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

December 5, 2014
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

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

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

January 11, 2026
Yanara has selected Gamuda Australia as the project delivery partner for the early contractor involvement phase of the Mortlake Energy Hub in Victoria.
January 9, 2026
The Chinese Ministry of Finance and the Taxation Administration issued an adjustment of export rebate policies for solar PV products and other items.
January 9, 2026
China’s market supervision body has warned of monopoly risks in the plans to consolidate the country’s polysilicon sector.
Premium
January 9, 2026
PV Tech Premium spoke with Crux on the trends to look forward in 2026 in the clean energy transferable tax credit market.
January 9, 2026
The US has withdrawn from a number of UN climate organisations, including the Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
January 9, 2026
The Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, has signed a clean energy bill into law that will boost solar PV and energy storage investments in the state, among others.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland