PV consumption of silver to continue growing says the Silver Institute

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The Silver Institute, a trade association for leading silver producers expects overall industrial demand to increase by 27% through 2018, with demand from the PV industry increasing around 24% in that time frame. 

The Silver Institute said that the silver demand in 2013 from the PV industry reached 88 million ounces and should reach annual demand of 109 million ounces through 2018, despite decreasing unit consumption.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Increased global demand, led by key markets such as China, Japan, US and Europe are expected to be supported from emerging markets such as India and Latin America in the future. Demand is expected to also increase in the Middle East and North Africa within the timeframe. 

According to the Silver Institute, silver industrial demand in Europe fell to 91Moz in 2013, compared to 105Moz in 2004, while Chinese industrial consumption had increased to 117Moz, up from 56Moz in 2004. China was said to have generated about 54% of global silver PV demand in 2012.

However, the trading price for silver has fallen rapidly since 2011, when it reached over US$46.06 per ounce to around US$17 per ounce in the second half of 2014. 

According to the Silver Institute, 1MW PV modules on average, consumes approximately 90kg of silver paste material. 

Read Next

Premium
June 2, 2025
Ben Moore reports on RESPONDENT, a European-funded project that uses space technologies to help integrate renewable energy into the grid.
June 2, 2025
Arctech has partnered with ACME Cleantech Solutions to provide 175MW worth of solar trackers for an upcoming facility in Duqm, Oman.
June 2, 2025
A new manufacturing method has produced tandem perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with a conversion efficiency of 27.8%.
June 2, 2025
National Grid Renewables has rebranded to Geronimo Power following its acquisition by Canadian asset manager Brookfield.
Premium
June 2, 2025
Struggling Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger has announced that its two German subsidiaries, including the owner of its solar cell manufacturing facility in Thalheim, are insolvent.
June 2, 2025
The LECO process used in the production of TOPCon solar cells could increase their resistances by 'orders of magnitude', per new research.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 8, 2025
Asia