After missing important deadlines on previous projects, Silicor Materials has taken the proactive step of bringing in Texas-based high tech construction and project management firm AM Technical Solutions (AMTS) to support its large-scale project in Iceland. AMTS will take on important project management responsibilities for the project, which Silicor hopes will be fully operation by 2019.
The huge 121,000 m2 production facility will be built in Grundartangi, Iceland, and will be the first commercial-scale site to use Silicors unique production process for solar silicon. Last year the company signed a contract with MT Hojgaard for the construction of the site, which is expected to begin before the end of 2016, with the target to complete the facility within three years.
The company is investing US$226.5 million in the facility, of which more than $8.9 million will be paid to AMTS for overseeing and executing the projects strict timeline and controlling the budget throughout construction. Once operational, Silicor expects the facility to be able to produce at least 19,000 MT of solar silicon per year.
With over 20 years of experience in the high tech building and project management space, AMTS is uniquely qualified to bring Silicors first commercial-scale facility to life in an ambitious timeframe, commented Silicor Materials CEO Terry Jester. AMTS will help Silicor make a huge impact on renewable energy. Once we are running at full capacity, Silicors flagship facility in Gundartangi will produce enough silicon annually to make solar panels for 800,000 homes.
This facility will be the first commercial-scale site for Silicor to produce its solar silicon. The company claims that solar siicon requires a different, cheaper and more environmentally friendly, production process to polysilicon, and says that it does not hinder the performance or quality of the product.
Enlisting AMTS for the project management aspects of the facility is likely to be a response to the company missing a string of important project deadlines on a previous project. Notably missing two start-up deadlines in 2012, then a payment deadline for $150,000 in 2013, which put a $600 million project in jeopardy.
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