Science and Technology Innovation Board Photovoltaic Industry

How has the solar PV industry evolved in recent years?

The evolution of the solar PV industry so far has been remarkable, with several milestones achieved in recent years in terms of installations (including off-grid), cost reductions and technological advancements, as well as establishment of key solar energy associations (Figure 5).

What is innovation in photovoltaic (PV) technology?

Innovation in performance and manufacturing has propelled photovoltaic (PV) technology from the exception to the norm. The manifestations of innovation are defined as improvements in key technical, economic, and sustainability parameters pertaining to PV modules.

What drives the innovation network dynamics of the photovoltaic industry?

The innovation ability of the actors in the network is one of the driving factors of the innovation network dynamics of the photovoltaic industry. The actors with strong innovation abilities show outstanding performance in innovation resources, internal culture, and management philosophy.

Is the future of solar PV employment bright?

Despite setbacks, there is reason to believe that the future of solar PV employment is nonetheless bright, given the urgency for more ambitious climate and energy transition policies, as well as the expectation that countries are learning important lessons on the design and coherence of policies.

Is solar PV a strategic renewable technology?

This report clearly points out that solar PV is one of the strategic renewable technologies needed to realise the global energy transformation in line with the Paris climate goals. The technology is available now, could be deployed quickly at a large scale and is cost-competitive.

Why is the solar PV panel market so competitive?

The high level of competition in the solar PV panel market, mainly due to the future market demand in and the competitiveness of leading countries, is compounded by the fact that transporting solar energy equipment is less cumbersome than transporting other renewable technologies (such as wind).