ReviewsSilicon Wafers For Solar Cells Too Pricey.
Taipei (Taiwan) - The silicon wafers used for the solar cell industry have increased significantly in price this quarter. 6" wafers are currently priced between $9.20 and $9.30 each. The Taiwanese solar cell makers claim this is an unacceptably high price. When the wafers exceeded $9 in November there was an outcry. The additional 3% has pushed the price beyond $9, what was considered to be the ceiling. As a result, silicon solar cell makers are now forced to reduce the number of products they buy, sending ripples downstream to end-product retailers.
To put this number into perspective, 8" blank silicon wafers like this image can be purchased online for $5.95, on sale from the regular $6.95 each.
Digitimes.