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Globally, PV production has increased 40.0% annually in the last five years to become a market of €9.0 billion. This is a volume of 1,759 MWp of PV modules in 2005. The market is projected to achieve annual sales of 5.3 GWp or €24.0 billion in 2010. An optimistic forecast indicated a possible market size of €40.0 billion in 2010 or 10 GWp of sales. |
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Germany has the largest market in the world for PVs, with reported sales of more than 730 MW in 2005, up from 630 MW in 2004. Japan and the US are second and third, with reported sales of 291 MW and 108 MW in 2004 respectively. |
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| There are more than 70 PV cells manufacturers (30 in 2002) and more than 230 module manufacturers in the world. China is a major producer of solar cells with more than 20 manufacturers. There are at least a further 20 assemblers of solar modules. Taiwan is in the production markets as well with 7 manufacturers. Together, China and Taiwan produced 210 MW in 2005. This is far smaller than Germany. German PV manufacturers produces 530 MW of PV cells per year, with 25% going to overseas markets. To meet the expected growth in the global PV market, manufacturers the world over are increasing their production capacities. Thin-film PV manufacturers like, Miasole, Nanosolar, First Solar, Daystar Technologies, and Unisolar, are reported be adding one GW in production capacity over the few years. SunPower, a crystalline manufacturer, is also reported to be doubling their output within several years. |
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World PV Cell / Module Production |
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