Current Development of China's Thin-Film Solar Cell Industry: Key Companies and Technology Trends
September 01, 2009 / Sean Kao
15 Page, Topical Report
US$2,420 (Single User License)

Abstract

With sufficient raw material supply, low costs and potential for increases in conversion efficiency, thin-film solar cells are challenging the mainstream position of crystal silicon solar cells. Chinese solar photovoltaic companies are also aggressively entering this technology field. At the end of 2008, a number of Chinese companies had already entered the thin-film solar cell industry, stimulating more investments. This report examines the current development of the Chinese thin-film solar cell industry, including production plans and technology deployment of key companies.
  •  Table of Contents
  •  List of Topics
  •  List of Tables

China Aims to Maintain Industry Position

Since the end of 2008, silicon material prices have fallen rapidly, affecting the cost advantages of thin-film technology. However, the Chinese solar photovoltaic industry, lacking thin-film technology capabilities, has focused on the potential risks and market opportunities of technology substitution. By importing foreign technology and equipment, attracting overseas students to return to China, and through financial and other policies of central and local governments, companies have obtained funding and invested in the development of new technologies. Three types of entrepreneurial activities can be distinguished: domestic Chinese ventures that attract returning students, combinations of domestic capital and foreign equipment companies, and the combination of domestic industry, academic and research forces.

Compared with competitors from other countries that have been impacted by the global financial crisis, the Chinese industry has been supported by the Chinese government, allowing enterprises to aggressively invest in the development of new technology areas. This has shown the ambition of China to maintain its position as an important production location for the global solar photovoltaic industry.

a-Si Technology Relatively Mature; Primary Choice of Chinese Thin-Film Companies

CdTe features the lowest power generating costs, but also has environment problems, and several major companies dominate this technology. As for CIGS, key materials are hard to obtain, and it is characterized by low yield rates (the leading company Wth Solar only reaches 50%) and high production costs. No environmental concerns exist for a-Si; it is a mature technology which can be quickly brought to the market. This technology has become the primary choice for Chinese solar photovoltaic companies aiming to enter the thin-film field. Chinese companies have been aggressively entering this industry field, which features high capital barriers.

Even though government units provide support, the conversion efficiency of this technology is relatively low. Furthermore, concentrating photovoltaic technology, which has high conversion efficiency, is aggressively emerging, adding to the development variables.

Appendix

List of Companies

Air Product

 

 

Applied Materials

 

 

ASE Solar Energy

 

 

Astronergy

 

正泰太陽能

Best Solar

 

百世德太陽能

Butasoler

 

 

Central South University

 

 

China Guangdong Nuclear Energy Development

 

 

China Solar Energy

 

香港華基光電

Chinese Academy of Sciences

 

 

Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association

 

中國資源綜合利用協會可再生能源專業委員會

Chinese United Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing

 

中華聯合半導體

CMI

 

 

CN Solar Technology

 

浙江慈能光伏

East China Normal University

 

 

Enfinity

 

 

ENN Solar

 

河北新奧光伏能源

Guangzhou Research Institute of Non-ferrous Metals

 

廣州有色金屬研究院

Harbin Keluola Solar Energy Electric

 

哈爾濱-克羅拉

Illias

 

 

Intel

 

 

Jinneng Solar Cell

 

天津津能

Johanna Solar Solutions

 

 

LDK

 

江西賽維LDK

Nankai University

 

 

Oerlikon

 

 

PEA

 

 

Polar Photovoltaics

 

安徽普樂新能源

QS Solar

 

南通強生

Shandong Sunvim Solar Technology

 

山東孚日光伏科技

Shanghai Spruce Renewable Energy Technology

 

上海思博露科技

Shanghai Suntech

 

上海尚德

Shenzhen Tongchuang Weiye

 

同創偉業創投

Sunlin

 

 

Terra Solar

 

 

Tianjin Elec-Mech International Trade Group Equipment

 

天津機電國際貿易集團

Tianjin Jinneng Investment Company

 

天津市津能投資

Tianwei Baobian

 

天威保變

Tianwei Solarfilms

 

天威薄膜

Tongyong

 

煙臺通用光伏

Topray

 

深圳拓日

Trony

 

深圳創益科技

Uligon

 

 

ULVAC

 

 

Uni-Solar Jinneng

 

 

United Solar Ovonic

 

 

Utrecht University

 

 

Weihai China Glass Solar

 

威海中玻

Yuanchang

 

常州源暢光電

Zhejiang Xianjin

 

浙江先進太陽能

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