TAIPEI, Nov 27, 2007 (AFP) - The Taiwanese government Tuesday forecast massive growth in its solar energy industry, expecting its total value to be worth 403.1 billion Taiwan dollars (12.5 billion US) in 2015, compared with 21.1 billion dollars in 2006.

By 2015 Taiwan should account for seven percent of the world's production of solar power generation equipment, compared with two percent in 2006, said the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, quoting the Bureau of Energy at the economics ministry.

To promote the industry the government will assist in establishing a complete industrial chain for solar energy, ranging from upstream production of silicon materials and crystals, through midstream photovoltaic modules and batteries, to downstream photovoltaic system applications.

The ministry has designated solar energy as a strategic industry, the trade council said.