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Printed PV cells are becoming an enabling technology and establishing for themselves a niche in the PV market. Smithers Pira expects them to capture 1% of the flexible PV market in 2010, and 10% by 2015. These cells are made by directly depositing photoactive material onto a thin substrate, often using standard printing processes. As a result, they are much thinner than conventional PV cells, require less material and offer increasing efficiencies at reduced costs.
This study focuses on technology trends in printed PV cells, as well as the materials and processes used in the printed PV industry. It provides an overview and assessment of the technology, including the principles and operation of PV devices, prospects for printed PV, as well as materials used and their properties (Chapters 2, 3 and 4), and compares various
printing processes including flexography, inkjet and screen printing (Chapter 5).
Developing and commercial applications - including building-integrated power generation, consumer electronics, military, packaging and solar chargers - are discussed in Chapter 6.
The market looks promising for printed PV, with 15-20% cell efficiency expected in the foreseeable future. This study also highlights future trends for the use of printed PV technologies (Chapter 7), and profiles PV materials and equipment suppliers along the supply chain (Chapter 8).
This study is based on desk research using published literature (see references section), supplier websites, various news resources, and discussions with industry experts.