Building-integrated organic solar cell market to reach $430 million by 2013

Sara Ver-Bruggen - 27 Nov 2009

The market for building-integrated solar panels based on organic solar cell technology will be worth some $430 million by 2013, according to the global analyst firm Frost & Sullivan.

The building-integrated PV market - where solar panels are integrated into windows, roof tiles and panels, facades, awnings and other construction components -is a niche one with great potential.

According to the forecasts, by 2013 the global building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market will have an installed capacity of 10.5GWp, just under half of which will be generated by Europe.

Worth about $1.5 million today, the market is supplied mainly by inorganic thin-film and other silicon technologies.

But several cooperative projects, partnerships and investments between OPV developers and suppliers to the construction industry that are taking place now should ensure that organic solar cell technologies, based on organic, polymer and dye solar cell chemistries, can exploit the potential of the BIPV over the coming years.

Some of these include Konarka and Arch Aluminum & Glass in the US, Heliatek, BASF and Bosch in Germany and Dyesol and Tata Steel-owned Corus Colors in the UK.

But, the emerging OPV industry will face tough challenges in competing with thin-film and other silicon technologies in BIPV, especially as these technologies will achieve higher efficiency rates. The market for silicon and inorganics in BIPV will account for $2 billion in 2013, according to Pira International forecasts.

However, OPV technologies have several specific attributes which should appeal to both architects and construction firms. These include the potential to make OPVs in other colours apart from red and brown, such as green and blue, opening up applications in windows for large modern office buildings. Because the cells can be deposited and coated on flexible substrates such as steel and plastic films they can be light and flexible enough to be used in unique, challenging forms and structures.