Comments on: The Barron’s perspective on solar boom, silicon shortage http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2005/09/19/the-barrons-perspective-on-solar-boom-silicon-shortage/ Trends, happenings and innovations in the clean technology market Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:28:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2005/09/19/the-barrons-perspective-on-solar-boom-silicon-shortage/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Anonymous Tue, 20 Sep 2005 18:40:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2005/09/19/the-barrons-perspective-on-solar-boom-silicon-shortage/#comment-63 Good question... this is only speculation, but here's my take: I think materials producers can ramp up but it takes some time to add manufacturing capacity. It's possible, also, they were caught off-guard by the demand from the solar industry, given the rapid growth coming out of Germany, Japan, Spain, California and other jurisdictions. Traditional solar PV panels require lots of this stuff compared to electronics manufacturers, so tremendous growth of solar PV means a much higher demand for raw silicon than historically experienced by the silicon industry. But again, I'm not an expert at this level. Perhaps other readers can add their two cents... Good question… this is only speculation, but here’s my take: I think materials producers can ramp up but it takes some time to add manufacturing capacity. It’s possible, also, they were caught off-guard by the demand from the solar industry, given the rapid growth coming out of Germany, Japan, Spain, California and other jurisdictions. Traditional solar PV panels require lots of this stuff compared to electronics manufacturers, so tremendous growth of solar PV means a much higher demand for raw silicon than historically experienced by the silicon industry.

But again, I’m not an expert at this level. Perhaps other readers can add their two cents…

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2005/09/19/the-barrons-perspective-on-solar-boom-silicon-shortage/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Anonymous Tue, 20 Sep 2005 18:30:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2005/09/19/the-barrons-perspective-on-solar-boom-silicon-shortage/#comment-62 Excellent review of the photovoltaics market, although I never find statistics like 'will be comparable in cost to conventional energy in 10 years' to be particularly believeable. Often times it seems the next big thing is always the next big thing, and never the real deal... ...but I digress, as that's not the point of the blog. I wonder, for example, why it will take so long to ramp up capacity for the polysilicon. With such promise for growth, one would think basic material producers would capitalize and do whatever it takes to meet demand. Are the basic materials of polysilicon in short supply? I'm interested to learn more. Excellent review of the photovoltaics market, although I never find statistics like ‘will be comparable in cost to conventional energy in 10 years’ to be particularly believeable. Often times it seems the next big thing is always the next big thing, and never the real deal…

…but I digress, as that’s not the point of the blog. I wonder, for example, why it will take so long to ramp up capacity for the polysilicon. With such promise for growth, one would think basic material producers would capitalize and do whatever it takes to meet demand. Are the basic materials of polysilicon in short supply? I’m interested to learn more.

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