By as early as 2010, solar electricity in some parts of the world could cost no more than that from conventional power stations. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association is reckoning on annual growth of up to 40% in the next two years. And unit costs fall as production volumes increase.

Prof. Eicke Weber, head of the Fraunhofer Institute of solar-energy systems in Freiburg, Germany, is convinced: “What we see today is the embryo of the photovoltaics market in 20 years. Its worth will rapidly grow to several hundred billion euros and outstrip the traditional semiconductor market and even the automotive industry.”

Germany is the world leader, with a 48% market share. The German government’s “renewable energy” law has led to falling production costs. As a result, analysts predict good growth prospects for German solar-power companies. They enjoy both a technological lead and an assured home market, giving them an advantage over companies in China, for example, where there is little domestic demand to fall back on.

For the next ten to twenty years, the key element for the booming photovoltaic industry will continue to be crystalline silicon. Currently, around 90% of the market is based on this material, for which WACKER POLYSILICON is the world’s second largest producer.

This division is also continually expanding its production capacity. “WACKER is investing roughly a billion euros in its Burghausen site to increase annual polysilicon capacity to over 22,000 metric tons by 2010,” explains Dr. Erich Dornberger, head of Applications Technology at WACKER POLYSILICON.

That’s also a significant contribution to countering global warming. After all, “each ton of polysilicon placed into service in 2010 will save about 6,000 tons of CO²over the life of a photovoltaic system,” he adds.