polysilicon

China’s PV industry is tentatively starting to get back to work after the extended New Year holiday period, due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Major polysilicon and merchant solar cell manufacturer, Tongwei Group and subsidiary Tongwei Solar are to significantly increase high-purity polysilicon production and high-efficiency solar cell production over the next five years.

Major polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie has reported preliminary full-year 2019 financial results, highlighting higher than previously guided asset impairment charges on its polysilicon division as ASPs (Average Selling Price) remain at record lows leading to an EBITDA loss of €55 million.

The first steps have been taken in ending the trade war between the US and China now that the ‘Phase 1 Trade Agreement’ has been signed. A surprise inclusion for the PV and semiconductor industries has been China’s agreement to reopen the trade doors for US-made solar-grade polysilicon.

Phase 1 agreement sees China accept taking in greater volumes of US poly exports as part of broader loosening of trade tensions, which PV reps hope will lead to scale-back of solar tariffs.

Major polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie has directly blamed the Chinese governments support of its domestic polysilicon manufacturers for the need to make a major write-down of its polysilicon production facilities in Germany and the US with a massive €750 million impairment charge in its FY 2019.

Major polysilicon producer Wacker Chemie has warned its overall group profitability for 2019 would be around 30% lower than the prior year, due to continued weak demand from the solar industry in China and continued polysilicon prices declines to industry record lows.

‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, JA Solar has licensed a number of patents from Shin-Etsu Chemical on doping Ga in silicon crystals and using the Ga-doped p-type crystalline silicon wafers for making solar cells to mitigate the impact of Light Induced Degradation (LID).

Interviewed by this publication, James May says things are not as dire as they seem for the firm as it mulls a factory sale to stave off trade war impacts.

Escalating US-China trade tensions have seen polysilicon manufacturer record slump in profits, with one facility halted and another now facing potential exit.