News on plant

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

Hydrogen explosion at Wacker’s U.S. polysilicon plant in Charleston, Tennessee

Faulty piston caused explosion at Wacker’s U.S. polysilicon plant

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According to the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a faulty piston in a hydrogen compressor has caused the explosion at Wacker’s U.S. polysilicon plant. 

Xinte Energy’s polysilicon plant in Urumqi, Xinjiang with sunflowers in the foreground

Xinte to expand capacity of its polysilicon plant by 36,000 tons

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The massive expansion wave in the Chinese polysilicon industry continues: Xinte Energy, China’s second-largest polysilicon manufacturer, will expand the capacity of its existing plant in Xinjiang by 36,000 metric tons.

REC Silicon’s Q4 2017 update on FBR joint venture in Yulin

REC Silicon’s FBR joint venture is late, expects 8,000 tons in 2018

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After starting to ramp up in December 2017, TianREC, the Chinese joint venture of U.S. polysilicon producer REC Silicon with Shaanxi Non-Ferrous Tianhong New Energy, is now planning to reach its full capacity by the end of 2018.

OCI’s polysilicon production capacity expansion

OCI bags two big polysilicon contracts, but expansion still unclear

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South Korean polysilicon producer OCI has signed two big supply contracts with Longi and JinkoSolar, respectively, but has not yet decided about expanding its second plant in Malaysia.

OCI’s polysilicon capacity and cost roadmap

OCI mulls 25,000-ton expansion for polysilicon plant in Malaysia

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South Korean OCI Company, the world’s third-largest polysilicon producer, has announced that it considers expanding the capacity of its polysilicon plant in Malaysia by 20,000 to 25,000 metric tons.

REC Silicon’s Q3 2017 update on FBR joint venture in Yulin

REC Silicon affirms production start of Chinese joint venture in Q4

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REC Silicon has affirmed that TianREC, its joint venture with Shaanxi Non-Ferrous Tianhong New Energy Co., Ltd., will start up production of (mono)silane and granular polysilicon as planned in the fourth quarter.

Key data of Feroglobe’s UMG silicon plant in Puertollano, Spain

Ferroglobe to build plant for upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon

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Silicon metal producer Ferroglobe has announced it will build a 1,400-ton plant in Puertollano in the Spanish province of Ciudad Real to supply the solar industry with upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon.

REC Silicon’s silane/polysilicon plant in Butte, Montana

REC Silicon curtails production of solar-grade polysilicon in Butte

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U.S.-based manufacturer REC Silicon has curtailed production of solar-grade polysilicon at its facility in Butte, Montana and will focus on electronic grade for the semiconductor industry there.

Charleston residents protest against Wacker’s communication policy after hydrogen explosion at its polysilicon plant

Wacker: U.S. polysilicon plant shutdown will take several months

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After a hydrogen explosion has damaged its U.S. polysilicon plant, Wacker expects it will take several months until the plant is restarted. The company’s communication policy has sparked harsh criticism in the local community.

Vapor plume containing traces of hydrochloric acid after explosion at Wacker’s U.S. polysilicon plant in Charleston, Tennessee

Wacker’s U.S. polysilicon plant temporarily closed after explosion

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Chlorosilane escaped from two leaks after an explosion at Wacker’s polysilicon plant near Charleston, Tennessee (USA) on September 7. Production has been suspended until the cause of the explosion is found.