Good Overview from EE Times

Under the Hood: The next gold rush: solar power from EE Times.

Summary:

• Efficiency is interesting III-V Groups or multijunction concentrators have 40+ percent efficiencies (and are super expensive). Bulk-silicon solar cells are around 22 percent. Thin Film is at 18% including Cadmium Telluride and CIGS.
• Bulk-silicon is about 94 percent of the current global production.
• Global production has grown by 50 percent every year for the past five years.
• Revenue last year was $13 Billion for 2007, up from $10 Billion in 2006.
• The US is not a significant producer of solar cells.
• The US has the highest chance of coming out with a disruptive technology.
• Japan currently produces 50% of the world's solar cells.
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