Silicon factory planning based on cleaning MG silicon: 
Status and future challenges 

Peter Fath,
Managing Director of SolMic GmbH, Germany

Dr. Peter Fath has a PhD in semiconductor physics from the University of Constance, Germany. He has many years of experience within the field of the photovoltaics especially including solar cell development, process technology, wafer and solar cell production, as well as material and device analysis. Fath is a lecturer of solid state and semiconductor physics and is the author and co-author of over 170 publications while also holding 15 patents within the field of photovoltaics. 

In 2005 he founded SolMic GmbH together with Dr. Albrecht Mozer to offer various consulting and engineering services related to photovoltaics and microelectronics industry with a special focus on polysilicon production facilities. 

In December 2006 SolMic and equipment specialist Centrotherm founded Centrotherm SiQ GmbH, a company specialized in producing Siemens reactors and converters.

Producing solar grade silicon by cleaning metallurgical silicon seems to have two benefits: processing costs may be cheaper than using Siemens reactors and the upfront costs are much lower. On the other hand, there is a limited amount of practical experience. The design criteria for direct metallurgical silicon refinement will be explained within the presentation and this will include technical details and costs. Since last year SolMic has signed one contract to build a MG-SoG polysilicon plant for the joint venture of Scheuten Solar and SolarWorld AG.

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