Although the China-based integrated PV manufacturer has yet to announce new wafer/cell/module capacity expansion plans, Yingli Green (as previously stated) has commenced trial polysilicon production at its subsidiary, Fine Silicon. Yingli plans to ramp in-house polysilicon production to the plant’s capacity of 3000MT by the end of 2010. Having started commercial PV module production in 2002, Yingli also said that it had passed the 1GW milestone in cumulative module production.
“With Fine Silicon online, Yingli Green Energy will join a limited number of global PV manufacturers with fully vertically integrated business models covering the manufacturing process from polysilicon to PV modules,” commented Liansheng Miao, chairman/CEO of Yingli. “As one of the world’s leading vertically integrated PV product manufacturers, we look forward to further improving our cost structure, enhancing our operating performance and increasing our flexibility as we expand our global footprint.”
Yingli noted that its polysilicon plant has technological advantages that would enable lower production costs than conventional production methods that do not require chlorides or TCS production, and that sulfate, its process byproduct, can be easily abated. The plant was constructed in two years, according to the company.
