Q-Cells to make its own silicon wafers

German solar cell manufacturer Q-Cells plans to get into polysilicon wafer production.

Executives made the revelation at the company's annual general meeting yesterday.

Q-Cells plans to launch wafer production in 2009 with a target capacity of 240 MW.

In February, Q-Cells concluded an agreement with Elkem Solar for the supply of large quantities of metallurgical silicon (see Q-Cells cozies up to suppliers and investor.)

In getting into commencing wafer production, Q-Cells said it "expects to achieve a significant cost advantage and synergy effects between wafer and cell production."

Silicon wafers are the raw building blocks of photovoltaic cells, which form the basis of conventional solar panels. 

In a related development, prominent silicon maker Wacker Chemie of Germany has also announced plans to significantly increase its production.

Wacker plans to invest €400 million in expanding its existing polysilicon production in Burghausen, Germany. The company currently has a production capacity of 6.5 metric tons of polysilicon per year.

Plans announced yesterday provide for an additional capacity of another 7 tons annually.

Together with another expansion program already underway, the company now aims at a production capacity of 21.5 tons per year.

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