Canadian Solar has said that it has converted a solar cell production line to use 100 percent upgraded metallurgical grade (UMG) silicon for an expected output of 30-40MW of its low-cost PV ‘e-Modules’ in 2008, primarily for the European and U.S. markets. The UMG line became operational in April with approximately 1MW so far produced.
The company believes that it has achieved the necessary technical and economic parameters for the volume ramp of the UMG line and is now planning to produce 100-150MW of UMG silicon products in 2009.
Dr. Qu, Chairman and CEO of CSI, said in a statement that, “We also believe that we are on track to achieve our prior guidance of shipping 200 -220MW of regular solar modules in 2008, not including shipments of e-Modules, and to continue our record of quarter over quarter revenue growth.”
Canadian Solar also said that it expects to produce approximately 400MW of regular photovoltaic solar modules in 2009.