SOLAR GRADE SILICON

Timminco Solar produces solar grade silicon for the solar photovoltaic industry using a proprietary and relatively low energy intensive metallurgical purification process.

Timminco Solar’s solar grade silicon has been used to produce 100% solar grade silicon cells with average cell efficiencies above 16 percent with good light-induced degradation and breakdown voltage characteristics. Customers can process solar grade silicon pure or blended with polysilicon to achieve their own ingot specifications.

In April 2011, AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V., a significant shareholder of Timminco Limited, commisioned a state-of-the-art 201.6 kW demonstration solar photovoltaic system at AMG Vanadium, Inc.'s spent catalyst recycling facility in Ohio, USA. The solar panels used in this installation feature Timminco Solar's solar grade silicon.

Timminco Solar’s solar grade silicon is available in brick form with various grades of boron and phosphorus. The bricks are called "feedstock bricks" since they are to be remelted by ingot manufacturers. These bricks differ from "waferable bricks" ready to be cut into wafers. Dopant concentrations can be adjusted based on customers’ needs and blending preferences.

Timminco Solar is available to provide technical help to optimize blending recipes.