Qatar and Saudi Arabia to Lead Middle East Polysilicon Production

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources East Asia (Kofu-shi, Japan)--According to Industrial Info's Renewable Energy Database, Western Asia, made of primarily of the Middle East, accounts for less than 1% of basic renewable energy projects currently under construction.

Basic renewable energy is comprised of solar, wind and hydropower, and makes up the bulk of alternative energy. Industrial Info is tracking approximately $1.5 trillion in these types of projects worldwide, with North America taking the majority. The rest of Asia, including Southeast Asia and East Asia, makes up approximately 25% of projects under construction, though Western Asia is expected to pick up the pace in the near future.

Middle Eastern energy firms have been pressing for more thermal power plants; however, due to the rising cost of oil and political unrest, these same firms are looking to alternative energy to offset losses while promoting capacity growth. Hydropower is expected to remain the most common type of renewable energy in some part of Western Asia, but solar and wind power development is expected to grow significantly within the next 10 years. Solar power in particular, currently supported by overseas suppliers like Solar Frontier, a subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (TYO:5002) (Tokyo), and Abengoa Solar (Seville, Spain), is likely to become a prominent source of energy for the region as polysilicon production becomes localized.

Saudi Arabia, which is currently planning its first solar power station, could become the region's primary supply of polysilicon by 2017. By then, the country is expected to have a production capacity of more than 17,000 tons per year, with the majority going on to make silicon wafers for solar panels. The largest project, headed by Mutajadedah Energy Company (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) in association with Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company Limited (SEO:000720) (Seoul), is expected to launch next year and has a total investment value of approximately $1.3 billion.

Qatar is also investing in polysilicon production. SolarWorld AG (Bonn, Germany) is currently working with Qatar Foundation (Doha, Qatar) to develop one of the region's first polysilicon production sites. The plant, designed with an annual production capacity of 5,000 tons, is currently under construction abroad, and will be assembled in Qatar by the end of next year.

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