centrotherm SiTec GmbH, one of the world’s leading technology providers for polysilicon, last week celebrated the successful cooperation with its Chinese customer Shaanxi Tianhong Silicon Industrial Corporation (STSIC) in key equipment items for the first expansion step for polysilicon production. The Chinese state company, which is headquartered in the Shaanxi Province, had previously signed its final acceptance, the so-called Final Acceptance Test (FAT). The two companies will meanwhile optimize processes further and bolster research and development into cutting energy consumption. STSIC has expressed its satisfaction with the cooperation venture, and is pleased with its results. centrotherm SiTec, for its part, enjoys certain benefits in terms of technology.
The first expansion step is arranged for annual capacity of around 1,250 tonnes of polysilicon to semiconductor quality. centrotherm SiTec prepared the factory concept, developed the process flow, accompanied the project through the planning and implementation stages, delivered the key equipment (reactors and converters), and started up the system together with the customer. centrotherm photovoltaics and STSIC are working hard together on the current commissioning of the second expansion step at STSIC, which entails state-of-the-art 24-pair reactor technology, and offers planned annual production of 3,000 tonnes to semiconductor quality.
Along with polysilicon production, STSIC is focusing on technology and systems from centrotherm to manufacture ingots and solar cells. Favorable production costs can be achieved by relying on this integrated solar value chain. STSIC achieved “First Ingot Out” with a centrotherm multi-crystalline ingot furnace in the middle of this year. Furthermore, two solar cell production lines with a total of 60 MW annual capacity are currently being commissioned.
