Production of solar grade polysilicon in Italy is set to commence with the establishment of Silfab SpA, which intends to produce some 2500 tons of polysilicon annually starting in 2009, with plans to double production capacity to 5000 tons in 2010. The product produced will be used to manufacture approximately 600 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity.

Power for Silfab's facility will be largely produced on site by means of a 50-MW methane-fired cogeneration plant, a 10-MW hydro plant and a biomass plant. The project will require an investment of approximately €280 million [US $420 million] for the first phase and €430 [US $645 million] overall. The company's annual revenues are expected to exceed €125 million [US $188 million] in 2010 and then double once the investment cycle has been completed.

“Realizing the Italian production of polysilicon, with technical specifications that are innovative and competitive at international level, will allow the photovoltaic industry to obtain very high quality wafers for the production of high-efficiency, low-cost cells,” said Franco Traverso, Founder of Silfab.