GCL-Poly to increase cast mono wafer capacity to 15 GW by 2020

Leading China-based polysilicon and wafer manufacturer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings will ramp up its production capacity for cast mono (quasi-monocrystalline) ingots and wafers to 12 GW by the fourth quarter of 2019, the company announced at the presentation of its 2018 annual results on March 29.

According to Chinese media, GCL is planning to reach a cast mono capacity of 15 GW in the first quarter of 2020.

Cast mono ingots are produced like their multicrystalline counterparts through directional solidification of liquid silicon in a crucible, but by using monocrystalline seeds on the bottom.

The approach promises to combine the lower cost of multi-casting with the higher efficiency of monocrystalline cells. Reaching a high monocrystalline ingot yield has long been a challenge; GCL claims it has achieved a mono yield of 99%.

Besides the lower costs compared to monocrystalline ingots from the standard Czochralski process, the cast-mono approach also allows larger wafer sizes and solar modules with less light-induced degradation (LID), due to lower oxygen content.