Taiwan's Massive Solar PV Cell Industry Finally gets a Domestic Source of Polysilicon

Taiwan’s Massive Solar Cell Manufacturing Sector based on Crystalline Silicon

Taiwan has a booming Solar Cell Industry based on Crystalline Silicon technology.Motech was the pioneers on the industry in Taiwan and one of the top 10 Solar Cell Makers in 2007 before it ran into profitability problems in 2008 end and 2009 as Prices Crashed.A Number of new Solar Companies have followed Motech into this industry and are currently challenging it for Pole Position.Gintech,Neo Solar,DelSolar are some of biggest Solar Cell Producers in the world now gaining from the worldwide boom in solar demand in 2010.These companies have reported sold out capacities in 2010 and strong profits benefiting from the generous European subsidies for Green Energy.However these companies are vulnerable to demand fluctuations as they lack the vertical integration capabilities of mainland Chinese companies like Trina and Yingli.They also are totally dependent of imports of Polysilicon which forms the main raw material of Solar Cells.With around 3 GW of Solar PV production it can be estimated that around 20,000 tons of Polysilicon will be imported in 2010.Other giants of Taiwan’s industry like TSMC and AUO are also making massive investments into Solar Energy.

Taiwan finally sees first tons of Polysilicon produced domestically

Taiwan government owned CPC has been mulling poly production since 2007.Motech has invested in starting a small poly plant in the USA AE Polysilicon using a novel technology while AUO has invested half a billion dollars into Japanese poly and wafer maker M Setek.However after prices  crashed in 2009,the interest has waned a bit as the $400/kg poly no longer threatens the survival of Taiwan’s solar industry.However with Poly Prices on the rise again,it is good news for the Cell Makers as the first tons of Polysilcon  has started coming out of Taiwan Polysilcon (TPSI) 8000 tons plant.This plant will be ramped up to as high as 28000 tons in the future.Note TPSI is a JV between LED producer Everlight Electronics and Chemicals company Lee Chang Yung Chemical Ind Corp

TPSI successfully produces poly-Si in volume -DigiTimes

Taiwan-based Taiwan Polysilicon (TPSI) has announced it has successfully produced poly-Si in volume, with a planned annual capacity of 8,000MT (metric ton) initially and an ultimate target of up to 28,000MT. Taiwan imported 20,000MT in 2009 and 30,000MT is expected for 2010.