Solar businesses were wall-to-wall at last week's Solar Power International business-to-business conference as attendance increased significantly from the year before.

A record 1,100 exhibitors saw more than 27,000 registered visitors pass in and out of three exhibit halls. Only two halls were used last year.

The three-day event that ended October 14 demonstrated what was new in the solar industry. It was free and open to the public.

Event organizers were challenged at this year's event by having to find a facility that offered enough space. On top of having to accommodate even more companies and guests, they also had to provide for companies that wanted to showcase their products. Also, private meeting rooms and spaces provided by event organizers were very quickly snapped up for this year's event.

The solar industry has been growing by leaps and bounds. One analyst said almost 100,000 new jobs in the solar industry had been created during the first three quarters of 2010.