Silicor signs equipment supplier for ‘lowest-cost’ Iceland poly fab

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Polysilicon producer, Silicor Materials, has signed German conglomerate, SMS Siemag, to supply equipment and factory design services for a planned new plant in Iceland.

California-headquartered Silicor hopes the plant will produce the world’s cheapest solar silicon via an aluminium smelting process that transforms metallurgical-grade silicon into the higher-purity variant needed for PV applications.   

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Further cost advantages are expected from the location for the plant, first announced last year, which was chosen because of Iceland’s cheap geothermal energy and the availability of aluminium needed for the process. Silicor claims its process consumes two-thirds less energy than others, resulting in a lower-cost alternative variety of polysilicon. A figure of US$9/kg was touted last year.

Under the deal confirmed today with SMS Siemag, the companies will develop a plant with a guaranteed throughput of 16,000MT.

SMS will supply all the plant’s equipment as well as the technical and installation support needed to complete the plant.

Silicor said it expected the Iceland plant to be first in a series of facilities it would work on with SMS.

“The Silicor project provides the potential to fundamentally improve the supply chain for the production of solar silicon,” said Dr. Guido Kleinschmidt, member of the SMS Siemag executive board at SMS Siemag. “It is based on the environmentally friendly utilisation of Iceland’s natural resource of renewable energy, which fully complies with SMS’ ‘Ecoplants’ vision to provide ecological and economical optimised metallurgical plants.”

“We’re taking meaningful steps to get this plant off the ground in an aggressive timeframe, and the progress we’ve made in just a few months underscores our commitment to both the Icelandic community and to our customers,” said Silicor Materials CEO Theresa Jester. “SMS Siemag has nearly 140 years’ experience with projects of this type in the metals business, which makes the company a natural partner as we ramp production. Together, we are working to revolutionise the economics of the solar industry.”

Silicor has engaged Iceland’s Arion Bank to provide debt financing for the new plant.

Read Next

July 3, 2025
Malaysian engineering and infrastructure giant Gamuda has expanded its presence in the Australian renewables sector by partnering with Tasmanian landowners to build a 1.2GW portfolio, which includes solar PV.
July 2, 2025
A new state-owned green bank, the Energy Security Corporation (ESC), has launched in New South Wales, Australia, with an initial funding allocation of AU$1 billion (US$640 million).
July 2, 2025
Asset management firm Capital Dynamics has secured €110 million (US$129.4 million) in financing for three solar PV projects in Spain.
July 2, 2025
The US Senate has narrowly passed – with a 51-50 vote and with vice-president JD Vance breaking the tie – the reconciliation bill yesterday (1 July) without the solar and wind excise tax.
Premium
July 2, 2025
ANALYSIS: China's leading PV manufacturers are locked in a new round of competition, aiming to outpace each other through record-breaking feats.
July 2, 2025
Investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has begun commercial operations at a 373MW solar PV plant in the UK.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK