Korean display giants including Samsung & LG Electronics will join the global rush to make photovoltaic solar cells starting in 2009, accelerating a cost reduction drive that some say will look like the DRAM market on steroids. Korea could deliver more than US$8BN in solar modules gernating 2.6 Gigawatts by 2013, according to market watcher DisplayBank (Seoul) that sponsored a conference on the topic. "I think you will see a rush to commoditization faster than anything previously seen in electronics," said Martin Mesmer, a former solar industry manager. "We have abundant materials & a process that is rapidly becoming well understood. The differences will be in execution & understanding of the system to reduce costs," he added. As many as 150 companies are pursuing the emerging market for microcrystalline-based thin film solar cells.
