Green Energy, Taiwan Polysilicon, Motech Form Polycrystalline Venture

Taipei, March 15, 2011 (CENS)--Green Energy Technology Inc., Taiwan Polysilicon Crop., and Motech Industries Inc. yesterday signed an agreement to jointly establish a polycrystalline wafer venture, building an integrated manufacturing capability among them.

The joint venture is designed to produce crystalline ingots, slice the ingots into wafers, and sell the wafers. The wafer is the crucial raw materials for their solar cells and modules. The output capacity of the factory has yet to be decided.

The joint venture is initially capitalized at NT$1 billion (US$3.3 million at US$1: NT$30), with Green Energy paying 40% of the capital and the other two each contributing 30%.

Industry executives pointed out that although silicon foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (TSMC) does not hold any stake in this venture, it is the mastermind behind the joint venture plan.

TSMC has bought into Motech, opened its solar-energy operation and ventured into CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) solar sector. Recently, the foundry giant signed an agreement to contract Centrosolar of Germany to make solar modules for it.

Before the joint venture announcement, Sino-American Silicon Products, Inc. and Solar Energy Tech Corp. had entered into alliance. Both cases, industry executives said, underscore the solar industry's trend of setting up integrated manufacturing capability to minimize uncertainty of the supply chains.