Polysilicon is the backbone of both the semiconductor industry and the photovoltaic business, providing the basic substrate upon which electrical circuits are built and sunlight is captured and converted to electricity. The purity of silicon used to make solar wafers can be considerably lower than the electronic grade silicon used to make semiconductors. Today, SRI Consulting (SRIC) released its techno-economic report Polysilicon for Solar Wafers that provides the process design and manufacturing economics for three of the dominant commercial processes.

As of the third quarter 2009, global demand for polysilicon was approximately 50 thousand metric tons per year, split nearly evenly between demand for semiconductors and solar applications. Recently, silicon based photovoltaic grade producers have learned how to produce the photovoltaic cells directly from polysilicon. Eliminating the costly step of first converting polysilicon to higher purity single crystal silicon allows for the use of lower cost manufacturing technologies.

SRIC senior consultant and author Anthony Pavone commented, “The knowledge of competitive manufacturing costs is important because the business has reached overcapacity. The global economic recession of 2008-2009 resulted in flat polysilicon demand, yet capacity increased due to government subsidy.” Mr Pavone continued, “Polysilicon producers who can’t compete on cost will be driven out of business.”

The Polysilicon for Solar Wafers report compares the process design and manufacturing economics for Siemens reactors, fluidized bed reactors, and directional solidification furnaces. A head-to-head comparison of capital and production costs of the three processes is presented using a common engineering methodology; consistent feedstock, product pricing, and design basis for a generic 5,000 metric ton per year grass roots plant. To eliminate the confusion associated with two of the three processes requiring an up-front gas plant, each polysilicon design purchased its feedstock at prevailing high volume contract prices.

For additional information, contact RJ Chang, SRIC’s Process Economics Program (PEP) Director at rchang@sriconsulting.com +1 650 384 4307, or visit the website at www.sriconsulting.com/PEP.

About SRI Consulting

SRI Consulting (SRIC) is the world’s leading business research service for the global chemical industry. Publishing for almost 60 years, SRI Consulting is the preeminent source for in-depth business and process analysis. This report was developed by the Process Economics Program (PEP) group providing in-depth, independent technical and economic evaluation of both commercial and emerging technologies for the chemical and energy industries. SRI Consulting’s headquarters are located in Menlo Park, California with offices in The Woodlands, Texas; Zürich, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; and Beijing, China. SRI Consulting is a division of Access Intelligence, LLC. Additional Information is available at www.sriconsulting.com.

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