Solar Cells Info

Oct 15, 2007
Source: EMSnow.com
http://www.emsnow.com/npps/story.cfm?id=29577&pg=story

Wafer Works Corp. and Sino-American Silicon Products, Inc., both of which supply polycrystalline silicon to solar-cell makers, recently forecast at a photovoltaic forum in Taipei that their revenues to likely keep surging until 2010. Until last month, Sino-American and Wafer Works have seen their monthly revenue set new high for 26 and 19 consecutive months,
respectively.

Industry watchers estimated that exploding demands for polycrystalline silicon worldwide have driven up prices of the silicon material 29 folds over the past seven years and will likely maintain supply shortage of the material until 2010.

Sino-American’s photovoltaic silicon business reported gross margin of around 35% last quarter alone, making it the best margin performer of its Taiwanese peers. Behind the shining margin is its partnership with Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. of the United States and MEM, both of which have steadily supplied it the materials.

For Wafer Works, the major momentums behind are Sumitomo of Japan investing in its mainland Chinese crystalline-growing venture Solargiga and its acquisition of claims to mine for silicon in Australia. Either event allows Wafer Works to secure adequate material supply.

Solar cell maker Motech Industries Inc. will boost output capacity by nearly 60% next year and is forecast to make NT$30 per share in the meantime. Its nearest rival at home E-Tone Solar Tech sets monthly revenue goal at NT$1 billion (US$30 million at US$1:NT$33) throughout current quarter, around 1.5 folds the monthly number it had early this year.

In the first three quarters this year, Motech had revenue totaling NT$10 billion (US$303 million), becoming first photovoltaic manufacturer in Taiwan to rake in NT$10 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, the company’s net earnings topped NT$8.57 per share. Some institutional investors estimated the company will likely make NT$30 per share on projected revenue of NT$20 billion (US$606 million) next year.

Motech’s executives pointed out that the company’s cell output will increase to 280 megawatts next year and its output of crystalline silicon will rise to at least 100 megawatts next year from current 12 megawatts.

Some industry watchers estimated Motech’s revenue and production output will likely increase 60%, respectively, throughout next year mostly thanks to profitable prices for solar cells. In the meantime, the company will be able to reduce costs by at least 20-30% on the materials it uses mostly because of its growing crystalline capability.

E-Tone plans to boost cell output to 150 megawatts in 2008 and has secured 80% of materials for the production. M.Setek of Japan is its major material supplier, filling half of its total demand. The Japanese supplier plans to ramp up output capacity to 50,000 metric tons in 2011 from current 100 metric tons.
source & copyright: CENS