Last year, world solar cell production reached 1,256 megawatts (MW) or about enough to power more than 1.2 million average American homes during daytime.
That was a 67 percent increase over the 750 MW produced in 2003, according to PHOTON International, a German magazine.
Solar panels are selling in Japan because of high electricity prices, said Colin Murchie, director of legislative affairs at Solar Energy Industries Association in Washington, D.C.
He added that Germany is boosting output because they want to meet Kyoto Protocol goals. Under the international pact that went into force earlier this year most industrialized nations, excluding the United States and Australia which did not sign the pact, must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Utilities and cars mostly produce such gases.
In 2002 the world solar market increased 40 percent.
