Commercial Poly-Silicon Specifications

Here are the specification for poly-silicon from one of the worlds largest suppliers, Wacker Siltronic as they appear in the Internet in Nov. 2000.

Notice: The "w" or "a" behind the concentration denotes weigth or atomic parts per m = million, b = billion, t = trillion.

	Here some production information:
		According to "Solid State Technology" July 2005, the production numbers are as follows: Total production 2005: 26.000.000 kg; about 2/3 for microelectronics, 1/3 for photovoltaics. Expected production 2006: 29.000.000 kg.
		Right now (end of 2007) there is a tremendous shortage of poly Si because the solar cell industry grows so fast, that poly Si production cannot keep pace, see also the link.
		Expected shortfalls: 2005: 4.000.000 kg 2006: 6.000.000 kg. 2007: 12.000.000 kg. 2008: 20.000.000 kg.
		The expected shortfalls result to a large extent from a growth growthraterate of 40 % for photovoltaics and from technical and financial difficulties to crank up production at a high rate. However, alternative processes for solar Si production are expected to come on-line in 2006..

With frame

4.1.2 Producing Semiconductor-Grade Silicon

The Great Si Crisis in 2007