News on 2018

News on suppliers, market trends and technology innovations in polysilicon and wafer production is selected, assessed and written for you by Bernreuter Research.

REC Silicon’s fluidized bed reactor polysilicon plant in Moses Lake, Washington with vehicle at night

REC Silicon blames layoffs on trade war – that’s only half the truth

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U.S.-based polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon has blamed the layoff of 100 employees on the trade dispute, but it is more a response to the slump of global demand in the wake of China’s cap on domestic PV installations.

Nexwafe’s pilot production facility for kerfless monocrystalline wafers in Freiburg, Germany

Nexwafe to open 250 MW factory for kerfless mono wafers in 2020

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German start-up Nexwafe, a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, will build a 250 MW factory for epitaxially grown, kerfless monocrystalline n-type wafers in Bitterfeld-Wolfen in eastern Germany.

Judge gavel

Hemlock Semiconductor sues Solargiga over contract breach

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Polysilicon producer Hemlock Semiconductor takes legal action against Wealthy Rise International, an indirect subsidiary of Chinese integrated monocrystalline module maker Solargiga Energy Holdings.

Polysilicon rod grown on tube filament

GTAT’s tube filaments for polysilicon rods debuted at SNEC show

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U.S.-based GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) for the first time showcased polysilicon rods grown on tube filaments at SNEC, the world’s largest solar trade show, in Shanghai in late May.

Monocrystalline silicon ingot for semiconductor use in China

GCL subsidiary: Polysilicon for semiconductors reaches volume

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Jiangsu Xinhua Semiconductor Materials Technology Co., Ltd. says it has reached volume production of electronic-grade polysilicon for the semiconductor industry.

PV system in China

Beijing promises faster launch of quota system for renewables

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The National Development and Reform Commission of China said on June 7 it would accelerate the planned launch of a quota system that would force provinces to buy more power from renewable energy sources.

Jiangsu Zhongneng’s polysilicon plant in Xuzhou, Jiangsu

Shanghai Electric to acquire 51% of GCL’s polysilicon subsidiary

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GCL-Poly has brought Shanghai Electric Group as a major investor on board to support the growth of GCL’s subsidiary Jiangsu Zhongneng, China’s largest polysilicon manufacturer.

polysilicon chunks

China’s PV hard stop could cause polysilicon oversupply in 2018

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The Chinese government’s decision to reduce the approval of new photovoltaic (PV) installations drastically will have a severe impact on the global PV supply chain.

Polysilicon sales contracts of Tongwei

Tongwei inks big polysilicon deal with Zhonghuan Semiconductor

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Chinese Tongwei Group will deliver 70,000 tons of polysilicon to the second-largest manufacturer of monocrystalline wafers, Zhonghuan Semiconductor, from 2018 through 2021.

Polysilicon supply contracts of Longi

Longi signs third big polysilicon supply deal, now with Tongwei

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Leading monocrystalline solar wafer manufacturer Longi has signed a contract with Chinese Tongwei Group for the delivery of 55,000 metric tons of polysilicon between May 2018 and December 2020.