Market Report: Thin No More

A report from BCC Research of Wellesley, Mass., USA, predicts that the global market for thin films in energy applications – worth $1.1 billion in 2007 – is expected to increase to $1.4 billion in 2008 and to $3.9 billion in 2013, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.5 per cent.

The market is divided into application segments for photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, geothermal and nuclear energy, batteries and fuel cells. Of these, the photovoltaics segment has the largest share, with $916.4 million in revenues in 2007. This is slated to increase to $1.16 billion in 2008 and to more than $3.3 billion in 2013, a CAGR of 23.6 per cent.

Thin films for fuel cell applications are the second largest segment, with sales exceeding $82 million in 2007. This is expected to increase to $98.7 million in 2008 and to $301 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 25 per cent.

Thin films for batteries have the third largest share of the market, worth $36 million in 2007 and an estimated $39.2 million in 2008. This segment should reach $98.1 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 20.1 per cent.

Applications in nuclear energy are expected to see the slowest growth of any segment. Revenues in 2007 exceeded $25 million and are expected to increase only slightly in 2008. This segment should reach $33.1 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 5 per cent.

Concentrating solar power applications are expected to see the most robust growth of any segment. Sales for thin films in this segment generated $14.7 million in 2007 and an estimated $23.4 million in 2008. This is expected to reach $93 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 31.8 per cent.

Thin films for geothermal applications have the smallest share of the market, worth $2.7 million in 2007. This is expected to increase to $3 million in 2008 and to $5.3 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 20.1 percent.