China Silicon Production Breaks Foreign Monopoly

A 300 ton per year polycrystalline silicon factory has successfully started production at the China Silicon High-Tech Company.  This marks the end of a foreign blockade and monopoly in polycrystalline silicon production technology. After more than two years of construction, the first ingots of polycrystalline silicon, with a diameter of 130 mm and length of two meters and weighing 1.3 tons, rolled out successfully on November 3, 2005.

The technology for manufacturing polycrystalline silicon, the most important raw materials for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries have long been monopolized by seven large companies in the United States, Japan and Germany. Prior to opening of this factory, China could only produce very small batches with second-level technology. This combined with controlling the sale of silicon to China by these seven companies had meant that the Chinese semiconductor and PV industries had been under control of these foreign companies.

It is predicted that the world's demand for polycrystalline silicone will hit 28,000 tons in 2005, and the domestic demand (in China) reach 1,500 tons.  And the world's demand will grow 10%-plus annually.

This obviously means that the Chinese semiconductor and PV industries can grow and compete with foreign manufactures and reduce their imports of finished products in these areas.  It also should help relieve the silicon supply shortage that has been limiting the PV industry.

Reference: China Breaks Foreign Monopoly in Silicon Production Tech, Canadian Centre for Energy, November 11, 2005

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Comments

[John]

I also means that within 10 years the place to buy solar will be at places like Walmart dirt cheap.