This is a market evaluation and progress assessment report for the Siemens Silicon Crystal Growing Facilities Project. In April 1998, Siemens Solar Industries and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance entered into an agreement under which Siemens is redesigning and testing hot zone components for crystal growers. The goals of the redesign are to improve the energy efficiency of the growers, reduce the cycle time required to grow silicon ingot, improve the quality of the ingot that is produced and reduce the consumption of other materials, mainly argon.
