[Ferro-alloys.com] Elkem Solar announced this past week that it would resume solar grade silicon production in Norway due to improving market conditions. The company also initiated cost reductions for production and increased value of its product through field studies and adaptions to customer processes. Elkem is expected to begin a ramp-up to full production immediately. “Independent tests in Hyderabad, India and Alice Springs, Australia have revealed 2.5% higher electricity production than modules produced with standard polysilicon,” commented Torgeir Ulset, VP of Sales and Marketing at Elkem Solar. “This effect is caused by improved temperature coefficient and through electrical properties and composition of trace elements in [Elkem Solar Silicon].”

 

Elkem Solar Silicon has an annual capacity of 6,000 mt. CEO Inge Grubben-Stromnes commented that a recent rise in prices and demand for its silicon output helped to initiate the restart to full production.