Market research group iSuppli is reporting that worldwide investments
in the production of solar cells will equal those for semiconductor
manufacturing by 2010. Global production is expected to rise from 2007
levels of 3.5 GW to up to 12 GW in that time. Production lines capable of manufacturing 1 MW or more of PV cells will
increase from the 90 to 100 which existed in 2007, to perhaps 400 by
2010. Factories capable of 1 GW of PV production annually also will be established in the future, the report says.