Solar Components

Solar_Product_Page

The tremendous but volatile growth of the solar industry over the past few years has led to the ascendancy of a number of upstart component providers that are increasingly challenging – and often beating – incumbent players. Continuing subsidy cuts in leading solar markets, however, will pressure old and new firms alike to cut costs while boosting performance – meaning that properly allocating scarce R&D resources is increasingly a matter of survival for upstream players.

At the upstream components and device level, solar is largely driven by manufacturing equipment innovations, not simply by better device design and materials. This misunderstanding has led investors, tech developers and governments to struggle with investments in the solar industry due to a fundamental misconception of technology risk and capital requirements.  Solar Components Intelligence subscribers receive macro- and company-level analysis on equipment, materials and device manufacturers that take into account how the drivers and impediments to technology adoption are unique for the solar industry.

Lux Research helps companies, investors, and governments understand the unique challenges facing them in order to be successful in the solar industry, by helping to:

  • Identify and monitor new disruptive technologies and companies
  • Assess a wide variety of companies along the solar value chain – from polysilicon through modules
  • Gain access to proprietary Lux Research models and data on supply and costs
  • Highlight how supply is keeping up with market demand at each value chain stage
  • Determine market share for top players at each value chain stage
  • Highlight high growth companies for investment or partnership opportunities

Sample topics covered by Lux Research:

Technologies:

  • Siemens, FBR, UMG and other polysilicon
  • Standard and kerfless wafering processes
  • Multi-, mono- and quasi-mono ingoting
  • Si, CdTe, CIGS and OPV cell architectures
  • III-V triple junction cells
  • Advanced metallization processes
  • Conductive adhesives
  • Encapsulants and backsheets
  • Glass replacement materials
  • Anti-reflective and self-cleaning coatings
  • Coatings and materials for CSP and CPV
  • Organic active materials
  • Inorganic active layer deposition technologies
  • PV production equipment

Companies: