Crystal Solar's solar cell design allowing for a higher percentage of photons to be absorbed to produce electrical power. (Courtesy National Science Foundation) SOLAR SOLUTIONS -- Dow Corning Sues German Firm, Makes New Wafer Deal
March 10, 2013
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If you can't beat 'em running up the middle, go long, to cite a football analogy.
A global struggle over solar energy technology recently has put Dow Corning Corp., a Williams Township Bay County based firm, in a lawsuit and a new deal.
Low price competition from China is believed to have caused a German firm, SolarWorld AG, to renege on an $83 million supply contract with Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. (HSC), a joint venture unit of Dow Corning.
Turmoil in the industry over low Chinese priced materials is thought to have caused Hemlock to layoff 400 workers last week, including 100 in Freeland and 300 in Tennessee.
Said J. Donald Sheets, Dow Corning executive vice president and chief financial officer: "The unresolved trade disputes among the U.S., China and Europe are a major factor in Hemlock Semiconductor's business, as the threat of tariffs on U.S. polysilicon imported into China has significantly decreased orders from China, which is home to one of the largest markets for solar polysilicon."
Hemlock Semiconductor, the largest U.S. provider of polysilicon, is alleging in the suit that SolarWorld's Deutsche Solar GmbH stopped buying polysilicon in 2012, thereby breaching a contract.
The lawsuit is over a pact for material used to make solar cells.
Last week Dow Corning reported its financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012. Including figures for HSC, Dow Corning recorded sales of $6.12 billion and net income of $188 million for 2012.
Year-to-date sales and adjusted net income were down 5 percent and 45 percent, respectively, compared to 2011 as oversupply, economic volatility and high raw material costs significantly reduced the company's profits.
Adjusted net income for 2012 excluded charges for asset abandonments and restructuring expenses. Adjusted net income for 2011 excluded a gain on long-term sales agreements.
Fourth Quarter Results:
Sales were $1.48 billion, 3 percent lower than last year's fourth quarter.
Adjusted net income was $69 million, 10 percent lower than last year's fourth quarter.
Dow Corning's Hemlock Semiconductor Group joint ventures continued to be challenged by significant oversupply in the polysilicon industry and the threat of potential duties on its products sold into China, said company officials.
Sales in Europe continued to be significantly lower due to continuing economic volatility.
Deutsche Solar had sought price and quantity concessions before stopping purchases, Hemlock said in a complaint filed Thursday in federal court in Bay City.
Meanwhile Dow Corning apparently is seeking a solution to the Chinese competition through another firm that may offer lower prices and higher quality solar materials.
Crystal Solar, a California solar energy venture company focusing on Direct Gas to Wafer technology, and Dow Corning have announced a business relationship for the successful supply of high-performance, silicon-based materials for photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules.
The two companies say they also intend to assess options for developing high performance building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solutions for building and construction, focusing on both commercial and residential applications.
Dow Corning can provide access to high-quality trichlorosilane, specialized silicon-based materials, and supply chain consultancy to support a breakthrough manufacturing approach developed by Crystal Solar to produce monocrystalline ultra-thin silicon epi-wafers.
Crystal Solar's innovative Epitaxial technology allows for high efficiency solar panels at lower costs with advanced functionality to competing approaches.
Crystal Solar has developed a breakthrough technology which fundamentally alters the cost-efficiency equation for photovoltaics. This technology approach utilizes abundant, environmentally-benign silicon materials, in contrast to other approaches that use rare, environmentally unfriendly materials. This Direct Gas to Wafer technology allows for high-efficiency solar panels at radically lower costs with:
Less than 15% silicon usage compared to conventional silicon photovoltaic technology
Less than 50% of energy input compared to conventional silicon photovoltaic technology
Less than 50% of the capital cost compared to conventional silicon photovoltaic technology
The company states it has proven its technology in R&D, and is currently setting up a semi-automated pilot line to demonstrate the manufacturing-worthiness and scalability of this technology, at radically lowered costs compared to competing approaches.
Crystal Solar is venture funded, and has premier strategic partnerships with global players in the solar, chemical and semiconductor industries. It is the recipient of multi-million dollar research awards by the U.S. Department of Energy.
"We are looking forward to collaborating with Crystal Solar on this new opportunity," said Dan Futter, Vice President of Solar Solutions at Dow Corning.
"Beyond expanding its key supplier position for feedstock and silicon-based materials for Solar PV, Dow Corning partners with leaders in the solar and renewable energy industries, such as Crystal Solar. At Dow Corning we believe that innovative materials are key to addressing the industry's challenge to drive down costs, enhance system performance, and help make solar more competitive with traditional energy sources," Futter added.
"The excellent quality and reputation of our high performance building business is a natural fit to enable leading-edge innovation with reduced risk in the BIPV space."
"We are very pleased to be working with Dow Corning on a broad-based framework to make high-efficiency solar panels at costs below $0.50/W in production," said T.S. Ravi, Crystal Solar's CEO. "Dow Corning's reputation for quality and their ability to scale globally will help Crystal Solar expand their manufacturing footprint significantly."
Dow Corning develops and manufactures materials and applications for solar PV from feedstock to module assembly and installation. By leveraging the power of silicon, and more than 70 years of experience, Dow Corning is committed to helping bring more powerful and reliable PV systems that can quickly achieve a lower levelized cost of electricity.
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