investment money is pouring in, production lines are humming and expanding, the silicon shortage is being addressed, and the long-fought challenge of bringing solar to scale (the title of a 2002 clean edge report) is finally showing real hope. last month, red-hot chinese solar wafer supplier ldk solar (whose second-quarter revenue grew 700%) announced manufacturing expansions that would raise its production capacity above 1,600 megawatts (mw) by the end of 2009. german solar cell producer ersol solar energy just inked a contract for 1 billion euros to supply germany pv module company solon ag for 11 years.