NanoMarkets cites increase in thin-film PV substrate, encapsulation; market growth to US$1.3 billion

Analyst group NanoMarkets released a new report, which cites that new materials, such as metal foils, plastics, ceramics and composites, will show an increase in their importance for the substrate and encapsulation materials used for thin-film PV (TFPV). NanoMarkets claims that the materials will be used more frequently as the need to support flexible PV and the growth of flexible products for BIPV continues to accelerate. As a result, the TFPV market has the potential to reach US$1.3 billion by 2015 and US$1.8 billion by 2017.

NanoMarkets noted that while encapsulation systems have been somewhat notorious for their difficulty to develop and their high price tag, the firm concluded that the CIGS sector is one of several areas where the encapsulation systems are a good economic choice. Further, the report shows that while glassmakers have dealt with a weakened overall market share, opportunities are expected to surface lending to flexible glasses to be another growing division for the TFPV market.

Overall, the NanoMarkets report concluded that the TFPV market is looking for new materials. For example, low-cost thermally resistant plastics and better-priced dyadic encapsulation systems are likely candidates that will facilitate technologies for BIPV and mobile PV products by offering opportunities that extend past the PV space, such as flexible displays and flexible lighting.

The detailed report includes opportunities for glassmakers, the plastics and metals industry, and specialist encapsulation companies in the TFPV industry over the next eight years, profit possibilities, renewable energy policy trends and an eight-year forecast. For further information on the report, click here.