Thin Films in Energy Applications a $4 Billion Market
According to "The Global Market for Thin Films in Energy Applications" from BCC Research, this market is expect to grow to about $3.9 billion in 2013. The compound annual growth rate is 23.5 percent.
The market for thin films in energy applications was worth $1.1 billion in 2007. This is expected to increase to $1.4 billion in 2008.
The market is divided into application segments for photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, geothermal energy, nuclear energy, batteries, and fuel cells. Of these, the photovoltaics segment has the largest share of the market, with $916.4 million in revenues in 2007. This is slated to increase to $1.2 billion in 2008 and more than $3.3 billion in 2013.
Thin films for fuel cell applications are the second largest segment, with sales exceeding $82 million in 2007. This should increase to $98.7 million in 2008 and $301.0 million in 2013.
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 over $98 million in 2013.
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.
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.
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 $5.3 million in 2013.