Major solar panel manufacturers have released their forecasts for 2014 and are predicting increased sales of up to 30% over last year. This article in MarketWatch reports that the top 20 producers are expecting aggressive growth in the number of solar panels being produced and sold.

“The top-20 module suppliers to the PV industry account for two-thirds of global shipments, and they provide the leading indicators of industry growth and pricing trends,” Ray Lian, a senior analyst at NPD Solarbuzz, said in a statement. “Assuming the leading suppliers achieve the forecasted growth rates, end-market demand in 2014 will approach 50 gigawatts.”

While the majority of solar panels are made in China there are 71 recognized manufacturers of solar panels in the US and 243 US companies are Associate members of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing.