SiTec’s monosilane process technology offers retrofit capability for lower production costs

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

SiTec GmbH has developed innovative monosilane process technology that provides substantial energy savings compared to legacy processes and increase capital productivity. Marketed under the name ‘STAR’, for SiTec Applied Research products, the technology is applicable to both new and existing (retrofit) monosilane plants.

Problem

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

Continuous cost reductions are required to make overall polysilicon production as cost effective as possible. Providing lower energy consumption, while boosting overall productivity from existing monosilane production plants, is required. 

Solution

STAR technology begins with metallurgic silicon and produces electronic-grade monosilane for polysilicon and silane sale. A single-train hydrochlorination reactor provides up to 15,000MTA silane. STAR’s novel attributes reduce electrical and thermal energy requirement while debottlenecking the monosilane redistribution and refining train. New plants are said to experience best-in-class on-stream time and reduced costs, and up to 20% greater productivity from similarly sized equipment, compared to traditional plant designs. STAR is also claimed to provide up to 10% to 15% lower cash cost depending on geographic-dependent energy pricing.

Platform

Retrofitted plants will benefit by 20% greater capacity, and 25% reduced thermal and 10-15% reduced electrical energy costs in existing monosilane redistribution and refining trains. New plants will benefit by 25-30% plant-wide reduction in total energy usage. The payback period on retrofit investment is 2 to 6 months. The drop-in technology enables uninterrupted production during the retrofit process and produces electronic grade monosilane. 

Availability

Currently available.

Read Next

August 8, 2025
This week several solar developers have raised funds for projects around the world, including BRUC in Europe, Greenalia in the US, Qair in Mauritius and CREC in Philippines.
August 8, 2025
German solar inverter manufacturer SMA Solar posted losses in the first half of 2025, as demand in the residential and corporate & industrial (C&I) solar sectors 'remains weak'.
August 8, 2025
US solar tracker manufacturer Array Technologies has posted revenue of US$362.2 million in the second quarter of this year.
Premium
August 8, 2025
Energy storage escaped much of the pain inflicted on solar, but foreign entity restrictions may create some supply-chain challenges.
August 8, 2025
Solar PV is likely to become less accessible to low-income Americans after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cancels the US$7 billion Solar For All scheme.
August 8, 2025
Argentinian renewables developer Genneia has reached commercial operations at its 180MW Parque Solar Anchoris in Argentina.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines