Tool Order: Ascent Solar selects 8 roll-to-roll wet-chemical coating machines from STANGL - 18 August 2008
Suntech Power guides 2010 capacity target - 20 August 2008
Solarfun sets 2009 cell/module capacity ramp - 27 August 2008
First Solar to expand Ohio production site - 19 August 2008
While First Solar keeps on trucking, others in CdTe thin-film PV pack keep on muddling - 20 August 2008
EYE Lighting introduces solar PV long-pulse simulation systems - 28 August 2008
Pioneering solar neighborhood struggles to keep up with times - 28 August 2008
Cepalco’s solar plant now serving 900 residential customers - 28 August 2008
AVA Solar completes $104 million equity financing - 28 August 2008
Solar Explosives gets coal mining nod in Chhattisgarh - 28 August 2008
Formosa Sumco Technology announced it is extending its business from silicon wafer production to solar ingot production with production and shipments for Taiwan-based solar cell makers slated to begin in August. Industry players acknowleged the move, citing the substantial gross margin and the company's established advantage in polysilicon supply sufficiency. Formosa Sumco announced the plan during a recent shareholder meeting.
The company will assign 10% of its present 8-inch wafer furnace capacity for the ingot production. Under the adjustment, all furnaces will be fully utilized. Industry sources indicated that the produced ingots will be sliced as 6-inch mono-crystalline solar wafers.
Given that only Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) and Wafer Works' China subsidiary Solargiga are able to supply 6-inch mono-crystalline solar wafers in Taiwan, and 6-inch mono-crystalline wafers can generate a higher power conversion rate than 5- and 6-inch multi-crystalline solar wafers, the segement is being regarded as a niche market, said industry players. Gross margin from this segment is estimated at 35-45%, or even approaching 50% if the secured polysilicon contract price is low enough.
Read the full story >>
This story in its entirety is available at the above link. Clicking on this link will direct you to the original story on another site.
