Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market Research Report: Forecast (2022-27)

Market Definition

Thin-film solar panels are used widely for generating electricity, primarily in areas where other photovoltaic cells do not suffice. These panels are made up mainly of thin films of semiconductors embedded on glass, plastic, or metal that are generally 20 times thinner than c-Si wafers, making them highly flexible, economical, & lightweight. Various studies cite that among all PV technologies, thin-film solar panels, especially perovskite solar cells, have promising potential to attain the most suitable sustainable solution in the coming years.

Market Insights

The Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 17.29% during the forecast period, i.e., 2022-27. The market has witnessed significant growth over the last few years due to the prominent features of thin-film solar panels, such as less waste generation, containing no toxic components, and being affordable & easy to manufacture & install in both developed & emerging economies.

The penetration of thin-film solar panels is soaring significantly across Northern & Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily due to their cost competitiveness. They are used mainly in commercial or institutional buildings with open spaces or large rooftops. Moreover, being lightweight, their deployment is high in solar kits for camping, portable solar systems, solar panels on backpacks, & solar-integrated products like solar tents.

Furthermore, numerous renewable energy goals by various countries worldwide to address rapid climatic changes, rapid installations of thin-film solar panels across the industrial sector, and the burgeoning demand for solar energy globally are other crucial aspects expected to drive the thin-film solar panel market in the coming years. 

Covid-19 Negatively Impacted the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market

In 2020 & early 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic massively undermined the growth of the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market. Several projects across different regions & greenfield investments proposed by mega manufacturers were either suspended or delayed and, in many cases, canceled.

In addition, around 70% of the solar cells & modules globally are supplied by China & other neighboring countries. Hence, extremely high dependence upon these selective economies resulted in a substantial logjam in the market growth amidst the blockade in industrial activities to counter the virus spread. For instance:

• In 2019, India’s 80% demand for solar modules was fulfilled mainly by Chinese manufacturers. Around 78% of the European solar cells, modules, equipment like inverters, prefabricated structures, raw materials, etc., were sourced from China in the same year.

Eventually, thin-film solar panel projects across these geographies suffered considerable losses in 2020. However, the market registered a gradual revival in 2021. With the reduction in the severity of the Covid-19 and resumption of industrial activities, the market would register considerable growth during 2022-27.

Market Segmentation

Based on the Type:

• Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)
• Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)
• Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIS/CIGS)
• Others (Gallium Arsenide (GaAs))

Of all types, thin films made using Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) captured the majority share in the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market in 2021, and the same trend is likely to be followed over the forecast years. It attributes principally to its increasing use for solar energy generation due to its lower costs & higher light absorption capacity than other materials.

The introduction of various programs to increase CdTe solar production, coupled with the surging number of market players in thin-film CdTe solar module manufacturing, would further boost the market during 2022-27. Moreover, governments worldwide are also focusing on increasing the penetration of CdTe since it is considered extremely good at capturing sunlight & converting it to energy. For instance:

• The US government introduced Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Photovoltaics (PV) Accelerator program in 2021 to expand technology leadership & competitiveness in the CdTe PV industry across the country. This program shall boost domestic CdTe PV material & module production by 2030 to reach cell efficiencies of more than 26% & reduce module costs to less than USD0.15/watt.

Based on End Users:

• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial

Thin-film solar panels are deployed mainly in commercial applications & electric vehicle charging stations and are better suited to commercial & utility applications, where there's more room for large-scale installations. As a result, they are not commonly used across the residential sector since it requires big sites for the same purpose. However, many companies have started manufacturing CdTe thin-film solar panels to expand their portfolio across residential markets, which shall boost the production & deployment of thin-film solar panels across the residential sector during the forecast period. For instance:

• In 2021, Toledo Solar entered the market to manufacture CdTe solar panels for residential rooftops.

Regional Landscape

Geographically, the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market expands across:

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Middle East & Africa

Of all regions, Asia-Pacific dominated the Thin Film Solar Panel Market in 2021. The colossal public & private investments in Asia-Pacific are expected to tripe the regional solar capacity by 2029, from the 2021 level. The continuous evolution of regulatory policies, primarily in India & China, is mobilizing foreign investments in both countries. Additionally, the declining costs of generation per unit solar power have also boosted the penetration of solar power across many residential areas in the region.

In 2021, China completely dominated the regional market owing to the considerable government focus on reducing the reliance upon fossil fuels to minimize carbon emission levels. In December 2021, the Chinese government announced to increase the share of renewable sources (both wind & solar) of energy to 25% by 2030, where solar power is likely to play a prominent role. The country is targeting to increase its solar capacity to 650 GW by 2030. Hence, these developments are projected to spur the demand for thin-film solar panels and fuel the overall regional market growth in the coming years.

On the other hand, North America is also emerging as a hotspot for the thin-film solar panel market. The increasing adoptions & installations of solar panels for electricity generation across North America owing to alarming environmental concerns & rapid shift toward renewable energy generation has boosted the regional market. Thin-film solar panels are a cost-effective & efficient way to transform sunlight into electricity. Hence, many favorable government policies for green energy adoption and burgeoning investments in deploying solar energy technologies across North America have positively impacted the regional market growth. For instance:

• In 2021, the US Department of Energy invested around USD 128 million to cut the cost of solar energy by 60% within the next ten years and improve the performance & deployment frequency of solar energy technologies.
• In 2020, First Solar contracted USD 455 million for installing two solar power plants in Southern Ontario, Canada.

Across the region, the significant market growth in the US owes to rapid smart infrastructural developments, surging electricity demand, and soaring investments in developing solar plants within the country. Moreover, advancements in solar technologies, adoption of solar power in the agriculture sector, and mounting demand for electricity supply are other prominent aspects projected to boost the market for thin-film solar panels in the country over the forecast years. For instance:

• In 2021, The US Department of Agriculture invested USD 460 Million in developing solar energy infrastructure to help rural communities & agricultural producers across the region.
• In 2020, according to the US Department of Energy, the country totaled 76 GW solar capacity by installing a record 15 gigawatts (GWac), which represented 3% of the current electricity supply.

Market Dynamics:

Key Driver: Rising Awareness about Sustainable Energy Generation Practices

Over the past few years, several countries worldwide have been facing significant challenges like greater dependence on handful economies for their energy requirements, continuously rising geopolitical conflicts, etc., which has negatively impacted the prices of energy products.

Hence, all progressive economies have been working toward reducing their energy dependence on both fossil fuels & other economies to fulfill their energy requirements. Due to this, solar energy has emerged as a robust alternative. The governments across different countries are collaborating on several fronts in solar energy, such as International Solar Alliance, Paris Climate Change, etc., to boost the penetration of solar power in the overall energy mix.

Several countries have defined their respective carbon emission goals to achieve by 2030, in which solar energy is expected to play an anchor role. Therefore, the investments in solar farms, including the floating ones, are likely to surge significantly during the forecast period, which, in turn, would boost the demand for thin-film solar panels.

Recent Developments by Leading Companies

• In 2021, the US International Development Finance Corp. offered USD 500 million of debt financing for thin-film module manufacturer First Solar. The company plans to set up a 3.3 GW vertically integrated solar module manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• The same year, solar manufacturer First Solar invested USD 680 million in a third CdTe solar factory in Northwest Ohio. The facility is scheduled to be ready in 2025 and would make 6 gigawatts’ worth of solar panels in the area.
• In 2019, Sprague Energy installed flexible thin-film solar panels on its oil storage tanks for energy savings while enhancing its sustainability efforts.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:

1. What are the overall statistics or estimates (Overview, Size- By Value, Forecast Numbers, Segmentation, Shares) of the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market?
2. What are the region-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?
3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market?
4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market based on the competitive benchmarking matrix?
5. What are the key results derived from surveys conducted during the Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market study?

Market Outlook, Segmentation and Statistics: 

1. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market
2. Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market Hotspots & Opportunities
3. Global Thin Film Solar Panel Market Outlook, 2017- 2027F
   1. Market Size & Analysis
      1. By Revenues
   2. Market Share & Analysis
      1. By Type
         1. Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)
         2. Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)
         3. Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIS/CIGS)
         4. Others (Gallium Arsenide (GaAs))
      2. By End-User
         1. Residential
         2. Commercial
         3. Industrial
      3. By Region
         1. North America
         2. South America
         3. Europe
         4. Asia Pacific
         5. Middle East and Africa
      4. By Competitors
         1. Revenue Shares
         2. Competition Characteristics
         3. Competitor Placement in MarkNtel Quadrant