Finlay Colville

Head of Research, PV-Tech & Solar Media, Ltd.

Dr. Finlay Colville has been Head of Research at PV-Tech and Solar Media Ltd since 2015. Before this, he spent 5 years as VP and head of solar at market research firm NPD Solarbuzz, and 10 years in various sales and marketing roles at Coherent, Inc. Dr. Colville holds a BSc in Physics from the University of Glasgow and a PhD in nonlinear photonics from the University of St. Andrews.

FIGURE 1. The solar photovoltaic industry has now moved into the 100 GW-plus era, with 140–150 GW of new capacity expected to be installed during 2020.

Executive Forum

Monocrystalline cells dominate solar photovoltaic industry, but technology roadmap is far from certain

Finlay Colville

Nov. 17, 2020

Solar photovoltaic panels double in power, as wafers and cells move to larger size formats.

FIGURE 1. Annual solar PV capacity installed each year has seen strong growth in recent years, with forecasts exceeding 60 GW during 2016.

Detectors & Imaging

Market Insights: Rear-side passivation layers provide laser suppliers with first real opportunity in solar industry

Finlay Colville

Feb. 1, 2016

Historically, the relationship between the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry and laser-based equipment suppliers has been in start-stop mode.

FIGURE 1. Photovoltaic (PV) equipment spending (including c-Si ingot-to-module stages and thin-film technology) is currently going through a prolonged downturn caused by excessive capacity additions during 2009 to 2011, as detailed in the NPD Solarbuzz 'PV Equipment Quarterly, April 2013.

Detectors & Imaging

PHOTONICS APPLIED: RENEWABLE ENERGY: Overcapacity stifles solar PV equipment suppliers

Finlay Colville

May 1, 2013

The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry continued to grow in 2012, reaching 29 GW of PV demand. However, massive overcapacity and oversupply impacted PV manufacturers (especially...