Photovoltaic: Fluor completes polysilicon plant in China for LDK Solar

“Fluor’s project execution was exemplary and the team responded to changing circumstances in a timely and professional manner while exhibiting the discipline to keep the project on schedule”

The first of the three production lines was finished in record time to allow LDK Solar to begin initial production of photovoltaic polycrystalline silicon less than 24 months after the start of construction. Construction of the second line was completed in July 2011 with the third and final line completed in late 2011, which met LDK’s schedule and budget requirements.

“Fluor’s project execution was exemplary and the team responded to changing circumstances in a timely and professional manner while exhibiting the discipline to keep the project on schedule,” said Goran Bye, president and chief executive officer of the LDK Silicon & Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. “The project featured a first-class safety record. Fluor also designed first rate safety features into the polysilicon plant and has continuously transferred knowledge and competency to the benefit of the LDK organization.”

"We are proud of our partnership with LDK Solar to help realize this world-class chemical plant that will lead the photovoltaic industry for years,” says Ken Choudhary, senior vice president of Fluor’s Energy & Chemicals group, who also served as the project director for the facility. “We appreciate LDK Solar’s confidence in Fluor to continue to expand this operation and assist in reducing the total life-cycle facility costs of the plant.”

Fluor continues to provide debottlenecking services at the plant and is implementing new technologies to increase the production for this state-of the-art facility.

The production of polysilicon, which consists of small silicon crystals, is the most complicated step in the solar value chain. It is a key component in solar (or photovoltaic) cells, which convert solar energy from light directly into electricity.