Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co Ltd, China's top polysilicon producer, said it has reduced the cost of polysilicon, the main raw material for wafers used in solar and electronics industries, to almost one-quarter of the world's average price, chinanews.com.cn reported Thursday.

The cost in China has dropped to $23.8 a kilogram in September, while the international market price was $90, said Lu Jinbiao, vice-president of the company. He estimated that the photovoltaic (PV) solar batteries will be introduced to ordinary Chinese families in the next three years to five years.

China's current monthly output has hit 1,800 tons and annual productivity will surpass 21,000 tons in 2010, accounting for almost 20 percent of the world's total, the report said.

Lu said that the world is facing an energy shortage, PV power has a prosperous outlook.