Ferroglobe PLC, a producer of silicon steel, silicon-based alloys and manganese-based specialty alloys, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with REC Silicon. Beneath the MOU, Ferroglobe commits to leverage its asset platform in america to provide high-purity silicon steel to REC Silicon geared toward collectively establishing a low-carbon and absolutely traceable U.S.-based photo voltaic provide chain.
Hanwha Group’s current funding into REC Silicon, at the side of Hanwha Group’s subsidiary Qcells, has expanded REC Silicon’s relationship with Ferroglobe and plan for the quick growth of an end-to-end U.S. photo voltaic provide chain from silicon steel to polysilicon to completely assembled photo voltaic modules. The venture would span from Washington State to Georgia, West Virginia and past.
Passage of Senator Jon Ossoff’s Photo voltaic Power Manufacturing for America Act as a part of a broad clear vitality incentive package deal would make such plans instantly doable.
Ferroglobe can be a associate in making certain regular provide of absolutely traceable metallurgical grade silicon steel produced within the U.S. from regionally sourced uncooked supplies and using its home workforce. Ferroglobe is leveraging its technical and operational experience throughout websites in West Virginia, Alabama and Ohio to assist this effort.
As a producer of high-purity electronics and photo voltaic grade polysilicon with belongings in Moses Lake, Wash. and Butte, Mont., REC Silicon is positioned to assist lead the U.S.’s clear vitality transition. The current Hanwha funding will allow a re-start of the presently idle Moses Lake plant in 2023 and make obtainable excessive volumes of low-carbon, solar-grade polysilicon.
“The photo voltaic trade is significant to the way forward for the worldwide vitality transformation,” says Dr. Marco Levi, Ferroglobe’s CEO. “I’m grateful for Senator Ossoff’s management on this essential initiative, which is able to re-shore photo voltaic capability within the U.S., and improve jobs to assist the financial system. Moreover, we’re excited to collaborate with REC Silicon on this essential initiative. We now have had a longstanding relationship with REC, and this MOU aligns each firm’s respective experience and competencies in direction of a typical purpose which is vital to america.”
The MOU commits the businesses to work collectively to extend U.S. manufacturing and employment at every of the businesses’ affected services. “It’s crucial that the photo voltaic manufacturing trade grows and diversifies,” feedback James A. Might II, CEO of REC Silicon. “REC is dedicated to driving large-scale investments in america, and we consider that the passage of SEMA particularly would outcome within the creation of tens of 1000’s of high-paying manufacturing jobs throughout the sector, accelerating the U.S. transition to wash vitality.”