German firms expand polysilicon

Responding to rapid growthin the solar energy sector, two German companies are expanding capacity for solar-grade polysilicon, considered the most important raw material for making photovoltaic cells. Wacker Chemie is already in the process of almost doubling its polysilicon capacity in Burghausen, Germany, to 10,000 metric tons per year by early 2008. The company now plans to expand capacity by an additional 4,500 metric tons. The new project will cost around $375 million and should be complete by the end of 2009. Separately, Joint Solar Silicon, a venture between Degussa and SolarWorld, is planning to build an 850-metric-ton polysilicon plant in Rheinfelden, Germany, by 2008. The new plant will use a jointly developed process that yields polysilicon from silane gas, which Degussa produces at the site. Degussa will increase its output of the gas to supply the joint venture.