Himachal Pradesh set to get first solar grade silicon plant

Tag : Silicon Solar

Chandigarh, Jun 25 Himachal Pradesh, is all set to house country's first solar gradesilicon manufacturing plant. A proposal has been submitted to thestate government by Indo-Norwegian Solar Pvt Ltd, a joint venturecompany, which intends to invest between Rs 1,200 -1,500 crore forsetting up a Solar Grade Silicon manufacturing facility.
Sources in the industry department informed, that the company willsubmit the final proposal soon and is scouting for land.
We have suggested the company, to establish the project in Una, asthe land requirement is upto 80 acres. The total manufacturingcapacity of the plant is likely to be around 5,400 tonnes ofsilicon per annum. Power requirement is expected to go upto 30MW,said an official.
Based on a unique Norwegian patented technology, Solar GradeSilicon, the core material for making solar cells, would bemanufactured at the plant. This technology would reduce cost ofproduction, consume less power during the production process, andcost of the plant is much lower than the conventional Siemenstechnology based process, said company officials.
The company will set up the plant in the first phase, to produce600 tonnes of silicon per annum. On completion the plant wouldproduce 5,400 tonnes per annum, major portion of which would be forthe export market. A facility for cutting the Silicon ingots intowafers, suitable for making solar cells would also be set up.
Once the facility becomes fully operational, the company expects totouch a revenue target of $1 billion in a year. The plant isexpected to generate employment for about 500 persons.