Hi Alex, The numbers out of China need to be treated with caution. It is important to differentiate silicon production and polysilicon manufacturing. A polysilicon plant has a short lifetime, and most CN producers quote cash costs of production, whilst ignoring plant depreciation. On a $/watt comparison, cell /panel prices are coming back up from the heady days of cheap at all cost. Quality is now a factor, which goes all the way upstream to raw materials. There is a strong opportunity developing in the US and Aus for domestic production.
This is an exceptionally well written piece, and deftly opens up some rather unique issues inside China's industrial landscape. I'd like to see alot more of it.
Thank you, for overview. Just a tiny note, you have a duplicate paragraph between the aerial photo of Coal Mines - Power Plant - Poly-Si Plant and a screenshot of Electricity cost, Cash cost.
Hi Alex, The numbers out of China need to be treated with caution. It is important to differentiate silicon production and polysilicon manufacturing. A polysilicon plant has a short lifetime, and most CN producers quote cash costs of production, whilst ignoring plant depreciation. On a $/watt comparison, cell /panel prices are coming back up from the heady days of cheap at all cost. Quality is now a factor, which goes all the way upstream to raw materials. There is a strong opportunity developing in the US and Aus for domestic production.
This is an exceptionally well written piece, and deftly opens up some rather unique issues inside China's industrial landscape. I'd like to see alot more of it.
Thank you, for overview. Just a tiny note, you have a duplicate paragraph between the aerial photo of Coal Mines - Power Plant - Poly-Si Plant and a screenshot of Electricity cost, Cash cost.