GCL-Poly said that the new polysilicon plant in Xinjiang, China would comprise of 40,000MT of new-built facilities. Image: GCL-Poly

Leading polysilicon producer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings has announced plans to invest around US$823 million to expand production by 40,000MT and relocate and upgrade a further 20,000MT of capacity.

GCL-Poly said that the new polysilicon plant in Xinjiang, China would comprise of 40,000MT of new-built facilities and 20,000MT of relocated production from its existing facilities in Xuzhou, China, providing a single plant capacity of 60,000MT.

GCL-Poly has an existing capacity of 70,000MT of Siemens-based polysilicon production in operation. The company also has built an FBR (granular) polysilicon technology plant and is purchasing SunEdison’s FBR plant in Korea. Technical difficulties have prevented either facility from ramping production.

The company said that a first phase 20,000MT plant in Xinjiang would be completed by the second quarter of 2018. A second phase expansion of 20,000MT would be completed by the end of 2018. 

GCL-Poly said that it expected the 20,000MT relocation of existing facilities in Xuzhou to Xinjiang would occur over several years with the final phase of the relocation scheduled for the end of 2020. 

The company noted that by 2020, annual Siemens-based polysilicon production was expected to reach 115,000MT.

Due to the significant capital expenditures required for the capacity expansion, GCL-Poly was seeking potential investors in the project.