VEND Consulting GmbH regularly analyzes the current trends and developments in the photovoltaic industry. The current study, published in the beginning of 2010, surveyed 113 companies of the areas of production, trade and service providers in the photovoltaic sector. Besides market related challenges, the study focused on product related problem areas. Before the study, possible problem areas were identified with experts and evaluated by respondents during the study.
Dirt sensitivity, wind sensitivity, snow, delamination, overheating/heat accumulation, freeze damage and microfractures were identified as relevant problem areas. These have been evaluated on a 6-scale from ‘totally agree’ to ‘totally disagree’. A comparative analysis demonstrates disagreement amongst respondents concerning dirt sensitivity, wind sensitivity, snow and freeze damage. They do lean towards not seeing those areas as problematic. This might be because experienced data is missing. So far, occurring product problems are, with some few exceptions, not discussed in public. This is comprehensible, as emerging problems can damage the whole sector. In contrast, delamination, overheating/heat accumulation and microfractures are seen as urgent problem areas. Especially, concerning microfractures, the picture is clear. 44% of respondents evaluate those as critical and only 12% do not see any bigger problems.
In comparison to the results of 2008, the relevance of product problems is evaluated as less important. ‘Although, with the difficult economic situation, other problems are at the centre of attention at the time of the survey, the results indicate the solar industry is dealing intensively with technological problems and works continuously to develop better product solutions’, says Oliver Vollrath, consultant at VEND consulting.
A comprehensive quality policy is becoming increasingly important due to the pointing markets and changing political frameworks. The young sector faces the challenge of looking into problem areas critically and incorporating the obtained experience in research and development of products.