SunPower announced that Woongjin Energy will dedicate a new 46,200-square-meter solar silicon ingot pulling factory on November 28th. The factory will be the largest of its kind in Korea. Distinguished guests will include the governor of ChungNam Province, the mayor of DaeJeon City, and SunPower executives.
The new WJE factory is headquartered in the DaeDeok Techno Valley business park in DaeJeon City, Korea and will produce silicon ingots exclusively for solar cell production. Polysilicon for this venture will be supplied primarily from DC Chemical, Korea's largest chemical company. All ingots produced at the factory are expected to be exported.
"Woongjin Energy is ready to apply its expertise to produce high quality silicon ingots for SunPower," said Hakdo Yoo, president and CEO of Woongjin Energy Co. "With our highly educated workforce, convenient materials transportation, and research and development infrastructure, Woongjin Energy is well positioned for a long and successful future in the solar business."
SunPower is purchasing approximately US$250 million of silicon ingots from the joint venture through a five-year supply agreement. Production by WJE is anticipated to grow at a rate consistent with increased polysilicon supply from DC Chemical. SunPower has contributed equity capital and technology expertise, and is selling polysilicon to WJE as well as procuring silicon ingots from them.
"With the dedication of this factory, we have taken another meaningful step in expanding our supply portfolio," said PM Pai, chief operating officer, at SunPower Corp. "We are pleased that construction on this factory was completed on time and that manufacturing has begun."
