Solar market sees brighter future

Solar PV market recovery is driven by photovoltaic demand in Germany, falling levelized cost of solar, thin-film price drops, and surging installations, with modules and crystalline silicon systems benefiting as feed-in tariff policies sustain interest.

There are signs that the depressed solar energy market is on the rebound, with solar suppliers, industry associations and market analysts predicting a brighter future.

Strong results from leading photovoltaic (PV) panel suppliers, combined with increased solar activity in leading markets such as Germany, where projections for solar sales to soar have emerged, indicate that the solar market is recovering from the huge slump that occurred earlier this year.

LDK Solar Company Limited and Trina Solar Limited have both posted strong third-quarter financial results, and, as earnings show fears overblown for the sector, expectations have improved. LDK Solar recorded operating profits of $56.8 million (37.7 million euros), compared to a massive $205.5 million (136.4 million euros) net loss in the second quarter.

LDK CEO Peng Xiaofeng said: "Global multi-crystalline wafer demand rose sharply in the third quarter. Our company's third quarter performance reflects a general improvement in the solar PV industry."

Trina Solar posted total revenues of $249.7 million (165.7 million euros) for the third quarter, up more than 66% from the second quarter. The company also shipped 123 megawatts (MW) of solar modules in the third quarter, up almost 92% on from the previous quarter.

Demand for panels has been on the increase in the third quarter, with analysts at New Energy Finance claiming that the cost of installing solar, based on the 'levelized cost,' or the unsubsidized cost per kilowatt-hour, will have fallen 50% by the end of the year. For other renewable power sectors, the drop will be about 10%.

"So far this year, the steady decline in the cost of equipment in sectors like solar and wind has been largely offset by the increasing costs of financing," said Michael Liebreich, chairman and CEO of New Energy Finance. "By the end of this year, however, as capital markets loosen up and equipment prices continue their decline, we will see the levelized costs decline, finishing the year 10% below the end of last year across the board, and far more than that in solar."

Photovoltaic (PV) module prices have fallen continuously in recent months amid a price war across suppliers with thin-film panels showing far greater price drops than the more expensive crystalline silicon systems used in less sunny locations.

In Europe, there has been a surge in demand for solar in Germany since the third quarter. Germany is now the biggest European solar market since Spain's government severely capped its very generous feed-in tariffs for 2009. Since then, Germany, which still has a feed-in tariff in place, even as subsidy cuts muddy the outlook for some players, has become the focus for many suppliers and investors.

"Solar-panel installations in Germany began surging to record levels in July as prices for PV systems plunged," said Dr. Henning Wicht, senior director of photovoltaics research for iSuppli. "This phenomenon has boosted the global solar panel business and mitigated the severe oversupply situation that has stung the industry throughout this year."

iSuppli predicts that Germany will install 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels in 2009, as installed PV capacity approaches new milestones, up from the previous forecast of 1.53 GW. The prediction is borne out from other sources, including the German Solar Industry Association (BSi), which said that Germany will install up to, but not more than, 3 GW of photovoltaic capacity this year.

Overall, largely because of Germany's surge in demand and more positive signs in the U.S. and Chinese markets, despite German demand fears among U.S. investors, BSi expects global demand for 2009 to hit 5.2 GW, up from the previous, less optimistic prediction of 3.9 GW.

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