Researchers at IHS Technology expect solar supply chain revenue to increase by as much as 24 percent in the second half of the year as installation volumes surge globally.

Supply chain revenues in the first half of the year reached a combined $23.1bn, but IHS expect that figure to rise to $28.7bn in the second half of 2014 as revenues for PV polysilicon, wafer, cell and module increases enjoy the fruits of increased installations.

Year-on-year, supply chain revenues were up 1 percent for the first half of 2014 when compared to the same January-June period last year, and IHS expects the year to finish some 36 percent up on last year, with the wafer sector enjoying a 35 percent expansion, cells growing by 18 percent and modules up by 17 percent.

"PV solar installations have been decelerating in the first half of 2014 because of a slow start to the year in China," said IHS PV analyst Jessica Jin. "However, installations are expected to gain major momentum in the second half, mainly driven by increases in China, Japan, the U.S. and the U.K. Double-digit growth in these countries will more than offset major declines in once-hot markets like Germany, Italy and Greece, resulting in a 24 percent global increase in MW installed for the year."

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