This investment decision will enable WACKER to meet the accelerating global demand it expects for hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. For coming years, WACKER anticipates continued double-digit annual growth in polysilicon demand by the solar industry. The company likewise expects higher polysilicon demand from the electronics sector.
“This large-scale investment is instrumental in strengthening our position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of hyperpure polysilicon for the solar industry;” said Rudolf Staudigl, CEO of Wacker Chemie AG. “We are convinced that our customers’ demand for top-quality polysilicon will continue to increase in coming years, as our material enables them to manufacture solar cells with high energy yields. Moreover, these additional production capacities outside the eurozone help to make us more independent of exchange-rate fluctuations.”
Good infrastructure conditions and competitively priced power were key aspects in selecting this site. Over-the-fence supply of chlorine and excellent transportation infrastructure made Cleveland an attractive location. Plus, WACKER receives outstanding support in Tennessee from local authorities and business partners. The incentive package associated with site construction includes provision of the necessary transportation links, as well as reliable water and electricity supplies – both vital for producing hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. In addition, Tennessee’s electricity prices are much lower than at comparable German sites.
With a production output of some 30,000 metric tons in 2010, WACKER is the world’s second-largest producer of hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. WACKER’s polysilicon production currently under construction in Nünchritz (Germany) and the new capacities at its Tennessee site are reinforcing the Group’s position as a leading manufacturer of high-quality semiconductor and solar silicon.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of WACKER’s Executive Board. Although we assume the expectations in these forwardlooking statements are realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual figures to differ considerably from the forwardlooking statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among other things, changes in the economic and business environment, variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services, and changes in corporate strategy. WACKER does not plan to update the forwardlooking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do so.