http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/global-solar-production--707.htmlToday's Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Global Solar Production 'Surprisingly Strong'
Global manufacturers increased production of solar cells by more than 50 percent last year, exceeding expectations as more silicon and thin-film solar came online.
by: Jennifer Kho
Bullet Arrow March 18, 2008
Global solar-cell production grew 50.9 percent in 2007, reaching 3.7 gigawatts,
Prometheus Institute President Travis Bradford said at a
Greentech Media conference Monday.
The availability of more solar silicon than expected drove the "surprisingly strong" growth, he said at the Solar Finance & Forecast event.
According to the Prometheus Institute, producers had the capacity to make 30,075 tons of solar silicon, or enough to manufacture 2.71 gigawatts worth of solar panels, in 2007. That’s an increase from about 23,000 tons, which can make enough solar panels to produce up to 1.89 gigawatts of power, in 2006.
In November, the institute offered a lower
that predicted silicon makers would have the capacity to make 27,069 metric tons of silicon in 2007.
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