Billion silicon-disc markets in solar cells

The generation of solar power is estimated to increase ten times higher than it is at present. The nominal power is estimated to be 150 MW by the year 2010. The capacity of a solar cell (100 cm2; efficiency 15%) is 1.5W under good illumination conditions. So the growth estimate, given by the Swiss Saras Bank, requires the processing of over one billion silicon discs in ten years to pn-junction solar cells. The researches, carried out at Helsinki University of Technology and VTT Electronics are presented in the article