Solar energy is fundamental to almost all energy systems. E4tech has capabilities within several different areas of solar energy, in particular relating to novel technologies and applications.

Solar photovoltaics (PV) has been the fastest growing sustainable energy sector over the last decade with an average yearly market growth rate of 35% since 1998. However, PV remains one of the most expensive options for renewable power generation and market development has so far relied on generous government support. The sector continues to drive for significant efficiency increases and cost reduction so that deployment continues to increase.

There are hundreds PV companies offering different technologies and manufacturing processes, ranging from the well established crystalline silicon technologies (so called 1st generation PV), to emerging thin film solar cells (2nd generation PV), through to a whole range of novel technologies (3rd generation PV). Current and future technologies differ from each other in terms of performance (efficiency, flexibility, etc.), cost and cost reduction potential, durability and lifetime, manufacturing process, scale-up potential, supply chain issues, development status, market applications and so on.

At E4tech we have good overall knowledge of the PV sector, and of the respective performance and challenges of the current and future PV technologies. We also have a clear understanding of the impact of the wide range of policies affecting PV deployment, as well as of the market size and segments in which the different technologies could be used. We provide technology, strategy and policy advice with our own team and through a network of experts with deep technology and applications expertise, who can provide insight into specific technical issues.

We serve clients in the following sectors:

• national and regional governments
• industrial chemical and engineering companies
• multilateral institutions
• automotive companies
• financial organisations

We provide these clients with assistance in the following areas:

• strategy and business development
• strategic analysis for PV product introduction
• technology assessment for financial and strategic investors
• supply chain analysis
• global market assessment
• competitor analysis and positioning
• policy analysis and development

E4tech’s recent projects in the photovoltaic sector include:

• We worked with the Carbon Trust to assess the prospects for accelerating the development of new low carbon technologies in the UK, through directing research funding at key challenges, and encouraging collaboration between academia and industry, leading to the establishment of a research acceleration project on advanced photovoltaics.
• We prepared a review of the entire solar sector (PV and solar thermal) for a leading automotive company to help them comprehend the challenges and opportunities of solar energy, and to enable them to identify new opportunities for their business activity.
• We have assessed, for a global industrial company, the potential of solar energy as a means to contribute to the socio-economic development of the African continent.
• We prepared an assessment of thin film and third generation PV technologies for a large financial organization. This included an evaluation of the performance, development status, challenges and issues that each technology is facing, as well as a market assessment for the thin film sector as a whole. Techno-economic benchmarking with classical crystalline silicon PV as well as with other renewable power generation options were also included.
• We examined the potential markets for a novel dye sensitized solar technology company which was aiming to shape its technology programme and to raise further funding. This required a critical analysis of the technology’s current and potential capabilities, leading to a recommendation for the company’s strategic direction.

We examined the potential markets for a novel dye sensitized solar technology company which was aiming to shape its technology programme and to raise further funding. This required a critical analysis of the technology’s current and potential capabilities, leading to a recommendation for the company’s strategic direction.We would be happy to talk to you about your requirements.

Our work in the PV sector is led by François Vuille