List of world's top solar wafer companies-growing bigger

List of world's top solar wafer companies-growing bigger1 Mar, 2011 Comtec solar, GCL poly, LDK solar, MEMC, REC, solar energy, solarworld

Solar wafer companies are mainly
Concentrated in Asia specifically China and Taiwan. cheap labor, lower
Land and capital costs as well as presence of major MERs has made
China the No.1 solar wafer producer in the world. Despite most of
Polysilicon being produced in Europe and USA, China leads the way in
Wafer production. Note semiconduwafers In contrast are mainly
Produced in the developed countries like Japan, USA and Germany.
Structural forces of the crystalline silicon industry is forcing
Vertical integration with cell producers making wafers and wafer
Production companies making cells. However there are a few companies
Which predominantly concentrate on supply solar wafers to solar cell
Manufacturers. Here is the list of the main solar wafer producers which
Have shown stunning growth in the last few years.

1)GCL poly-This Chinese company has become one the biggest producers of polysilicon and wafers
In 2010 from zero in 2008.is expanding rapidly but not getting
Production of solar cells and panels. The company is also on its way
Becoming a top 3 producer of polysilicon and is expanding by co-locating
Wafer plants near its customer factories. has singed massive long term
Deals with most of the biggest solar panel producers in the world.

2)LDK solar-This is the biggest producer
Solar wafers that are used by crystalline solar panels but is losing
Its No.1 position to GCL poly. is expanding rapidly into other parts
The solar supply chain and cocould break into top 10 solar panel
Producer in the next couple of years.

3)ReneSola
-Very similar to LDK solar in operations and structure, this Chinese
Company is the lowest cost producer of solar wafer producer in
World. It is expanding into other parts of the supply chain.

4)Renewable Energy Corporation (REC)-This
Norwegian producer was the largest solar wafer producer till a few years
Ago when it lost its leadership to the Chinese. It is now expanding in
Singapore to reduce its high cost and integrating vertically.

5)Solarworld-Solarworld is the biggest German
Producer of solar panels, the company is one of the few to still have
Operations in Europe and USA. The company has been battered by low cost
Competition.

6) Comtec solar-It is a relatively less known
Chinese producer of solar wafers however it has been expanding rapidly
And is as big as ReneSola in terms of capacity now.

7)Green Energy Technology-This Taiwanese producer
Of solar wafers has left other domestic competitors behind in capacity
Increase. Primarily supplies to the numerous solar cell makers in Taiwan

SAS-
Sino American Silicon (SAS) is one of the oldest wafer producers in
Taiwan and supplies to both semiconductor and solar industries. It has
Been growing steadily rather than expanding too aggressively.

9)MEMC-The only big American solar wafer producer
Is building a factory in Malaysia to reduce costs. The company is one
The biggest manufacturers of semi wafers. Like GCL poly, it is also
Expanding into the solar systems business without getting into cell and
Module production

10)Nexolon-The company is based out of South
Korea and is closely associated with the polysilicon giant OCI
Chemcials. The company is primarily counting on the growth of South
Korean companies like LG, hanwha, Samsung for its growth.

Besides these solar wafer producers other significant producers are
Trina Solar, Yingli, Suntech, jinko solar. These companies use solar Wafers
For their internal cell production. Other companies like ja solar are
Also expanding wafer capacities in order to reduce their overall costs
Of producing solar panels.

Other links

Taiwan's solar cell concentration in the PV supply chain makes it vulnerable to oversupplylist of world's major solar energy companiessouth
Korean conglomerate hanwha follows LG, Samsung into solar
Energy; acquires controlling stake in 4th largest Chinese solar company
Solarfun cheaplyis polysilicon and wafer supply Tightness the reason for new long term contracts being signed by downstream solar producerswhich is the lowest cost solar panel manufacturer in the world