PHOTON International The Photovoltaic Magazine

Solar cell production increases significantly in 2002

The PV industry has continued to soar in 2002. Judging by responses from the leading manufacturers to PHOTON International's annual market survey on solar cell production, we estimate a minimum total production of 540 MW in 2002 – a 35 percent growth compared to 2001, when 401.4 MW was produced.

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As in previous years, in 2002 the world's largest cell manufacturer was Sharp Corporation from Japan.

As in previous years, the largest cell manufacturer was Sharp Corporation from Japan, which reported an impressive 66 percent growth rate from 74 MW in 2001 to 123.1 MW in 2002. BP Solar followed at a distant second with 66.8 MW, a 23 percent increase over the previous year. Kyocera, with which it fought a neck-and-neck battle in 2001 for the second spot, was only able to increase its production to 60 MW. While the growth of most companies was rather modest compared to Sharp, one top ten company even outdid the leader: Sanyo increased cell production nearly 88 percent to 30 MW, which catapulted it from rank 8 to 5 – the only company to improve its position among the top ten cell manufacturers.

The complete survey with background information on companies, a break-down on production by country and cell technology, and an outlook for 2003 will be published in the print edition of PHOTON International in March.