Tuesday August 22, 2006

Silicon hike hits solar energy

peakoil.com -> news.independent.co.uk :

The price of silicon has soared by 50% over the past year, curbing the growth of the solar industry and driving up costs. Silicon, made from sand, is a raw material used in semi-conductor devices such as computer chips and the cells that generate electricity in solar panels. Production of solar panels now accounts for about half the global consumption of silicon, compared with one-fifth in 2000. The rest comes from the electronics industry. Between 30,000 and 33,000 tons of silicon were produced last year.

Jenny Chase, a senior analyst at the information provider New Energy Finance, said that long-term silicon contracts this year were likely to cost around 45,000 euros per ton, compared with 30,000 euros per ton last year. Spot prices are even higher, with some analysts putting them at 190,000 euros per ton. Prices are estimated because there is no open market in silicon; deals are struck in private between suppliers and customers.

(2006-08-22 13:05:52 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. Singapore SIBOR interest rates fall to 1.5%, lowest since Dec 2004
2. Singapore SIBOR rate falls to 1.31%, lowest since Nov 2004
3. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
4. Fuel prices seen stoking Malaysia inflation in 2008
5. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
6. Singapore SIBOR rate fell to 1.25% in Apr 2008, lowest since Aug 2004
7. Malaysia inflation rate jumps to 7.7% in Jun 2008, a 26-year record high
8. Singapore : electricity tariffs to increase April 2008 on rising oil prices

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. ABC Guide to Beating Inflation in Singapore and Elsewhere
2. Singapore inflation rate hits new 26-year high of 7.5% in Apr 2008
3. Singapore : Bread price inflation continues
4. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
5. Peakoiler buys 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid FD3
6. How to insert currency exchange rates into Google Spreadsheets
7. Singapore SIBOR rate falls to 0.94% in Nov 2008, lowest since Jul 2004
8. Singapore : Inflation erodes away bank savings