Silicon Wafer manufacturing in India

[piyush goyal]

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone give any update regarding the Solar Silicon Wafer
Manufacturing in India. Is any company planning to set up a wafer
manufacturing plant here in India? If yes, Which technology are they
looking at. Also, is it Mono crystalline or Poly crystalline Wafers?

I would also like some information about the existing wafer
procurement patterns. Considering that India has 36 companies selling/
manufacturing Solar Modules, with many more plants coming up here, How
are here sourcing Silicon Wafers? From where are they importing the
wafers. More specifically which countries and Which companies are
preferred and how do indian companies decide which company to buy
their wafers from? I have heard about 4 major countries that have the
Wafer technology - US, Germany, Russia and China. Which countries
Wafers are considered better and why.?

It would be great help if anyone can answer these queries. Thank you.

Regards,
Piyush Goyal

[ahmad khalid]

Hi all

 

I would like to throw some light over the Companies (Indian) planning to set up a manufacturing base for Solar PV

 

There is a great interest and plan among various companies  to start a manufacturing base in India since the launch of JNNSM. But the two most substantial plan includes that of LANCO and BIRLA SURYA

 

1). Lanco is investing Rs 30 billion  for solar pv manufacturing facility with an annual capacity of 250 MW at Rajnandgaon district in Chattisgarh. The first phase of the plant is expected to come up in 15-16 months, with production capacity of 50 MW modules.” the company plans to export 50-75 per cent of the plant's total produce and will cater to 15 per cent of India's solar power needs. Lanco Solar plans to set up 500 MW solar plants over the next four years. Lanco is in advanced discussions with GT Solar to set up the PV manufacturing chain.

 

2). Birla Surya is planning to invest Rs 54 billion to start a Commercial scale poly-Si facility in Satara district of Maharashtra. The first stage, costing around INR15 billion (US$333,500), will see production capacity for cells and wafers set at 60MW and 125MW respectively, with construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. They are partnering GT Solar.

 

Others are most welcome to add.

 

Thanks

 

 

--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now advertise on Green-India

To find out how, visit http://goo.gl/f2uaj

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You received this message because you are subscribed to Green-India
to discuss India's Energy Future and Sustainable Living.

Green-India
http://green-india.in

Rules & Disclaimer (Important)
http://goo.gl/Te9d2

To unsubscribe, send email to
green-india...@googlegroups.com

--
Ahmad Mohd Khalid
Sem III, M.Tech (Renewable Energy Engineering and Management)
Department of Energy and Environment
TERI University,New Delhi
+9717832629

*Energy is what keeps the world moving.....
*
* *
 
 

[Manu Sharma]

Hi Ahmad, 

Thanks for the reply. The question was actually meant for wafer manufacturing companies which are non existent in India. 

I'd also be interested in knowing if any company has such plans. From what I understand, it's a hugely power intensive manufacturing process which is perhaps why large players have not ventured into it. With frequent power cuts lasting several ours and low operating margins, this is not a manufacturing process than can be run on captive diesel power. 

As to modules, I was told that anyone can make solar modules. Indeed, even village women with no experience and very little training. 

Thanks,

Manu

[Manu Sharma]

Okay, Birla Surya plans are for wafers. I heard sometime back that they've been looking for funding for a long time and haven't found an investor.

Manu

[piyush goyal]

Hello Manu/Ahmed,

Thanks for the information.

Do you have any idea why these companies are facing problems in
funding such a project. Is the demand a problem or the technology is
not suited for indian conditions.
Considering that there are 36 companies manufacturing Modules in India
and many more coming up, the demand should be huge for a locally
manufactured wafers. It will be more cost effective as well, as
importing costs could be avoided.

I heard the government is also trying to promote local wafer
manufacturing. Are they not giving any incentives to these companies.

So Lanco and Birla are the only two companies in the fray for such a
plant or other companies too are looking out some kind of technology
Transfer.

Regards,
Piyush

On Nov 22, 4:15 pm, Manu Sharma <orangeh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Okay, Birla Surya plans are for wafers. I heard sometime back that they've
> been looking for funding for a long time and haven't found an investor.
>
> Manu
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 4:43 PM, Manu Sharma <orangeh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Ahmad,
>
> > Thanks for the reply. The question was actually meant for wafer
> > manufacturing companies which are non existent in India.
>
> > I'd also be interested in knowing if any company has such plans. From what
> > I understand, it's a hugely power intensive manufacturing process which is
> > perhaps why large players have not ventured into it. With frequent power
> > cuts lasting several ours and low operating margins, this is not a
> > manufacturing process than can be run on captive diesel power.
>
> > As to modules, I was told that anyone can make solar modules. Indeed, even village

> > women <http://www.barefootcollege.org/sol_approach.asp> with no

> > experience and very little training.
>
> > Thanks,
> > Manu
>

> > On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 4:33 PM, ahmad khalid <ahmadchem...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >> Hi all
>

> >> I would like to throw some light over the *Companies (Indian) planning
> >> to set up a manufacturing base for Solar PV*

>
> >> There is a great interest and plan among various companies  to start a
> >> manufacturing base in India since the launch of JNNSM. But the two most
> >> substantial plan includes that of LANCO and BIRLA SURYA
>

> >> *1).* *Lanco *is investing Rs 30 billion  for solar pv manufacturing
> >> facility with an annual capacity of 250 MW at *Rajnandgaon district in
> >> Chattisgarh*. The first phase of the plant is expected to come up in

> >> 15-16 months, with production capacity of 50 MW modules.” the company plans
> >> to export 50-75 per cent of the plant's total produce and will cater to 15
> >> per cent of India's solar power needs. Lanco Solar plans to set up 500
> >> MW solar plants over the next four years. Lanco is in advanced discussions
> >> with GT Solar to set up the PV manufacturing chain.
>

> >> 2). *Birla Surya* is planning to invest Rs 54 billion to start a
> >> Commercial scale poly-Si facility in *Satara district of Maharashtra. *The

> >> first stage, costing around INR15 billion (US$333,500), will see production
> >> capacity for cells and wafers set at 60MW and 125MW respectively, with
> >> construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. They are
> >> partnering GT Solar.
>
> >> Others are most welcome to add.
>
> >> Thanks
>

> >> On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 3:10 AM, piyush goyal <piyush.d...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >>> Hello Everyone,
>
> >>> Can anyone give any update regarding the Solar Silicon Wafer
> >>> Manufacturing in India. Is any company planning to set up a wafer
> >>> manufacturing plant here in India? If yes, Which technology are they
> >>> looking at. Also, is it Mono crystalline or Poly crystalline Wafers?
>
> >>> I would also like some information about the existing wafer
> >>> procurement patterns. Considering that India has 36 companies selling/
> >>> manufacturing Solar Modules, with many more plants coming up here, How
> >>> are here sourcing Silicon Wafers? From where are they importing the
> >>> wafers. More specifically which countries and Which companies are
> >>> preferred and how do indian companies decide which company to buy
> >>> their wafers from? I have heard about 4 major countries that have the
> >>> Wafer technology - US, Germany, Russia and China. Which countries
> >>> Wafers are considered better and why.?
>
> >>> It would be great help if anyone can answer these queries. Thank you.
>
> >>> Regards,
> >>> Piyush Goyal
>
> >>> --
> >>> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> >>> You can now advertise on Green-India
>

> >>> To find out how, visithttp://goo.gl/f2uaj

>
> >>> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to Green-India
> >>> to discuss India's Energy Future and Sustainable Living.
>
> >>> Green-India
> >>>http://green-india.in
>
> >>> Rules & Disclaimer (Important)
> >>>http://goo.gl/Te9d2
>
> >>> To unsubscribe, send email to
> >>> green-india...@googlegroups.com
>
> >> --
> >> Ahmad Mohd Khalid
> >> Sem III, M.Tech (Renewable Energy Engineering and Management)
> >> Department of Energy and Environment
> >> TERI University,New Delhi
> >> +9717832629
>
> >> *Energy is what keeps the world moving.....
> >> *
> >> * *
>
> >>  --
> >> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> >> You can now advertise on Green-India
>

> >> To find out how, visithttp://goo.gl/f2uaj

[Manu Sharma]

Hi Piyush,

Apart from large power requirements wafer plants are also extremely capital intensive. Remember that China's polysilicon wafer manufacturing industry has been propped up by billions of dollars of govt. loans. I don't think the Indian govt. can afford that. Nor do I see any reason that it should. 

This is the key factor that differentiates India and China's cleantech forays and one of the reasons why I've been arguing on this list and in my talks elsewhere that solar power does not make sense for India at least for the next five years. We can get 10X or greater returns in emission reductions if we should invest the same amount in aggressive energy efficiency and some other measures. 

Solar Mission has actually quite dangerous implications for India's clean energy future as it diverts us from things that can be really effective. 

Thanks

Manu Sharma

Climate Revolution Initiative

http://climaterevolution.net

To find out how, visit http://goo.gl/f2uaj

[mahesh shelar]

Manu has raised a very important issue on Solar subsidy.

the money is better spent on improving energy efficiency

their are several schemes like say solar street lighting where govt spends money and anecdotal evidence suggests that these are defunct(battery theft/battery failure) or some are simply on paper.one needs to do some audit of such schemes.in tribal nashik few years back gasifier pumps were distributed.farmers threw away the gasifiers and used diesel pumps on kerosene.similiarly few farmers were dumped on jatropa a feedstock on biodiesel.what happens to the subsidised renewables is worth research.

 

 

Prof Mahesh Shelar
M.Tech Energy Systems Engg
Certified Energy Auditor
Department of Mechanical Engg
KKW Institute of Engg Education and Research
NASHIK
9822052351

From: Manu Sharma <orang...@gmail.com>
To: green...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, 23 November 2011 2:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Green-India] Re: Silicon Wafer manufacturing in India

[piyush goyal]

hi,

Thanks for your ideas, I totally understand when you say that more
money should be spent on Energy Efficiency and i believe the
government is working on a plan for that as well by getting in schemes
like PAT. I think once that kicks in, there will be a lot of buzz in
that sector as well.

That aside, I believe if it does make business sense and the demand/
opportunity is good the big business houses will jump in to the idea
of setting up a wafer manufacturing plant here in India. Does it not
make sense to setup one here. It will give an impetus to our solar
industry and help in bringing down the costs of the indian modules
which suffer from custom duties and freight charges on the import of
wafers. Does Tata BP have a 84 MW cell manufacturing facility here in
india. I read it in an article on Green- india itself. I have added
the excerpt for you below, please explain:

About Tata BP Solar

Established in 1989, the company is a joint venture between Tata Power
and BP Solar. The company's sophisticated 84 MW solar cell
manufacturing facility is capable of processing mono and multi
crystalline wafers of 125 mm2 and 156 mm2. Its state-of-the-art 125 MW
module manufacturing facility is one of the largest in Asia and its
sales history has been dramatic - from a modest Rs 16 million in
1991-92 to a phenomenal Rs 9,060 million in 2010-11.

Regards,
Piyush

On Nov 23, 6:33 pm, mahesh shelar <maheshnshe...@yahoo.co.in> wrote:
> Manu has raised a very important issue on Solar subsidy.
> the money is better spent on improving energy efficiency
> their are several schemes like say solar street lighting where govt spends money and anecdotal evidence suggests that these are defunct(battery theft/battery failure) or some are simply on paper.one needs to do some audit of such schemes.in tribal nashik few years back gasifier pumps were distributed.farmers threw away the gasifiers and used diesel pumps on kerosene.similiarly few farmers were dumped on jatropa a feedstock on biodiesel.what happens to the subsidised renewables is worth research.
>
>
> Prof Mahesh Shelar
> M.Tech Energy Systems Engg
> Certified Energy Auditor
> Department of Mechanical Engg
> KKW Institute of Engg Education and Research
> NASHIK
> 9822052351
>

> ________________________________
> From: Manu Sharma <orangeh...@gmail.com>

> To: green...@googlegroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, 23 November 2011 2:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [Green-India] Re: Silicon Wafer manufacturing in India
>
> Hi Piyush,
>
> Apart from large power requirements wafer plants are also extremely capital intensive. Remember that China's polysilicon wafer manufacturing industry has been propped up by billions of dollars of govt. loans. I don't think the Indian govt. can afford that. Nor do I see any reason that it should.
>
> This is the key factor that differentiates India and China's cleantech forays and one of the reasons why I've been arguing on this list and in my talks elsewhere that solar power does not make sense for India at least for the next five years. We can get 10X or greater returns in emission reductions if we should invest the same amount in aggressive energy efficiency and some other measures.
>
> Solar Mission has actually quite dangerous implications for India's clean energy future as it diverts us from things that can be really effective.
>
> Thanks
> Manu Sharma
>

> Climate Revolution Initiativehttp://climaterevolution.net

> Rules & Disclaimer (Important)http://goo.gl/Te9d2

[Manu Sharma]

Hi Piyush,

About your comments on energy efficiency mission, I started a new discussion about it. I'll reply to comments on wafer manufacturing below.

You wrote:

I believe if it does make business sense and the demand/ opportunity is good the big business houses will jump in to the idea of setting up a wafer manufacturing plant here in India.

That is arguable and there are probably very good reasons why business houses have NOT jumped into wafer manufacturing despite the solar mission mandating high domestic content. I've already cited two. Huge power consumption and capex requirements that run into billions of dollars. 

So unless cheap finance is available to industry there are very few people in the world who can afford to take the risk. Remember that before Chinese govt banks pumped money into wafer manufacturing companies in China (see graphic), there were only a handful of players in the world in this business.  

Another probable reason is that polysilicon prices are dropping like crazy and experts say that it's possible that they'll drop so low that it will hurt the profitability of polysilicon industry and then rise again. This has happened in the past and they say the pattern is set to repeat itself. But we don't know for sure. At times of high volatility in any industry, it's better to wait and watch than jump right in. 

 Does Tata BP have a 84 MW cell manufacturing facility [...] I have added the excerpt for you below, please explain:

Nothing to explain. Cell manufacturing does not equal wafer manufacturing (see graphic on steps in solar manufacturing process). There are about a dozen or so solar cell manufacturers in India. Lanco even claims on its website that it's into wafer manufacturing but I'm not so sure. 

Thanks,

Manu

________________

[Manu Sharma]

A Green-India member who does not wish to be named added the following insightful comments about wafer manufacturing.

        Wafer manufacturing is not capex heavy these days ... it
costs around 30c/watt ingot and slicing (2-3 years ago it was 3x more)
for the best manufacturers even less.so you could build a 100 MW wafer
capacity for $30 million which is not a lot.Also I think except for
one company or maybe 2 pure  wafer companies will not exist by
2013-2014.

 

        However like poly,wafer is in heavy overcapacity currently,so
you would have to be either massively dumb or have some serious
protectionism to make any money on wafers,so its stupid to think of
wafer making.The Chinese have dropped costs so rapidly and so much
that all the non-Chinese manufacturers not only in wafers but also
cells,modules have become redundant (except for FSLR which is too
under the heaviest pressure since its inception).The continue to exist
because of some insulated markets like Japan etc.However in pure
economic terms,nobody is even close to the biggest Chinese players
these days.If left to the free market,India solar players in all parts
of the supply chain would simply disappear.

Thanks,
Manu
 

[soumyabrata rahut]

Dear All

would anyone have the country wise installed manufacturing capacity of solar  (PV and thermal) and wind energy ?

warm regards

soumyabrata rahut

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
You can now post Ads on Green-India
 
Lear more: http://goo.gl/f2uaj

[ahmad khalid]

Hi Mr Soumbrata

 

You can find the latest data for installed capacities in the reports at :

 

1). For Solar PV 

     www.epia.org

 

2). For Solar Thermal

     www.estif.org

 

3). For Wind

     www.gwec.net

 

 

These reports are excellent and i find them one of the most authentic and quoted ones in various references.

 

 

Thanks

[Ram S]

Dear Ahmed,

Unable to locate solar installation in India from the sites. Have heard by minister in solarcon that installed size is 125 MW of solar PV till date in India.

Regards,
Ram Shirhatti

Regards,
Ram Shirhatti

[ahmad khalid]

Hi Mr Ram

Sorry for late reply...i was busy with my exams.

You are absolutley right that these sources don't give installations
in India, because these details are still not known to any one. All
international organiztions rely on MNRE data only. On MNRE and NVVN
website you can only find the details of the bidders who won the
project and their project size. Moreover, more than 90% projects are
still in the comissioning phase. The companies will not share any
information on their websites untill the projects are comissioned
(that too not sure)

Once the projects are commisioned ,the capacity will be added in the installed
capacity for subsequent reporting by the MNRE . MNRE updates installed
figures twice in March and September.

Please trust only MNRE figures, though you will not find them latest.
I am also doubtful over the figure you mentioned, i.e 125 MW of solar
PV till date. I believe the figure is still lowerer. To my knowledge
till March 2011 as per MNRE info shared by Mr. Sikri , GM NTPC at TERI
University campus on 18th November 2011, total solar installed was
just 46.16 MWs.

All consultants and websites always mentions healthy figures or the
best estimates(this is sorry part)...but ground reality at the
comissioning and policy level is totally different.

I believe someone in the group will surely add any latest information
over this issue that is authentic.

Thanks

[Ram S]

Hi Ahmed,

Not sure of the exact figures, in gujarat itself installed is 51 MW so its more than 46.5 MW.

Regards,

Ram

[ahmad khalid]

Thanks for the info Mr. Ram

 

Surely, the figure would be more than 46.5 MW becuase it was as of March 2011. Surely many installations would have come up.

 

Thanks

[Ram S]

Hi Ahmed,

As per my tracking status, its around 90 MW commissioned. 

Would appreciate if anyone can update on this ?

Regards,

Ram

[Ram S]

Dear Ahmed,

Please find the attached above installed MW scale plant details till Nov 2011.

Regards,

Ram Shirhatti

--
Regards,
Ram Shirhatti

[ahmad khalid]

Thanks Mr Ram