According to the latest report released by IMSResearch, the CPV market will double in 2012, reaching nearly 90MW, with sales reaching 325 million U.S. dollars. In addition, IMSResearch predicts that the installed capacity of this emerging technology will develop rapidly by 2016, with the total installed capacity reaching nearly 1.2GW.
The "2012 Global Concentrator Photovoltaic Market" report released by IMS Research recently pointed out that by 2012, the installed capacity of the concentrator photovoltaic market will reach nearly 90MW, and revenue will increase by more than 60% to US$325 million. The research company predicts that despite strong competition from traditional photovoltaic systems, concentrating photovoltaic systems are still attractive in the target market. JemmaDavies, an analyst at IMSResearch and one of the authors of this report, believes: "Concentrator photovoltaic system suppliers are being forced to continuously cut costs, so that the cost of CPV systems can compete with the rapidly falling photovoltaic system costs. Relatively speaking, concentrators Photovoltaic is still an emerging technology and is facing the issue of its bankability. Despite this, concentrating photovoltaic system suppliers are still making great progress in the US market. It is expected that the market share will reach 13% in 2012 and will reach 13% in 2016. Further increase to 27%."
Although in the long run, the concentrating photovoltaic market will still be a market segment, this report found that the development prospects of concentrating photovoltaics are still very optimistic. By 2016, CPV will be expected to reach 18% of the total installed capacity in high direct normal radiation (DNI, DirectNormal Irradiation) regions suitable for its development (usually regions with DNI higher than 6kWh/m2/day). In 2012, high-power concentrating photovoltaic system (HCPV) is the mainstream of the market. However, it is predicted that the installed capacity of low-power concentrator photovoltaic systems (LCPV) will grow rapidly in the next five years, and will occupy 20% of the concentrator photovoltaic market by 2016. Sam Wilkinson, another author of this report, added: "At present, low-power concentrating photovoltaic system suppliers have not yet entered the market. However, with the presence of well-known companies such as SunPower, the installed capacity will increase significantly in 2013, and these products will eventually occupy the market. A certain market share."
According to the report, the most attractive CPV markets will be the United States, Central America, the Middle East and Africa (especially South Africa). Especially in the southwestern United States, Chile, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and other regions with sufficient sunlight, concentrating photovoltaic systems will show a rapid development trend. It is estimated that by 2016, concentrating photovoltaic systems will occupy 27% of the photovoltaic installation market in these regions.
IMSResearch provided information on more than 30 concentrating photovoltaic system manufacturers in this 2012 report. As of the end of 2011, due to the small size of the market, only the top five manufacturers controlled 90% of the total installed capacity of CPV. Amonix used to be the largest supplier in the concentrating photovoltaic market. However, with the company's closure at the beginning of this year and the entry of new manufacturers, the market competition pattern will undergo major changes. According to the report, manufacturers such as Soitec and SolFocus will gain a larger market share in the concentrating photovoltaic market in 2021.