Chemicals and materials for solar growing larger than for semiconductor market

Dr. Robert N. Castellano, The Information Network

NEW TRIPOLI, USA: According to recent analysis from The Information Network, detailed in our latest report “Markets and Strategies for Chemical and Material Suppliers in Niche Markets”, the solar sector was pegged at $2.5 billion in 2009, exclusive of Si wafers.

By way of comparison, the chemical and material market for semiconductors was $5.1 billion, according to our reports “Chemicals and Materials for Sub-100 nm IC Manufacturing”, and “CMP Technology: Competition, Products, Markets”.

Fast forward to 2012, and the market for solar chemicals and materials will more than double, reaching $5.6 billion. In contrast, the market for the semiconductor sector will only grow to $8.2 billion.

The silicon substrate is another matter. In 2009, 22,282 metric tons of polysilicon were used to make semiconductor wafers while 82,653 metric tons were used to make solar wafers, according to our report “Opportunities in the Solar Market for Crystalline and Thin Film Solar Cells”.

The value of the silicon wafers for semiconductors was $6.7 billion. The value of silicon wafers for solar was $3.7 billion.

Clearly, solar is the place to be, not only for solar manufacturers, but for the entire food chain.