Photovoltaic power generation is an environmental protection industry, but the polycrystalline silicon used in photovoltaic cells is higher in power consumption than electrolytic aluminum, which is known as "electric tiger." Moreover, if polysilicon is not processed with certain chemicals, it may cause environmental pollution.
Since PV is a typical "two out" industry, this means that China consumes a lot of energy and causes a lot of pollution, but it produces clean energy in the country. This is why people question the PV industry.
Power consumption giant Polysilicon Shenyin Wanguoguo researcher Jianjian once measured the power consumption of a local polysilicon manufacturer in Sichuan.
At present, the company's electricity consumption for producing one kilogram of polysilicon is about 160 kilowatt-hours, that is, 1 ton of polysilicon consumes 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is the leading level in the country.
China Merchants Securities researcher Wang Liusheng told CBN reporter that at present, the domestic power consumption for refining polysilicon is basically at 20,000 kwh/ton. For electrolytic aluminum, which is defined as a high-energy-consuming industry, the electricity consumption is about 14,500 kWh/ton. Obviously, polysilicon consumes more electricity than electrolytic aluminum.
Even with such high power consumption, in order to attract investment, some local governments not only allocated large areas of land to open the door for polysilicon production companies, but also provided a very cheap electricity price.
According to media reports, the industrial power consumption of a certain city in Jiangxi is 0.53 yuan/kWh, and the electricity price of a local polysilicon plant is 0.4 yuan/kWh.
The production of polysilicon consumes such a large amount of electricity, and the demand for electricity in other manufacturing processes of solar cells is also high.
"In the process of solar cell processing, there is an intermediate process called slicing. In addition to the use of electricity for cutting equipment, air compressors, refrigerators, etc. also consume electricity. For example, if you cut a polysilicon weighing 22 kg, you must use 640 degrees. According to the electricity price in Jiangsu, polysilicon chips consume about 30 yuan/kg."
Shi Dingyao, a counselor of the State Council and director of the China Renewable Energy Society, also stated that crystalline silicon consumes more power during production and operation. However, in more than 20 years of photovoltaic generation cycle, the energy consumed in the production of materials only takes 3-4 years. Balance can be reached.
The cost of pollution control is high. Of course, from the perspective of energy consumption per unit of production, under the current technological conditions, China's energy consumption per million yuan (including polysilicon extraction) is about 900 kWh, while that of the steel industry is 3900 kWh. About electricity, electrolytic aluminum production value per million yuan energy consumption of about 6,000 degrees, the photovoltaic industry's output value of energy consumption is far lower than the steel and electrolytic aluminum industry.
Chen Bin, director of the Industry Coordination Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, once said: "At present, China's photovoltaic industry has not yet started on a large scale. 98% of solar cells made with domestic polysilicon are exported abroad, which is equivalent to indirect massive export of energy."
Polysilicon not only consumes electricity, but it can also cause pollution to the environment.
During the manufacturing process of the product, exhaust gases such as silicon tetrachloride, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen gas will be discharged. In particular, silicon tetrachloride, if not treated, will dissolve into substances such as hydrochloric acid, which will contaminate the soil.
According to the national regulations, the recycling efficiency of the above three products should not be lower than 98.5%, 99%, and 99%.
"Some companies are reluctant to do recycling but also take into account the interests of the interests." Xue Ziying, managing director of polysilicon equipment manufacturer Senson Group, said, "The process of recovering silicon tetrachloride is called hydrogenation, which is a kind of hydrogenation process. The consumables--electrode, whose service life is 4 to 5 months.A 1,500-ton polycrystalline silicon refinery uses 8 electrodes, so the company has to spend 70 million to 80 million yuan each year, and the investment amount is very high."
He said that at present, China is also actively seeking products such as graphite to replace the function of this electrode, in order to reduce the burden on polysilicon manufacturers. "But the government's policy is to let everyone participate in environmental protection. The entire battery production process must actively improve the process and reduce costs."
(First Financial Daily)
Since PV is a typical "two out" industry, this means that China consumes a lot of energy and causes a lot of pollution, but it produces clean energy in the country. This is why people question the PV industry.
Power consumption giant Polysilicon Shenyin Wanguoguo researcher Jianjian once measured the power consumption of a local polysilicon manufacturer in Sichuan.
At present, the company's electricity consumption for producing one kilogram of polysilicon is about 160 kilowatt-hours, that is, 1 ton of polysilicon consumes 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is the leading level in the country.
China Merchants Securities researcher Wang Liusheng told CBN reporter that at present, the domestic power consumption for refining polysilicon is basically at 20,000 kwh/ton. For electrolytic aluminum, which is defined as a high-energy-consuming industry, the electricity consumption is about 14,500 kWh/ton. Obviously, polysilicon consumes more electricity than electrolytic aluminum.
Even with such high power consumption, in order to attract investment, some local governments not only allocated large areas of land to open the door for polysilicon production companies, but also provided a very cheap electricity price.
According to media reports, the industrial power consumption of a certain city in Jiangxi is 0.53 yuan/kWh, and the electricity price of a local polysilicon plant is 0.4 yuan/kWh.
The production of polysilicon consumes such a large amount of electricity, and the demand for electricity in other manufacturing processes of solar cells is also high.
"In the process of solar cell processing, there is an intermediate process called slicing. In addition to the use of electricity for cutting equipment, air compressors, refrigerators, etc. also consume electricity. For example, if you cut a polysilicon weighing 22 kg, you must use 640 degrees. According to the electricity price in Jiangsu, polysilicon chips consume about 30 yuan/kg."
Shi Dingyao, a counselor of the State Council and director of the China Renewable Energy Society, also stated that crystalline silicon consumes more power during production and operation. However, in more than 20 years of photovoltaic generation cycle, the energy consumed in the production of materials only takes 3-4 years. Balance can be reached.
The cost of pollution control is high. Of course, from the perspective of energy consumption per unit of production, under the current technological conditions, China's energy consumption per million yuan (including polysilicon extraction) is about 900 kWh, while that of the steel industry is 3900 kWh. About electricity, electrolytic aluminum production value per million yuan energy consumption of about 6,000 degrees, the photovoltaic industry's output value of energy consumption is far lower than the steel and electrolytic aluminum industry.
Chen Bin, director of the Industry Coordination Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, once said: "At present, China's photovoltaic industry has not yet started on a large scale. 98% of solar cells made with domestic polysilicon are exported abroad, which is equivalent to indirect massive export of energy."
Polysilicon not only consumes electricity, but it can also cause pollution to the environment.
During the manufacturing process of the product, exhaust gases such as silicon tetrachloride, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen gas will be discharged. In particular, silicon tetrachloride, if not treated, will dissolve into substances such as hydrochloric acid, which will contaminate the soil.
According to the national regulations, the recycling efficiency of the above three products should not be lower than 98.5%, 99%, and 99%.
"Some companies are reluctant to do recycling but also take into account the interests of the interests." Xue Ziying, managing director of polysilicon equipment manufacturer Senson Group, said, "The process of recovering silicon tetrachloride is called hydrogenation, which is a kind of hydrogenation process. The consumables--electrode, whose service life is 4 to 5 months.A 1,500-ton polycrystalline silicon refinery uses 8 electrodes, so the company has to spend 70 million to 80 million yuan each year, and the investment amount is very high."
He said that at present, China is also actively seeking products such as graphite to replace the function of this electrode, in order to reduce the burden on polysilicon manufacturers. "But the government's policy is to let everyone participate in environmental protection. The entire battery production process must actively improve the process and reduce costs."
(First Financial Daily)