The solar JV will establish the first production facility for polysilicon on the Arabian Peninsula, according to SolarWorld. Partners are the Qatar Foundation (70%) and the Qatar Development Bank (1%).

Qatar Solar Technologies will invest a total of more than US$500 million in the construction of the production facility with a planned annual capacity of around 3600 tons of high-purity solar polysilicon in its first stage of expansion. Start of production is planned for the third quarter of 2012.

With the project SolarWorld is further securing its supply of solar grade silicon in addition to the company’s own production, own raw materials recycling activities and long-term delivery contracts.

The technology partner for the construction of the production line is the German company centrotherm photovoltaics AG with which SolarWorld has previously cooperated successfully in the development of its manufacturing facilities.