Wacker officially opens 15,000MT polysilicon plant

April 27, 2012
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

As part of plans to increase hyperpure polysilicon production to meet customer demand, Wacker has officially started volume production at its latest plant in Nünchritz, Germany. Wacker said it had invested €900 million in the facilities, creating more than 500 new jobs. The 15,000MT polysilicon plant should reach full capacity within the next few weeks, Wacker said.

“This expansion of capacity is a key prerequisite to enable us – now and in the years to come – to meet our customers’ demand for top-quality polysilicon for use in highly efficient solar cells. Wacker’s entire polysilicon output, including that from Nünchritz, is almost completely under contract until the end of 2015,” commented Rudolf Staudigl, president and CEO of Wacker Chemie AG.

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

The company reiterated that it was continuing to ramp up its total polysilicon capacity to around 52,000MT by the end of 2012, with total annual production capacity reaching 70,000MT by 2014 when its US plant, currently under construction comes on stream.

Read Next

May 8, 2026
Despite softening demand momentum, premium solar module prices across Europe continued to rise in April.
May 8, 2026
The company has formally terminated its originally planned 15GW ingot pulling and PV cell manufacturing project, redirecting its resources to the more promising lithium battery silicon-carbon anode material sector.
May 8, 2026
Solar PV installations have reached a record 14.4GW in the first quarter of 2026, according to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
Premium
May 8, 2026
PV Talk: Cristiano Spillati of Italian renewables developer Limes Renewable Energy discusses the dynamics shaping the evolution of European solar.
May 8, 2026
German EPC contractor Goldbeck Solar has secured the turnkey delivery of the 268MWp Schafhofen solar park in Bavaria. 
May 8, 2026
Solar manufacturer SEG Solar has unveiled a new module assembly plant in the US with a 4GW annual nameplate capacity.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
May 20, 2026
Porto, Portugal
Upcoming Webinars
May 27, 2026
9am BST / 10am CEST
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 3, 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
August 25, 2026
São Paulo, Brazil