When the 10-megawatt Bavaria Solarpark began opera­tions at three German sites in 2004--with 62 acres of silicon panels able to power several thousand homes on sunny days--it was one of the largest photovoltaic plants in the world. Now, bolstered by high energy prices and government incentives, a new crop of photovoltaic power plants--including one that might produce 10 times as much electricity (see table below)--are planned around the world. The market for solar cells is doubling every 18 to 24 months, says Michael Rogol, a solar-industry consultant. While thin-film solar technology is lighter--good for rooftop applications where weight is an issue--larger solar-power installations tend to use silicon­-based technologies, which require less acreage and wiring for a given electrical output.

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