Research & publications

PHOTON Consulting's widely read solar research reports provide the global PV sector with critical data, research, insight, and forecasting from PHOTON's world renowned consulting and research team. PHOTON Consulting screens more than 1500 companies in the PV sector at every step of the supply chain and models over 800 of those companies. PHOTON's research publications also include detailed cost structures, key benchmarks, analysis and projections for more than 60 key and emerging markets. PHOTON research reports are widely regarded by the PV sector for their accuracy, detail, and straightforward presentation of a complex, important, and evolving sector.

Latest research reports and publications

‘Solar Annual’ series

PHOTON Consulting's Solar Annual series is the most widely read solar research publication by key decision makers at companies across the PV value chain, policy makers and members of the investment community. Solar Annual is the definitive annual solar sector analysis providing 5-year forecasting of supply, demand, price, cost and profit and detailed research and analysis of key and emerging companies at each step of the PV supply chain.

	Solar Annual: Total Eclipse This year‘s report takes a close look at the total eclipse the sector is likely to face in the coming five years, and the companies (including First Solar, Q-Cells, REC, SMA, SolarWorld, SunPower, Suntech) that stand out as bright spots against a darker mid-term outlook. more
	Solar Annual: Four Peaks Solar Annual: Four Peaks is a complex snapshot of a sector in transition. On one side of the picture, the sun is still brightly shining: Solar power companies appear likely to continue their relentless climb in volume (+68% CAGR), revenue (+60% CAGR) and profit (+61% CAGR) from 2007 to 2012. With a strong demand environment… more
	Solar Annual Online Solar Annual Online provides electronic access to quarterly updates of 120+ critical data tables, exhibits and graphs published in PHOTON Consulting's Solar Annual research report series. Solar Annual Online includes key sector trends, data and analysis with continual updates to support your most important decisions. more

‘Solar Power in Focus’ series

	Solar Power Markets: Prepare for Impact Solar Power Markets: Prepare for Impact is the definitive guide to the current state and outlook of global PV installation demand in 13 key global markets. Prepare for Impact also details PHOTON’s market-by-market methodology for evaluating the growth of global PV demand. more
	The True Cost of Solar Power: Race to $1/W The decoupling of solar power prices from their underlying costs hides the low and rapidly falling cost structure of solar power. Today, the true cost of solar power is under 25¢ per kWh in most locations and is likely to reach 10¢ to 15¢ per kWh by 2010. This includes all costs of manufacturing and installing solar power systems from… more

Solar research subscription services

PHOTON Consulting Silicon Price Index (PCSPI) The PHOTON Consulting Silicon Price Index (PCSPI) is a non-tradable, U.S. Dollar denominated market index designed to benchmark global spot and contract prices for high-purity silicon, a critical feedstock for the solar energy industry… more

Magazines & periodicals

PHOTON International Magazine PHOTON International Magazine is the most trusted trade publication in the worldwide PV industry… more