SOLAR CELL SHORTAGE: Say Fast Until 2007

See below the lead story for the good news. As reported two weeks ago, Nanosolar is going into solar cell manufacturing big time. An electronic industry article typifies reports of the need:



Silicon Shortage May Become Problem, SEMI Says
Staff Reporter -- Electronic News, 5/16/2006

-Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased 3 percent during the Q1, compared to Q4 2005 areas shipments...

-Q1 total area shipments are about 29 percent above Q1 2005 shipments, SMG also noted.

-“Availability of polycrystalline silicon, the starting materials for silicon wafers, may become a major constraint in meeting the future wafer demands,” he warned...

The Good News: Besides Nanosolar's big splash, the industry in general is moving to deal with the new demand, as these stories from SolarBuzz about SunPower reveal:

July 10, 2006
San Jose, CA, USA:
SunPower Announces Major Silicon Supply Agreement
SunPower Corporation has signed a multi-year polysilicon supply agreement with DC Chemical Co., Ltd. DC Chemical is Korea's leading chemical company with expertise producing gases used in polysilicon manufacturing...

July 14, 2006
San Jose, CA, USA:
SunPower Acquires Building for Second Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility
SunPower Corporation has purchased a 40,000-square-meter manufacturing facility in the Philippines (located near its existing plant) to expand its solar cell production...

Word is the demand is driven by big new European installations and government commitments. How well and quickly will the market respond? Like the acting teacher said to the starlet, it depends on the motivation.