Demand for photovoltaic panels in the U.S. will reach a record 4.3 gigawatts of capacity in 2013, nearly 20% higher than in 2012, according to Solarbuzz, a market research company.

“Solar PV demand from the U.S. market now contributes over 12% of annual global demand, compared to just 5% three years ago,” the firm’s quarterly market report said.

Large, utility-sized projects will account for a majority of the demand, a result of state mandates for renewable energy production, according to Solarbuzz analyst Chris Sunsong. “Meanwhile,” he adds, “residential demand is being driven by new third-party ownership models that allow homeowners and businesses to install PV system with minimal upfront commitments.”

California shows the most demand, by far, followed by Arizona, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Hawaii. “Just nine states will account for more than 85% of all U.S. solar PV demand in 2013,” Solarbuzz says.