Cost Pressure in the Wafer and Silicon Sector

Photovoltaics Silicon and Wafer producers

Cost pressure in the wafer and silicon sector

SolarWorld has shown The last year was not easy for the wafer and silicon manufacturers. that good timing is everything with the Both saw the prices for their products dip and are now feeling the expansion of its wafer consequences. However, while the silicon prices continue at low production. Photo: SolarWorld levels, the prices for wafers have been regaining strength since the beginning of 2010. In the silicon sector, the number of manufacturers has remained constant. Newcomers are now pushing onto the market in the wafer industry.

irst warnings of the plummeting silicon prices not be adjusted overnight, which is another impor were already given by us in October 2008”, re tant factor. It takes about three years for an estab Fcalls Henning Wicht, Principal Analyst of market lished and experienced silicon producer to build a researcher iSuppli. And indeed, the market had devel new production facility with a capacity of between oped into that direction. During the bottlenecks, the 3,000 and 5,000 tons. Module manufacturers can re spot market price for polysilicon ranged at US$ 400 act much quicker and will start a new production line (€ 312) per kg. Meanwhile, “the price has dropped to from scratch in shortest time. “Construction for a US$ 60”. However, in the analyst’s opinion, the PV smaller production line will take about half a year, in market will not have to fear further bottlenecks in the the case of a large-scale facility perhaps one year. The silicon supply for now. “We are currently experienc different conditions under which capacities have to ing a phase of oversupply, which will reach its peak be expanded make the emergence of new bottlenecks by the second half of 2010 and into 2011”, says possible, of course. But I don’t see why this would Wicht. Estimations are that the silicon prices will con happen now”, says Wicht. tinue to fall and then slightly rise again by 2013. “I expect that the price will be around US$ 36 per kg Difficult situation for emerging by 2014”, says Witch. The situation beyond 2014 is silicon producers hard to foretell, he adds. “It’s almost impossible to make a prediction as long as the downstream seg If one takes a closer look at the participants of the sil ments continue their rapid growth in the double-digit icon market, the situation has changed very much in range.” Capacities in the silicon and wafer sector can the course of the last two years, says Wicht. “Before,

122 Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010

Photovoltaics Silicon and Wafer producers

comers on the silicon market are simply well- positioned, says Wicht. One such example is Yingli. The company recently announced the inauguration of a production facility by the group’s polysilicon maker Fine Silicon Co., Ltd. The ramp-up phase is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The facility has a targeted annual silicon production capacity of 3,000 tons. “With Fine Silicon’s new production line, Yingli has become one of the few PV manufacturers world wide that follow a fully-integrated business model with production processes covering all stages from the manufacturing of polysilicon up to the module”, says Liansheng Miao, founder and CEO of Yingli. Surprising approach

Wicht divides the silicon manufacturers into three groups. The first contains the six major players, all of which have a firm foothold on the market. Namely, these companies are Hemlock Semiconductor, REC Silicon production Wacker, REC Silicon, MEMC Electronic Materials, plant at Moses Lake six silicon manufacturers used to share the entire Tokuyama and LDK Solar. “The second group com Photo: REC market. Now, their number is close to ninety.” Many prises companies with the potential to become seri of these companies were planned and established ous competitors on the market but that still show def during the silicon shortages, which had led to high icits, for example, in the area of quality management. prices and corresponding profits. “But at least 70 of In this group, we find companies such as OCICompany these emerging companies will sooner or later disap or GCL Solar. Meanwhile, however, OCI almost falls pear from the scene again”, he says. “Either their into the first group.” The third group concerns all products will fail to meet the quality requirements or newcomers. In the opinion of Wicht, the future silicon they will run out of money to survive in the new mar market will continue to be dominated by the major ket environment. The first companies have already players. But each of them follows a quite unique ap run out of business.” Others will survive only because proach. “Hemlock and Wacker are still by far the larg of a takeover by financially stronger players. One ex est silicon producers”, says Wicht. “Even in the cur ample is Tianwei New Energy Holdings’ acquisition of rent phase of oversupply, these two companies have the majority shares of silicon producer Hoku. Dustin been able to realize their announced capacity build Shindo, Chairman and CEO of Hoku, says: “This trans ing. Of course, this has been a major surprise. But as action is expected to alleviate the financing challeng we know now, these players have chosen exactly the es we have experienced during these difficult macro right strategy.” After the prices plummeted, the cus economic times, allowing us to focus on execution in tomers have become very particular about the prod all areas of our business.” ucts. Seeing that the first group offers first class sili China-based Tianwei is a state-owned solar com con, almost all of the customers now want to buy from pany that not only financed the construction of Hoku’s these six companies – “with the result that the pro silicon factory in Idaho but also took care of some duction capacities of Hemlock, Wacker and the other of the manufacturer’s debts in the range of companies in the group are now almost fully exhaust US$ 100 million and other problems. Some new ed”, says Wicht.

Top 10 of the silicon suppliers

Top 10 silicon suppliers 2009 Production capacity Top 10 silicon suppliers 2010 Production capacity (as of 2010) 2009 [tons] 1Q 2010 [tons] Hemlock Semiconductor Group 27,500.00 Hemlock Semiconductor Group 36,000.00 Wacker 18,100.00 OCI Company (DC Chemical) 26,500.00 GCL Solar 18,000.00 Wacker 24,000.00 OCI Company (formerly DC Chemical) 16,500.00 GCL Solar 21,000.00 REC Silicon 13,000.00 REC Silicon 17,000.00 MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. 10,000.00 LDK 15,000.00 Tokuyama Corp. 8,200.00 MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. 12,500.00 LDK 6,000.00 Tokuyama Corp. 8,200.00 KCC Corp. 6,000.00 M.Setek Co. Ltd. 8,000.00 M. Setek 5,000.00 AE Polysilicon Corp. 7,200.00 Total 128,300.00 175,400.00

Data: iSuppli

124 Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 Their higher capacities have also allowed cutting Capacity and expected production of silicon suppliers the costs. Manufacturers like REC or Hemlock say that they can produce solar polysilicon at about US$ 40 Company Capacity 2009 [tons] Expected production 2010 [tons] per kg. At the beginning of July, Wacker announced Hemlock Semiconductor Group 27,500.00 27,400.00 the acquisition of Norway-based FESIL Group’s Wacker 18,000.00 23,500.00 silicon-metal production in Holla to have been signed. OCI Company 8,450.00 14,300.00 Holla Metall’s production capacity for silicon-metal GCL Solar 7,270.00 12,600.00 ranges at about 50,000 tons per year, which equals REC Silicon 7,000.00 12,300.00 about one-third of Wacker’s current annual demand. MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. 6,510.00 8,000.00 Last year, Wacker had also bought premises for the Tokuyama Corp. 6,160.00 7,200.00 construction of a new facility in Tennessee. The loca Mitsubishi Materials 3,000.00 3,700.00 tion will involve an investment of US$ 1 billion, says M. Setek 2,000.00 3,900.00 Chongqing Daqo New Energy Co., Ltd. the company. With this, the Germany-based manu 1,500.00 1,500.00 (Sailing New Energy Resources) facturer will have its first production facility in the Total 87,390.00 114,400.00 dollar area. By the end of 2011, Wacker plans to raise Data: iSuppli its capacities to a total of 35,500 tons per year. Com petitor Hemlock announced an expansion to even price collapse, it has become unlikely that new solar 60,000 tons by 2012. The company expects to en companies will enter the market with the aim of ver large its plant in the US state Michigan and is also es tical integration, says Wicht. “Establishing a produc tablishing a new production in Tennessee. tion location with a capacity of 3,000 to 5,000 tons costs about half a billion euros, and producing sili Close to the heels con asks for substantial expertise.” It’s therefore not profitable to enter the silicon market at the time. Especially, the two “pursuers” of Hemlock and However, investments on other stages of the value Wacker have made headway in 2009. “OCI Company chain can open opportunities, as shows the example and GCL Solar have considerably expanded their ca of MEMC Electronic Materials. Rather than expanding pacities”, says Wicht. In the first quarter of 2010, the its capacities in 2010, MEMC had focused on the market share of these companies has increased by 9 downstream segment with the acquisition of Sun Ed and 10 %, respectively. In the same time, Hemlock ison, in particular, on the installation of PV systems. and Wacker have achieved a market penetration of It’s a part of the value-added chain that can be very 21 % and 19 %, respectively. Meanwhile, OCI and lucrative, but that also relies on completely different GCL have announced their capacities to increase to business processes. “This acquisition will provide a 27,000 and 19,000 tons, respectively, by the end of third engine of growth for MEMC,” says Ahmad the year. Wicht: “This leaves only the question Chatila, CEO of MEMC. “MEMC will now participate in whether these companies will be able to maintain the actual development of solar power plants and the same level of quality.” Wicht’s ranking for posi commercialization of clean energy, in addition to tions six to ten, as regards market shares, is the fol supplying the solar and semiconductor industries lowing: REC Silicon (8 %), MEMC Electronic Materials with our traditional silicon wafer products.” The ac (7 %), Tokuyama (6 %), M.Setek (3 %) Mitsubishi quisition of the wafer manufacturer Solaicx was an Materials (3 %) and LDK Solar (2 %). In view of the nounced by MEMC at the beginning of July.

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AMG -/4,800/-/-

The Silicon PC Crystalox Solar Mine 4,000/-/-/- Prime Solar -/5,000/-/- Joint Solar Silicon -/-/850/- Nitol-Polysilicon 3,800/3,800/-/- PV Crystalox Solar PLC -/-/900/-

Wacker Chemie 18,100/24,000/18,100/23,500 Norsun Active Solar 2,500/2,500/-/- Elkem Norsun Wacker Chemie 5,000/6,000/300/- Norsun 200/-/-/- 18,100/24,000/18,100/- Norwegian Silicon Refinery 600/3,000/-/- 6N Silicon Apollon Solar -/800/-/- Timminco 14,400/-/-/- PV Crystalox Solar PLC Nitol-Polisilicon Sharp -/-/3,500/- Arise Technologies -/-/50/- MEMC Electronic Materials 3,800/3,800/3,700/- Sumitomo REC Silicon 13,000/17,000/7,000/12,300 Silfab 5,000/-/5,000/- 1,300/-/-/- Hemlock Semiconductor Timminco Activ Solar/OJSC Semiconductor 2,500/2,500/-/- Peak Sun Silicon 0/50/-/- 14,400/-/-/- Chisso -/400/-/- Peak Sun Silicon 0/50/-/- 27,500/36,000/20,290/27,400 Silfab 5,000/-/5,000/- Hemlock Semiconductor 6N Silicon -/-/6,000/- Sanyo Solar -/70 MW/-/- Estelux -/4,000/-/- JFE Steel 23,000/28,000/-/- 100/150/-/- Hoku Scientific -/3,500/-/- Instalaciones Pevafersa -/1,500/-/- OCI 16,500/26,500/8,450/14,300 MEMC Electronic Materials 10,000/12,500/6,510/8,000 Siliken 20/1,000/-/- Hankook Silicon -/3,000/-/- M.Setek Buckeye Silicon -/-/25,000/30,000 AE Polysilicon Siliken 20/1,000/-/- KCC 6,000/6,000/-/6,000 RSI Silicon 200/1,000/-/- -/7,200/-/- Innovation Silicon 30/150/-/- 21-Century Silicon -/-/3,000/- Silicium de Provence -/4,500/-/- Woongjin Polysilicon -/5,000/-/- Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Materials Maharishi Solar NS Solar Material -/-/480/- Materials MEMC Electronic Materials Technology 3,300/4,300/ 100/-/-/- Tokuyama 8,200/8,200/6,160/7,200 3,000/3,700 Mitsubishi Hoku Scientific -/4,000/-/- Taiwan Polysilicon -/-/-/5,000 Materials Osaka Titanium World map of the PV industry Technologies Maharishi Solar 1,400/-/-/- Silicon production Technology 100/-/-/- 92 manufacturers in 20 countries Sino-American Silicon M.Setek Products 5,120/-/-/- 5,000/8,000/2,000/3,900 Publisher: Sun & Wind Energy www.sunwindenergy.com

Layout: Eilers-Media China www.eilers-media.de Jiangsu Shunda China Silicon Corporation -/-/-/3,300 2,000/-/-/1,500 Yingly Green Energy 3,200/-/-/- Date: August 2010 Orisi Silicon -/-/-/1,500 Source: manufacturers' information, own research Dalu Polysilicon 2,500/-/-/- Jiaozuo Coal Group Hejing 1,800/-/-/- Changzhou Eging 800/-/-/- Caption Luoyang Zhonggui Jiangyin Jetion Science and Technology 200 MW/-/-/- production site for silicon Silicon High Tech 3,000/-/-/- Zhaoge Riguang New Energy -/-/300/- Jining Kailun PV -/-/-/100 headquarters (figures show total production capacity GCL Solar 18,000/21,000/-/- of the company) Jiangsu Zhongneng 3,000/-/-/- Nanyang Green Silicon 50/500/-/- 50 production capacity at the end of 2009 in tons Nanyang Universal Solar Technology 1,000/1,000/-/- Jiangsu Grand Solar 350/-/-/- 50 production capacity at the end of 2010 in tons Longi Silicon Materials 1,600/-/-/- 50 production of 2009 in tons Ningxia Yinxing Trina Solar 4,400/-/-/- Polycrystalline CSG 2,000/-/-/- 50 expected production of 2010 in tons Silicon 1,000/-/-/200 Niking Technology 500/500/-/500 MW data given in MW instead of tons Renesola 3,000/-/-/- Shaanxi Thianhong Silicon Material -/-/-/1,250 Shanghai Lengguang 2,000/-/-/- If no data are given for a production site data have Jinglong Group 2,600/-/-/- ProPower -/-/-/1,500 Prime Solar 0/5,000/-/- Dalu Polysilicon 2,500/-/-/- only been available cumulated from several sites and Zhejiang Jinxiyuan are given at the headquarters site; if headquarters Jiangyin Jetion Science and Technology 1,600/-/-/- CEEG PV Business 1,500/3,000/-/- Technology 90/-/-/- and production are located at the same site, only Zhong Cai Sience and Technology headquarters are indicated. ET Solar 300/300/-/- 2,000/-/-/- Examples Sichuan Xinguang Leshan Ledian Tianwei Nan'an Sanjing Silicon Silicon-Tech Polysilicon -/-/-/1,500 Refining -/-/3,000/- Wacker Chemie 18,100/24,000/18,100/23,500 3,000/-/-/- Emei Semiconductor Jaco Solarsi 3,000/-/-/- Material -/1,500/-/- The Wacker Chemie headquarters featured a silicon production Liancheng Sangxing Silicon Tech. -/-/500/- capacity of 18,100 tons at the end of 2009 and of 24,000 tons at the LDK 6,000/15,000/-/- end of 2010; actual production was 18,100 tons in 2009 and is LDK CSG 2,000/-/-/- expected to be 23,500 tons in 2010. LDK Kunming Yeyan New Material -/3,000/-/- Yichang CSG Polysilicon 5,000/-/-/1,500 Wacker Chemie 18,100/24,000/18,100/- Jiangxi Silicon 200/-/-/500 The Wacker Chemie production is situated in Germany and featured a silicon production capacity of 18,100 tons at the end of 2009 and Daqo New Energy 3,300/9,300/-/- of 24,000 tons at the end of 2010; actual production was 18,100 Sichuan Yongxiang Polysilicon 4,000/10,000/1,000/- tons in 2009 and no data were given for 2010. Tianwei Sichuan Silicon -/-/-/3,000

126 Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 Germany / The Netherlands

AMG -/4,800/-/-

The Silicon PC Crystalox Solar Mine 4,000/-/-/- Prime Solar -/5,000/-/- Joint Solar Silicon -/-/850/- Nitol-Polysilicon 3,800/3,800/-/- PV Crystalox Solar PLC -/-/900/-

Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 127 Photovoltaics Silicon and Wafer producers

Wafers: good timing is everything quence, the production capacities had remained very limited around the world and wafers soon had Efforts to achieve vertical integration can also be become a scarce product. In particular, the Japa observed on the wafer market with a certain regu nese wafer makers followed a very conservative ap larity. In the first quarter of 2010, GCL Solar an proach, he adds. Some companies even ran out of nounced the inauguration of a wafer production line business, which made the bottleneck more severe. with an annual capacity of 1 GW. The facility will be The major Chinese players had also acted hesitant upgraded to 2 GW by the end of 2010. “With this, ly. For example, China-based LDK Solar, the world’s GCL has achieved a first foothold outside the silicon largest wafer manufacturer, abruptly cancelled the market and its difficult price situation”, says Wicht. planned expansion to 2 GW in the last year, as a re But the wafer market has not been fully untouched action to the difficult economic situation. Only re by the price collapse. “In 2009, the price for a wafer cently, LDK Solar hit the 2 GW mark originally pro halved from US$ 6 to US$ 3. With the beginning of jected for the end of 2009. “As the solar industry the year, the prices have now been slightly recover emerges from a challenging period, we are pleased ing.” They meanwhile range at US$ 3.40 and are ex to grow in capacities to meet the rebound in cus pected to stabilize soon. “The industry has been tomer demand”, says Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and short-sighted in that respect”, criticises Malcolm CEO of LDK Solar. Penn, CEO of the market researcher Future Horizon. However, the recovery of the wafer prices should The reaction to the crisis and the price declines had not be overrated. “It’s not what the real situation been hesitation and low capacity building. In conse looks like”, says John Anderson, Executive Vice

Top 10 of wafer producers

Top 10 wafer producers 2009 Capacity 2009 Top 10 wafer producers 2010 Capacity 1Q 2010 (as of 2010) [MW] [MW] LDK 1,800 LDK 2,000 MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. 1,200 GCL Solar 2,000 (incl. external suppliers) SolarWorld AG 900 REC Group 1,500 REC Group 850 SolarWorld AG 1,300 ReneSola, PRC 825 ReneSola, PRC 1,210 Pillar (incl. Silicio Solar) 740 MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. 1,200 Yingli Green Energy 600 Green Energy Technology (GET) 1,000 Sumco 504 Jinglong Group 1,000 Jinglong Group 500 Nexolon 850 Trina Solar 500 Neo Solar Power 800 Total 8,419 12,860 Data: iSuppli Photo: SolarWorld Photo:

128

Photovoltaics Silicon and Wafer producers Germany / Switzerland / Poland

Conergy 200/200/-/- Prime Solar Cemat Silicon Conergy 200/-/-/- 1.68 m pcs/-/-/- Ersol 280/-/-/-

PV Crystalox 350/-/-/- Sovello 180/180/-/- Q-Cells 60/-/-/- Solar World Ersol 900/1,300/500/930 280/-/-/- Solar World Wacker Schott Solar Deutsche Solar Wacker Schott Deutsche Solar 500/-/-/- REC Group Solar 275/-/-/- Helios Resource Solarion 0.2/0.2/-/0.1 REC Group Wacker Schott Solar Bosch Solar Wafer 300/500/-/- Norsun Bosch Solar Wafer Norsun Telecom-STV REC Group Norsun 1 m pcs/-/-/- Swiss Wafers 145/-/-/- 850/1,500/800/960 200/-/-/- UAB Saulès Helios energija 0.03/-/-/- Resource -/-/12 m pcs/- Pillar incl. Silicio Solar 740/740/260/620 Space Energy Corporation 210/-/-/- Prolog Semicor -/-/0.048 m pcs/- MEMC Solarworld M.Setek 120/-/-/- Sanyo Solar 70/70/-/- Canadian MEMC Solar BP Solar 203/350/-/- Space Energy Corporation Evergreen Solar Kyocera 400/600/-/- Evergreen Solar 108/200/-/- DC Wafers MEMC Electronic Materials 1,200/1,200/720/1,120 45/-/-/- Solar Cells Hellas 60/60/-/- Nexolon 500/850/-/- Solar Cells Hellas 60/60/-/- Semi-Materials 100/200/-/- Sanyo Solar 30/30/-/- MEMC Electronic Materials Sumco Sanyo Solar 100/100/-/- 504/504/-/- Central Electronics 12/-/-/- Wafer World 1.2 m pcs/-/-/- Neo Solar Power 240/800/-/- Motech 160/-/-/- Green Solar 50/-/-/- Green Energy World map of the PV industry Eversol 300/-/-/- Technology 300/1,000/-/- Wafer production 96 manufacturers in 20 countries First Philec Solar -/-/240 m pcs/-

Publisher: Sun & Wind Energy www.sunwindenergy.com Siltronic Samsung Wafer Layout: Eilers-Media 3.6 m pcs/3.6 m pcs/-/- www.eilers-media.de China Glory Silicon Energy 1,500/-/-/- Date: August 2010 Wafer Works/Jinzhou Youhua Grand Solar -/-/100/- Source: manufacturers' information, own research Weinan Ansinese Electronical Tech. -/-/8 m pcs/- TD Solar Shuangli Electronic 0.2 m pcs/-/-/- Beijing Hope Solar Power 6 m pcs/-/-/- 200/-/-/- Soudai PV-Tech -/200/-/- Caption Beijing Zhonglian Solar Technology 1/-/-/- Winsun New Energy 100/250/-/- Yingli Green Energy 600/600/480/570 Canadian Solar 175/-/-/- production site for wafers Jinglong Group 500/1,000/450/600 Chinaland Solar Energy headquarters (figures show total production capacity Tangshan Hatai New Energy 120/-/-/- 80 m pcs/80 m pcs/-/- of the company) Konca Solar 300/-/-/- MCL Electronic Materials 3 m pcs/-/-/- Changzhou Eging -/500/-/- 50 production capacity at the end of 2009 in MW Nanyang Universal Solar Tech. Jiangsu Shunda -/10 m pcs/-/- 50 production capacity at the end of 2010 in MW Qinghai China 15 m pcs/60 m pcs/-/- Trina Solar 500/700/390/550 50 production of 2009 in MW Silicon Energy LONGi 250/300/-/- Wafer Works/Jinzhou Youhua -/-/-/30 m pcs KinVe Solar Power 50 m pcs/-/-/- 50 expected production at the end of 2010 in MW Jiangyin Jetion Science Comtec Solar Tech. 504/504/-/- Jiaxing Winsaint PV -/100/-/- m pcs data given in million pieces instead of MW and Technology 200/-/-/- Evergreen Solar Prime Solar Sino-Italian Photov. 50/100/-/- 600/600/-/- If no data are given for a production site data have CEEG PV Business 60/100/-/- ReneSola 825/1,210/480/720 only been available cumulated from several sites and Tianwei New Energy 250/-/-/- are given at the headquarters site; if headquarters Jiangxi Sornid Semi Materials 100/200/-/- and production are located at the same site, only Znshine 66/76/-/- 500/500/-/- Jinggong Shaoxing headquarters are indicated. Solar Energy -/100/-/- LDK 1,800/2,000/1,020/1,580 GSM Solar -/100/-/- Examples Chongqing Lanhua Solar Power -/200/-/- JinkoSolar Huawei Solar 40/300/-/- REC Group 850/1,500/800/960 ET Solar 25/25/-/- Advansil Electronic 100/-/12/- The REC Group headquarters in Norway featured a wafer production Suzhou Shenglong 80/-/-/- ADV Solar Power -/-/250/- capacity of 850 MW at the end of 2009 and of 1,500 MW at the end of GSM Solar 45/100/-/- Ainuoji Solar Sience -/-/0.8 m pcs/- 2010; actual production was 800 MW in 2009 and is expected to be Jiawei Solarchina 100/-/-/- BLD Group 50/100/-/- 960 MW in 2010. GLC Solar -/2,000/-/- BlueSky Open Paradise 35/70/25/150 JinkoSolar 200/200/-/- LDK 1,800/2,000/1,020/1,580 Wafer Works/Jinzhou Youhua 400/-/-/- Jintech Solar 200/200/-/- LDK's production of wafers is located in China and featured a wafer Jinxiyuan Sience and Tech. 5 m pcs/-/-/- Solargiga 210/420/-/- Mingtong Photovoltaic 50/150/-/- production capacity of 1,800 MW at the end of 2009 and of 2,000 MW Shuqimeng Photovoltaic 40/60/-/- at the end of 2010; actual production was 1,020 MW in 2009 and is Sunology -/-/0.002 m pcs/- expected to be 1,580 MW in 2010. Zhejiang Solar PV Tech. -/2 m pcs/-/-

130 Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 Germany / Switzerland / Poland

Conergy 200/200/-/- Prime Solar Cemat Silicon Conergy 200/-/-/- 1.68 m pcs/-/-/- Ersol 280/-/-/-

Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 131 Photovoltaics Silicon and Wafer producers

SUN & WIND ENERGY World map of silicon and wafer producers SOLAR PRODUCTS Similar to the previous years, SUN & WIND ENERGY is again offering an overview of the worldwide capacities in the silicon and wafer manufacturing industry according to the individual production locations. In 2009, the survey had addressed a total number of 111 silicon and 116 wafer manufactur ers, of which 72 silicon and 67 wafer producers had responded to the questionnaire. This year’s survey showed an increased participation of 140 silicon and 170 wafer producers. The new world maps GiveGive youryour customerscustomers include the production sites of 92 silicon and 96 wafer manufacturers. The total capacity of the top thethe pesospesos smilesmile …… 10 silicon manufacturers has gone up from 128,000 tons in the year 2009 to 175,000 tons by the end of the current year. In the top 10 list of the wafer man ufacturers, the companies achieved a total capacity pesospesos® Tracking SystemSystem of 8.4 GW by the end of 2009. These capacities are expected to increase to 12.8 GW by the end of Our biaxial incidence angle Our biaxial incidence angle modi- 2010. The cumulative capacity achieved by the sili modifiers can produce an fiers can produce an increase of con manufacturers currently reaches 269,020 tons increase of up to 40% in the up to 40% in the yield and and 13.1 GW in the wafer manufacturing industry. yield and thus the profitabi- thus the profitability of a lity of a photovoltaic system inphotovoltaic comparison withsystem a system in com- President & Group COO at REC Group. “The majority of withparison a fixed with installation a system with a wafers sold right now are bound into long-term con facingfixed south.installation facing south.pesos® Tracking SystemInverter type PVI 2300 SunFlex 60 SD and PVI 3500 tracts, which are being adjusted to the new situation. pesos Inverter PVI Consequently, the wafer price will be rising only margin ally. Still, in the long term, I expect that the wafer price pesosFlexible,® Inverter weather resistant, will continue to decrease.” Our key objective continues Flexible,powerful, weather easy andresistant, quick to be grid parity, which means that essentially all PV powerful,installation, easy wiring and quick component parts will have to become cheaper. “Global installation,without opening wiring thewithout competition is another factor. Companies that fail to opening the device is assu- drive down their production costs will ultimately device is assured by red by plug-in connectors disappear from the scene. The wafer price will probably onplug-in the DC connectors as well as on on the the DC level off and stabilize by the third quarter of 2010, if not pesos® Inverter ACas side. well as on the AC side. PVI 10000 (3-phasis)Inverter PVI 5000 with earlier.” integrated data logger With the inauguration of the new wafer production pesos Accessories in Freiberg, SolarWorld has demonstrated its sense for the right timing, says Henning Wicht. “The wafer de pesosFor pesos® Accessories mand continues to grow due to the companies in the Not only for pesos® products Products, Data downstream segment, which means that the sector is capable for solar products. Logger, Displays, still far from a wafer oversupply. The major producers Innovative accessories, Communications are utilizing their capacities by about 90 %, which makes which enables you to control software. a capacity expansion already foreseeable. It’s an ideal the functionality of your moment for opening a wafer factory. In May, SolarWorld fotovoltaic system and make pesos® U-f-Guard had opened its new wafer facility in Freiberg, Germany. continous documentation. 3-phasis voltage and frequency control Worth € 350 million, the factory is one of the largest in vestment projects in the area of PV in the country, says the company. The facility has a total capacity of 250 MW pesos Tracking Systems and is scheduled to be upgraded to 500 MW by the end consulting.engineering.production. of the year. SolarWorld’s wafer production in Freiberg PAIRAN GmbH will then have a total capacity of 1 GW. The production of

SOLAR PRODUCTS ® Florenz-Sartorius-Straße 5 polycrystalline silicon wafers will be used by down 37079 Göttingen|Germany stream solar cell manufacturers around the world as well a trademark of PAIRAN elektronik consulting.Phone: +49 engineering. (0)5 51-5 04 production. 77 0 Fax: +49 (0)5 51-5 04 77 79 as the in-house cell production. In the current world aTel.: trademark +49-5 of 51-5PAIRAN 04 GmbH 77-0 · www.pairan-elektronik.comwww.pairan.com market, every one out of five solar cells will then come from wafers built in Freiberg, says the company.

132 Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 Capacity and production of major wafer manufacturers in 2009 Company Capacity [MW] Production [MW] LDK 1,800 1,020 REC Group 850 800 MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. 1,200 720 (incl. external producers) SolarWorld AG 900 500 ReneSola, PRC 825 480 Yingli Green Energy 600 480 Jinglong Group 500 450 Trina Solar 500 390 Pillar (incl. Silicio Solar) 740 260 Kyocera 290 250 Total 8,205 5,350 Data: iSuppli

Top 5 for wafers

In the Top 5 of the wafer manufacturers, LDK Solar has been able to defend its market leadership from last year, when it comes to shipment, says iSuppli. “But the investments in the area of silicon have steered the com pany into troubled waters”, believes Wicht. Some even rumour that the Chinese player survived only with gov ernment support. The second position in the ranking is held by REC Wafer, which has announced an expansion to 2.4 GW by 2013. The first step into this direction has already been made with a new facility in Singapore. “The wafer, cell and module production will be launched in November 2010”, says John Anderson. “First test productions have already been started.” The plant has an annual wafer production capacity of 750 MW. Posi tion three of the ranking is taken by MEMC Electronic Materials, which has no expansion planned for 2010. SolarWorld on position four is followed by ReneSola on position five, which, quite similar to LDK, has suffered from investment decisions in the silicon sector. For the current year, the company plans an expansion to 1,050 MW. Renesola has included solar cells and mod ules in its portfolio for wafer customers in 2009, which suggests that efforts are made in direction of a vertical integration. Both, the manufacturers in the silicon and the wafer sectors, are currently building up capacities. While the number of manufacturers in the wafer industry contin ues to increase, however, the silicon sector is experi encing the first consolidation waves. At the moment, it appears that the six major players and silicon manufac turers will come out as the winners of this phase. Only few others such as OCI Company are expected to even tually enter among the ranks of the industry’s top dogs. In contrast, increasingly more solar companies seem to be using the wafer manufacturing sector to drive their vertical integration with the aim of building their own wafers for their own products. Markus Grunwald, Michael Forst Further information: 21-Century Silicon Inc.: www.21-centurysilicon.com 6N Silicon Inc.: www.6nsilicon.com Activ Solar/OJSC Semiconductor: activsolarat.colocall.com ADV Solar Power Co., Ltd.: www.advsolarpower.cn Advansil Electronic: www.advansil.com.cn/eng/gsjj.html AE Polysilicon Corp.: www.aepolysilicon.com

Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 133 Photovoltaics Silicon and Wafer producers

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.: www.amg-nv.com Apollon Solar s.a.s.: www.apollonsolar.com Arise Technologies Corp.: www.arisetech.com Beijing Hope Solar Power Co.Ltd.: www.hopeed.com Beijing Zhonglian Solar Technology Co., Ltd.: www.zl-solar.com BlueSky Open Paradise Co. LTD(HK): www.global-powerenergy.com/ Bosch Solar Wafer GmbH: www.bosch-solarenergy.de BP Solar: www.bp.com Canadian Solar: www.canadiansolar.com CEEG PV Buisness: www.ceeg.cn Cemat Silicon: www.cematsil.com Central Electronics Limited (CEL): www.celindia.co.in/ Changzhou Eging: www.egingpv.com China Silicon Corporation Ltd.: www.sino-si.com Chinaland Solar Energy Co., Ltd: www.chnland.com Chisso Corporation: www.chisso.co.jp Chongqing Daqo New Energy Co., Ltd.(Sailing New Energy Resources): www.dqsolar.com Chongqing Lanhua Solar Power Co., Ltd.: www.lanhuasolar.com Conergy AG: www.conergy.de CSG Hubei: www.csgholding.com Dalu Polysilicon Co. Ltd.: www.dalutech.com DC Wafers: www.dcwafers.com Deutsche Solar AG: www.deutschesolar.de Elkem Solar AS: www.elkem.no Emei Semiconductor Material Factory & Institute: www.emb739.com Ersol Solar Energy AG: www.bosch-solarenergy.de Estelux Srl: www.estelux.it ET Solar: www.etsolar.com Evergreen Solar, Inc.: www.evergreensolar.com Eversol Corp.: www.eversolcorp.com First Philec Solar Corporation: www.firstphilec.com GCL Solar: www.gcl-poly.com.hk Glory Silicon Energy (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd.: www.glory-silicon.com Green Energy Technology (GET): www.getinc.com.tw Green Solar PV Corp.: www.greenspv.com GSM Solar Kunshan Co., Ltd.: www.gsmsolar.com Hangzhou Ainuoji Solar Science Technology Co.: www.ainuojisolar.com Hankook Silicon: www.hksilicon.co.kr Helios Resource: www.hr-pv.com Hemlock Semiconductor Group: www.hscpoly.com Hoku Scientific: www.hokuscientific.com Hunan Huawei Solar Co., Ltd.: www.huaweisolar.com Innovation Silicon Co., LTD: www.iskr.kr Instalaciones Pevafersa SL: www.pevafersa.com iSuppli: www.isuppli.com Jaco Solarsi Ltd.: www.jaco.cn JFE Steel: www.jfe-steel.co.jp Jiangsu Grand Solar Company: www.grand-solar.com Jiangsu Shunda Group: www.shundasolar.com Jiangsu Soudai PV-Tech Co., Ltd.: www.sdpvt.com Jiangsu Zhongneng: www.gcl-poly.com.hk Jiangxi Sornid Hi-Tech Co., Ltd: www.sornid.com Jiangxi Tn Silicon Material Co., Ltd.: www.gsmsolar.com Jiangyin Jetion Science and Technology: www.jetion.com.cn Jiaozuo Coal Group Hejing Technique Co., Ltd.: www.hejingtech.com Jiawei Solarchina.co, Ltd: www.solarchina.com.hk Jiaxing Mingtong Photovoltaic Co., Ltd.: www.mt-kj.com Jiaxing Winsaint Photovoltaic Co.,Ltd: www.winsaint.com Jinggong P-D Shaoxing Solar Energy Technology Co.: www.jgsolar.com Jinglong Group: www.jinglong.net Jining Kailun PV Co., Ltd.: www.8137kl.com Jinko Solar Co., Ltd.: www.jinkosolar.com Jintech Solar: www.jt-solar.com Joint Solar Silicon GmbH & Co.KG (JSSI): www.js-silicon.de KCC Corp.: www.kccworld.co.kr KinVe Solar Power Co., Ltd: www.kinve.com Konca Solar Co., Ltd.: www.koncasolar.com Kunming Yeyan New Material Co., Ltd.: www.kmyyxc.com Kyocera Corporation Fineceramics GmbH: www.kyocera.de LDK Solar: www.ldksolar.com Leshan Ledian Tianwei Polysilicon Co., Ltd.: www.ldtw.net Liancheng Sangxing Silicon Tech. Co.Ltd.: www.sunsingsilicon.cn LONGi Silicon Materials Corp: www.longi-silicon.com M.Setek Co. Ltd.: www.msetek.com Maharishi Solar technology (P) Ltd.: www.maharishisolar.com MCL Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.: www.mclwafer.com MEMC Electronic Materials Inc.: www.memc.com Mitsubishi Materials Corp.: www.mmc.co.jp Motech Industries Inc.: www.motech.com.tw Nan´an Sanjing Silicon Refining Co. Ltd.: www.fjsjsi.com Nanyang Green Silicon Co. Ltd.: www.gsipv.com Nanyang Universal Solar Technology Co. Ltd.: www.nustnanyang.com Neo Solar Power: www.neosolarpower.com

134 Sun & Wind Energy 9/2010 Nexolon: www.nexolon.com NIKING (Sunkin) Technology Co., Ltd.: www.6nsi.com Ningxia Yinxing Polycrystalline Silicon Co., Ltd.: www.nxyxdjg.com Nitol-Polysilicon (Nitol Solar Ltd.): www.nitolsolar.com Norsun AS: www.norsuncorp.no NS Solar Material Co., Ltd.: www.nsc.co.jp/nsmat/english OCI Company: www.oci.co.kr Orisi Silicon Co., Ltd.: www.orisi.com.cn Osaka Titanium Technologies Co. Ltd.: www.osaka-ti.co.jp Peak Sun Silicon: www.peaksunsilicon.com Pillar (incl. Silicio Solar): www.pillargroup.eu Prime Solar Pty Ltd.: www.primesolar.com.au Prolog Semicor Ltd.: www.semicor.ukrpack.net ProPower Renewable Energy (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.: www.pro-enertech.com PV Crystalox Solar PLC: www.pvcrystalox.com Q-Cells SE: www.q-cells.com Qinghai China Silicon Energy Co., Ltd: www.qhsolar.com REC Group: www.recgroup.com ReneSola, PRC: www.renesola.com RSI Silicon LLC: www.rsi-silicon.com Sanyo Solar: www.sanyo-solar.eu Semi-Materials: www.semimaterials.com Shaanxi Tianhong Silicon Material Co., Ltd: www.yousergroup.com/Qsdw/thgc.html Shanghai Comtec Solar Technology Co., Ltd.(SCST): www.comtecsolar.com Shanghai Lengguang: http://en.lengguang.com.cn Sharp Corporation: www.sharp-solar.com Shuangli Electronic (Zhen Jiang) Co.,Ltd: www.ussony.com Sichuan Xinguang Silicon-Tech Co. Ltd.: www.xgsic.com Sichuan Yongxiang Polysilicon Co. Ltd.: www.yx-polysilicon.com Silfab SpA: www.silfab.eu Siliken: www.siliken.com Siltronic Samsung Wafer Pte.: www.siltronic-samsung-wafer.com Sino-American Silicon Products: www.saswafer.com Solar Cells Hellas: www.schellas.gr Solargiga Energy Holdings Limited: www.solargiga.com Solarion AG: www.solarion.de SolarWorld AG: www.solarworld.de Sovello AG: www.sovello.com Space Energy Corporation: www.spaceenergy.com Sumco: www.sumcosi.com Sumitomo Corp.: www.sumitomocorp.co.jp Suzhou Shenglong PV-Tech: www.shenglong-solar.com Swiss Wafers AG: www.swisswafers.ch Taiwan Polysilicon Corp (Fuju Solar): www.powei.com.tw Tangshan Haitai New Energy S&T Co., Ltd.: www.htxinneng.com TD Solar Company Limited: www.tdsolar-power.com Telecom-STV Co., Ltd.: www.telstv.ru The Silicon Mine: www.thesiliconmine.com Tianwei New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd: www.twnesolar.com Tianwei Sichuan Silicon Co., Ltd.: tiangui.en.alibaba.com Timminco: www.timminco.com Tokuyama Corp.: www.tokuyama.co.jp Trina Solar: www.trinasolar.com UAB Saules energija: www.aet.eaf.ktu.lt/se/gaminiai.php Wacker Chemie AG: www.wacker.com Wacker Schott Solar GmbH: www.schott.com Wafer Works/Jinzhou Youhua: www.waferworks.com Wafer World: www.waferworld.com Weinan Ansinese Electronical Technology Co.: www.ansinese.com Winsun New Energy Co., Ltd: www.winsun-pv.com/en Woongjin Polysilicon Co., Ltd.: www.wjpolysilicon.com Xi`an LONGi Silicon Materials Corp.: www.longi-silicon.com Yichang CSG Polysilicon Co., Ltd.: www.csgholding.com Yingli Green Energy: www.yinglisolar.com Zhejiang Jinxiyuan Science and Technology Co., Ltd.: www.jinxiyuan.com Zhejiang Shuqimeng Photovoltaic: www.stream-solar.com.cn Zhejiang Sino-Italian photovoltaic Co., Ltd: www.sipv.com.cn Zhejiang Solar Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd.: www.stream-solar.com.cn Zhejiang Sunology Co.,Ltd.: www.xinnengsolar.com ZNSHINE PV- Tech: www.znshinesolar.com

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