Is polysilicon a good choice for solar power?

Since 2004, the volume of polysilicon per watt is down by 87%, and the inflation adjusted price for polysilicon is also down by 76%. Silicon is the semiconductor material at the heart of most solar cells. Thanks to advancements in technology, solar is now powering the world with a lot less silicon.

Where did photovoltaic cost data come from?

Photovoltaic cost data between 1975 and 2003 has been taken from Nemet (2009), between 2004 and 2009 from Farmer & Lafond (2016), and since 2010 from IRENA. Prices from Nemet (2009) and Farmer & Lafond (2016) have been converted to 2024 US$ using the US GDP deflator, to account for the effects of inflation.

How much does scrap silicon cost?

According to Winegarner, scrap silicon from the semiconductor industry – until 1998 the only feedstock for the PV branch – was traded at $14/kg in 2003. That is probably the reason why the “Sun Screen” study from Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia (CLSA) quoted an average selling price of $24/kg for polysilicon in 2003.

Why are China's polysilicon prices increasing?

As reason for the continuing price increase in China, the Silicon Branch states a new agreement of domestic polysilicon companies on reducing production and sales. The top two manufacturers – Tongwei Solar and GCL Technology – are said to make the largest cuts.

Does SMM offer price data on polysilicon?

Data: On polysilicon, SMM also offers the most comprehensive, publicly available set of price data for the following product variants: mono-grade mixed, dense and recharge chunks and chips as well as polysilicon granules for n-type ingots (all from China), non-Chinese polysilicon and electromic-grade polysilicon.

Does sunsirs sell polysilicon in China?

China-based SunSirs publishes daily spot prices for 100 commodities, including polysilicon, in China. In our short guide on these four providers, we will focus on the polysilicon segment.