3-93
3.22.2 Suntech Solar Cells 3-96
3.23 Uni-Solar 3-97
3.24 HelioVolt 3-97
3.25 Ascent Solar 3-98

3.26 Ascent Solar 3-99
3.27 Solarion Process 3-100
3.28 Global Solar 3-101
3.29 JA Solar 3-101
3.30 Suniva Solar Cells Set For Aerotropolis Atlanta 3-101
3.30.1 Suniva 3-103
3.30.2 Suniva® Intersection Of High Efficiency And Low Cost 3-103
3.30.3 Suniva Collaborating in Solar 3-103
3.30.4 Suniva Product Offerings: 3-105
3.30.5 Suniva Intersection of High Efficiency and Low Cost 3-111
3.31 Utility-Scale Solar Solutions 3-114
3.32 First Solar Utility-Scale Solutions 3-114
3.33 Trina Solar Utility 3-118
3.34 Kyocera Solar Utility 3-120
3.35 Sharp Utility Solar Installation 3-123
3.35.1 Sharp Utility-Scale Products 3-125
3.36 Scatec Solar 3-128
3.36.1 Scatec Solar Utility Project Development Phase 3-130
3.37 Residential Solar 3-132
3.38 Sharp Residential 3-133
3.38.1 Sharp OnEnergy™ Roof-Mounted
Solar Electric Systems 3-134
3.38.2 Sharp High-Power Monocrystalline
Residential Solar Modules 3-135
3.39 First Solar U.S. Residential and Small
Commercial Solutions 3-136
3.40 SolarCity 3-138
3.41 Scatec Solar Residential 3-138
3.42 Solar Energy Initiatives 3-142
3.43 SolarWorld Residential 3-144
3.44 Consumer Solar 3-150
3.45 G24 Innovations 3-150
3.45.1 G24 The Solar Power Lamp 3-152
3.46 Smart Grid 3-155
3.47 Petra Solar Pole Based Solar Collectors 3-156

4. SOLAR STRATEGY, TECHNOLOGY, AND
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS 4-1
4.1 Solar Panel Technologies 4-1
4.1.1 Thin Film Solar Cells Amorphous Silicon 4-2
4.1.2 Thin Film Solar Cells Cadmium Telluride 4-2
4.1.3 Thin Film Solar Cells CIGS
(Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) 4-3
4.1.4 Miasol¨¦ Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide Films
Conversion Efficiency Confirmation From NREL 4-3
4.1.5 Thin-Film On Glass Substrate 4-5
4.1.6 Ascent Solar Putting CIGS On A Polymeric Or
Plastic Substrat