SILFAB SpA selects CDI for polysilicon plant

PADOVA, ITALY: SILFAB SpA has chosen CDI Corp. to provide technology integration, basic engineering and detailed engineering services for its solar grade polysilicon manufacturing project to be built in Borgofranco d'Ivrea, Italy.

Silfab's first phase of manufacturing is expected to produce 2500 tons of solar grade polysilicon annually starting in 2009, with plans to double the production capacity to 5000 tons in 2010. The product produced will be used to manufacture approximately 600MW of solar capacity. CDI's scope of work involves technology integration services for the entire polysilicon project.

As the technology integrator, CDI will provide co-ordination, evaluation, and technical oversight of the basic engineering technology packages produced for the trichlorosilane (TCS) plant, the vent gas treatment system and the polysilicon plant production area including the chemical vapor deposition reactors and converters. CDI will also provide the balance of plant basic engineering services for the associated utilities, offsites and infrastructure for the entire project.

Silfab S.p.A was founded in Piemonte, Italy by Franco Traverso, an expert in the renewable energy business with over 25 years experience in the photovoltaic sector. Silfab's partners are leading companies who are strongly interested in the production of solar grade polysilicon. Silfab's goal with this project is the production of high quality solar grade polysilicon for the photovoltaic market.

"Choosing a capable and experienced engineering company to coordinate and integrate the individual technology packages is most important in the success of our project," said Franco Traverso, Silfab CMD. "We chose CDI based on its success and experience in similar projects and familiarity with designing a polysilicon plant with sustainability, high reliability, high yield, and low waste output. This project will allow the photovoltaic industry to obtain very high quality wafers for the production of high-efficiency, low-cost cells. These are core principles of this most important project."

CDI has been involved in the design of polysilicon projects utilizing similar processes for over a decade with many of its clients' plants in operation today. As a leader in implementing TCS technology, CDI is providing technology integration, basic engineering, Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and Engineering Procurement Construction Management (EPCM) services for polysilicon producing clients through a global project development organization dedicated to the polysilicon market and headquartered in Houston, Texas.

"CDI is honored to be selected to provide engineering leadership on this important project," said Keith Landry, Vice President of Global Project Development for CDI Engineering Solutions. "As the world demand for clean solar energy continues to increase, CDI Engineering Solutions is prepared to meet the demands of the polysilicon market."