Global well known energy agencies around the world have continuously underestimated and talked down the growth rates of photovoltaic throughout the last decade. On the other hand is photovoltaic often praised by green activists and populist speeches of all political parties as the hope for fighting against climate change. This thesis provides information on the actual limits of large scale photovoltaic roll out in the times of grid parity. It identifies industrial bottlenecks for further PV growth in the era of a general economic viability that doesn`t anymore rely on governmental support schemes. An introduction and evaluation of the complete supply chain from silicon feedstock to module production is followed by a scenario considering the pure demand side to identify the absolute theoretical maximum.

Stefan Schönegger completed his studies in electronic engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum-Wien and holds a master degree for renewable energy from the Vienna University of Technology.He is heading a business unit in the field of industrial automation.