TrendForce: Trend towards high-efficiency solar PV supported by growth of rooftop PV market

TrendForce's (Taipei City, Taiwan) EnergyTrend division has published a new analysis which notes a trend towards high-efficiency solar photovoltaic (PV) products, driven by steady growth in rooftop PV markets in Europe, North America and Japan.

The company estimates that diversified residential PV installations are likely to represent more than 50% of the global market in 2015. It also finds that users in this market pay more attention to power rating as they are seeking to replace conventional power with PV.

Minimum price agreement to put pressure on low-cost Chinese PV makers

EnergyTrend cites First Solar's (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) acquisition of high-efficiency silicon PV maker TetraSun (San Jose, California, U.S.), but also notes that companies in the PV cell, module, equipment and materials industries are increasingly releasing high-efficiency products.

The company further finds that the minimum price set as part of the Price Undertaking between the EU and China will put pressure on Chinese PV makers that specialize in cost as their main selling point.