The compatibility of all HCPV system components is crucial for maximizing the system performance, reliability and durability as well as for decreasing its cost. Such compatibility could be well controlled by a vertically-integrated player that covers the whole technology chain. However, the current small HCPV market size does not enable the advantages of a vertical integration as known from the flat-plate PV. Such integration would entail high economic risk.

Therefore, the HCPV supply chain is currently very dispersed and system elements are supplied by a big number of players accounting for 80+ companies. However, there is an increasing demand for stronger cooperation between different technology players in order to improve the performance of HCPV systems and to lower the manufacturing costs.

An exhaustive list of the main players with their key characteristics for each element of the HCPV supply chain, their position on supply value chain and their geographical localization is given in this report. The examples of strategic partnerships and relationships as well as the level of integration of the main players allow to identify the main trends within the HCPV supply chain.


DEEP INSIGHT INTO HCPV TECHNOLOGIES

This report provides an detailed overview of all information needed to understand the challenges related to HCPV system components: wafer, epiwafer, solar cell, receiver module, concentrating optics, HCPV module, inverter and tracking system. The analysis of different approaches allows to identify the main technology trends, materials and manufacturing techniques used. It helps to evaluate the feasibility of mass-scale manufacturing of different HCPV components and the performance of different complete systems in real conditions.

Today, HCPV solar cells are typically grown in multijunction design on 4’’ germanium substrates. Although the cell is accounting for 10-20% of total system cost, there is a significant potential for its cost ($/W) decrease.

This could be done by new cell designs, manufacturing processes and by using larger wafers. Indeed, 6’’ wafers are already commercially available by major Ge wafer producers, such as Umicore. However, because of some limitations of Ge-wafer-based multi-junction cells, several companies, such as Spire and Solar Junction are already investigating GaAs as an alternative material. The recent efficiency records obtained by Solar Junction on cells grown using GaAs substrate demonstrate the high potential of this substrate. If produced at competitive cost, HCPV cells on GaAs could increase their market share in the market dominated today by germanium substrate.

MULTI-MW PROJECT PIPELINE INDICATES THE HCPV MARKET BREAKTHROUGH

Although cumulative High Concentration Photovoltaics (HCPV) installed capacity represents only about 30 MW (less than 1% of the total PV market), it is currently at an inflection point to be deployed in utility-scale applications in some sunny locations and may surpass 1GW of the new yearly installed capacity in 2018.

Indeed, in locations with very high Direct Normal Irradiation, HCPV is already proposing a lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) than flat-plate PV. Moreover, HCPV has high, still unused potential for cost decrease, mainly by increasing system efficiency and manufacturing volume.

Several multi-megawatt projects announced within the last months are indicating that the HCPV technology is beginning its transition from R&D development and small demonstration projects to utility-scale installations. The massive increase of production capacities mainly in the USA will strongly support the HCPV entry to the electricity business.


KEY FEATURES OF THE REPORT

REPORT OUTLINE

WHO SHOULD BUY THIS REPORT?

KEY FEATURES OF THE REPORT

• 2011-2018 forecast for HCPV installations and wafer and epiwafer demand for HCPV cells.
• Detailed description of all elements of HCPV supply chain with their requirements and challenges. An overview of different technological approaches is given for each element.
• List of main suppliers for each HCPV system element (wafer, epiwafer, cell, optics, tracker, …).
• Deep analysis of suited locations for HCPV installations that enable to identify the future markets but also the future partners and specific technology requirements on HCPV system components.

WHO SHOULD BUY THIS REPORT?

• Equipment, Material and Component Suppliers
  • Evaluate the market potential for your company based on HCPV market demand forecast through 2018.
  • Identify technology trends, challenges and requirements of all elements of HCPV systems (Ge & GaAs wafer, III-V cell, receiver module, optics, module, tracker, inverter,...).

• Investors and Utilities
  • Learn about the technology needs for  HCPV large-scale deployment, about market drivers and barriers and about site requirements for HCPV installations.
  • Monitor the divers technological approaches in the HCPV equipment & material business in order to identify the rights  partners, targets and take the right decision before committing to one particular supplier.

• List of Acronyms     3
• Objectives of the report        4
• Executive Summary    5
• Introduction         16
• Solar Electricity Generation     20
  • PV, HCPV and CSP technologies     22
  • HCPV within the PV technologies     32
• HCPV Market Development    45
  • Suited Locations for HCPV     47
  • Market Drivers     54
  • Market Barriers     56
  • HCPV installations until 2010     61
• 2011 to 2018 Market Forecast    66
  • Assumptions     68
  • Wafer Market     70
  • Epiwafer Market     74
  • HCPV Installations     76
• Cost of HCPV     82
  • LCOE     84
  • HCPV System Cost Breakdown     87
  • How to Reduce LCOE for HCPV?     92
• HCPV System Components     95
  • Summary     96
  • Overview     99
  • Wafer     105
  • Epiwafer     112
  • Solar Cell     114
  • Receiver Module    122
  • Concentrating Optics     131
  • HCPV Module     141
  • Inverter     145
  • Tracking System    146
  • HCPV System     155
  • HCPV Technology Roadmap     158
• HCPV Supply Chain    167
  • Positioning of the HCPV Players     169
  • Strategic Partnerships and Relationships    173
  • Overview of HCPV suppliers     174
  • Localization of the HCPV Players     190
• General Conclusion    199