MNS News vFinal DR 27/6/08 12:25 Page 7
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7
Solar powered market on the rise
WORLDWIDE INVESTMENTS in the
production of Photovoltaic (PV) cells will
rise to the same level as those for
semiconductor manufacturing by 2010,
due to booming demand for solar energy,
according to iSuppli Corp.
Global production of PV cells is
expected to rise to as much as 12
Gigawatts (GW) by 2010, up from
3.5GW in 2007. By 2010, as many as
400 production lines in the world that
can produce at least 1 Megawatt (MW)
of PV cells per year will be in place,
representing a four fold increase from
about 90 to 100 production lines in
2007. Factories capable of 1GW of PV
production also will be established in the
future to ensure continued strong delivery
of PV cells to the market.
“The market for PV cells is estimated
to grow by 40 percent annually until 1,000 workers per site, and will generate In a nod towards positive
2010, and 20 percent beyond,” said Dr. annual revenue of $1 billion per year or development, manufacturers affirmed
Henning Wicht, senior director and more, putting them into the size, cost and that PV cell production will become
principal analyst, MEMS and employment range of semiconductor fabs. cheaper in time. PV cell makers Q-Cells
photovoltaics, for iSuppli. “Nearly all “Growth of the PV market is currently AG and REC Group said they expect a
market participants plan to increase their driven by several factors,” Wicht said. reduction in PV system costs by 40
sales by a Compound Annual Growth “While the high price of oil and surging percent from 2006 to 2010. With these
Rate (CAGR) of 40 to 50 percent during energy prices fuel demand for solar cost reductions, many regions throughout
the next few years.” power in the short term, demand will be the world will soon reach grid parity.
Wicht noted that heavy investments no less in the years to come. Projections PV grid parity is expected beginning
will be required to finance the expansion show the world will need three to four 2012 in nations where sunshine is
of PV cell production. Each PV factory times more electrical power over the next plentiful and constant, and 2018 in areas
will require an investment of $500 50 years to support continued growth in of the world with adequate or medium
million and more, will employ as many as population and economic output.” sun exposure as their norm.
SOI gets a boost
THE TERM THICK SOI refers to a MEMS related activities are expected to SUMCO. Asia supplies about 75% of all
semiconductor substrate with an active, drive more than 300,000 6” thick-SOI thick SOI wafers, while consuming in
single crystal silicon layer and its substrates in 2012. between 40% and 50% of the worldwide
thickness exceeds 1nm. It lies on a Power electronics was the first sector wafer volume in MEMS and Power
buried oxide which is set on top of a with a need for thick SOI. This Electronics. Due to its involvement in
silicon wafer carrier. This structure is technology was developed to design and both sectors, namely MEMS and Power
widely used in MEMS and in power manufacture some of the plasma TV electronics, DENSO still leads the pack
device electronics. (PDP) drivers ICs. As a result, the very of the TOP 25 thick SOI users, with
In 2007, thick SOI substrates high market penetration of plasma STM, NEC and Fuji following fairly
accounted for a $72M market, technology in large flat panel displays closely behind. The largest pure MEMS
representing approximately 380,000 led to very rapid ramp up in this player is the Swedish company Silex
6”(equiv.) wafer units. MEMS currently segment. In 2006, about 200,000 6” Microsystems. In 2011, the $100M
accounts for 38% of this market, and is thick SOI wafers were processed. mark will be reached for substrates, and
expected to exceed 45% by 2012. The That being said, competition from 10% CAGR is forecasted until 2012.
other outlet for these products is the LCD technology is currently reversing This report provides a unique
power semiconductor industry. this trend: whereas the CAGR of thick description on the thick SOI material
MEMS business is boosting thick SOI SOI PDP related business was routinely business in a single package. It
demand, thanks to the market dynamics above 25% in the past years, annual highlights the main metrics and the key
of products such as accelerometers and growth is forecasted to be only 6% after market trends that will help material and
gyroscopes, which are now widely used in 2008 due to competition. equipment vendors to position their R&D
numerous consumer products such as cell The leading company in the thick SOI efforts and anticipate the changes and
phones, game pads, and cameras. wafer business is still SEH, followed by forecasted evolution of their business.
July 2008
www.micronanosystems.info
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