International prices for a solar-grade polycrystalline silicon wafers have risen to US$1.06 currently and are expected to rise to US$1.15-1.20 in February,according to chairman Chen Chi-jen for Taiwan-based maker Gigastorage.

Based on an estimated total capacity of 42-45GWp for PV systems to be installed around the world in 2014,supply of solar-grade silicon wafers has been tight,Chen said.

Gigastorage currently has an annual capacity of 700MWp for growing solar-grade polycrystalline silicon ingots and 600MWp for slicing,Chen indicated.

Gigastorage stopped production of blank optical discs in Taiwan in 2013 but maintains production at its factory in Thailand with a monthly capacity of 5-6 million discs.