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.

Representatives of China-based GCL Group and Egypt’s National Organization for Military Production sign a Memorandum of Understanding

GCL signs MOU for 5 GW solar factory (incl. polysilicon) in Egypt

(comments: 0)

Egypt’s National Organization for Military Production and China-based GCL Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build a 5 GW solar panel factory for $2 billion in Egypt.

Reopening ceremony for Wacker’s U.S. polysilicon plant in Charleston, Tennessee with Dr. Tobias Brandis, Dr. Rudolf Staudigl, Mary Beth Hudson, Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker, and David Wilhoit (from left)

Wacker restarts U.S. polysilicon plant after eight-month halt

(comments: 0)

After investigating the cause of the hydrogen explosion that occurred on September 7, 2017 and repairing the damaged equipment and building, Wacker has restarted production at its U.S. polysilicon plant near Charleston.

Daqo New Energy’s polysilicon plant in Shihezi, Xinjiang

Daqo becomes big polysilicon player with capacity of 70,000 tons

(comments: 0)

Daqo New Energy, the third-largest polysilicon manufacturer in China, has announced it will increase its production capacity by 35,000 metric tons, thus reaching a total capacity of at least 70,000 tons in early 2020.

Headquarters of Yingli Green Energy (Yingli Solar) in Baoding, Hebei province

Yingli Solar is sued by a polysilicon supplier (probably Hemlock)

(comments: 0)

Cash-strapped Chinese integrated solar module producer Yingli Green Energy has announced that one of its polysilicon suppliers has filed a request for arbitration of a US$897.5 million claim against the company.

OCI’s expansion plan for polysilicon production capacity

OCI to expand Malaysian polysilicon plant capacity by 10,000 tons

(comments: 0)

Korean polysilicon producer OCI will revamp the dormant PS-1 plant of its Malaysian subsidiary by the end of 2018, thus expanding its annual production capacity by 10,000 metric tons.

Diamond wire saw with monocrystalline silicon ingot

A look inside the monocrystalline boom on the solar market

(comments: 0)

pv magazine has published a background report on the surge of monocrystalline technology, driven by the two leading Chinese mono wafer manufacturers Longi and Zhonghuan Semiconductor.

Hall with Siemens reactors for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of silicon at Daqo’s polysilicon plant in Shihezi, Xinjiang

Longi secures additional polysilicon through contract with Daqo

(comments: 0)

After closing a supply contract with South Korean polysilicon maker OCI in early February, leading monocrystalline wafer manufacturer Longi has signed a contract with Chinese producer Daqo.

Factory of Solarworld in Arnstadt, Thuringia

Solarworld files for insolvency for the second time in ten months

(comments: 0)

Only seven and a half months after emerging from insolvency proceedings in August 2017, German PV module producer Solarworld Industries GmbH has filed for insolvency again.

Direct wafer process of 1366 Technologies

1366 is further ahead with its direct wafer process than assumed

(comments: 0)

U.S.-based start-up 1366 Technologies has made more progress with its wafers directly formed from molten silicon than it was speculated after the company cancelled a 250 MW factory in upstate New York.

Direct wafer process of 1366 Technologies

GCL-Poly has started research in direct wafers from molten silicon

(comments: 0)

GCL-Poly, the world's largest manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, has initiated research in direct wafer growth from molten silicon.