Nuying Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Friday 23 October 2015]

Solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer maker Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) on October 22 announced the availability of free licensing for its patent No. 1452185 concerning the structure and manufacturing process of solar-grade crystalline silicon ingots and wafers to Taiwan-based fellow makers. Interested makers need to register during October 22-December 31, 2015.

 

SAS began to use the patented technology to grow solar-grade crystalline silicon ingots in 2011 and obtained the Taiwan patent in September 2014, the company said. In addition to Taiwan, SAS has obtained a patent for the technology in Japan and is applying for one in the US and China, the company indicated.

 

The free licensing is because Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers have been hit by the US anti-dumping tariffs as well as SAS’ production capacity is not enough to meet total demand from Taiwan-based solar cell makers, SAS explained.

 

If imported solar wafers involve the patent technology, the makers concerned are likely to face patent infringement charges in Taiwan, SAS indicated. This may bring negative impact on China-based GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, for the maker supplies solar-grade polycrystalline wafers for 30-40% of Taiwan-based solar cell makers, according to industry sources.

 

SAS on October 22 unveiled Robust Wafer, a new solar-grade crystalline silicon wafer with 10% smaller thickness and higher resistance to fragility than conventional models, and will start production in the first quarter of 2016, the company said.

 

Through advance in manufacturing technology and deleting bottlenecks in manufacturing process, SAS will increase its annual production capacity from 1.0GWp currently to 1.2-1.3GWp in 2016, the company indicated.