Development of China's Silicon Industry Should Proceed with Caution

Silicon industry is an energy-intensiveand high pollution industryPolysilicon and silicone are now highlighted.They both use high-purity silicon as rawmaterial. The production of high-purity siliconneeds to consume a large amount of electricityto reduce silica into silicon by charcoalin the electric furnace. Producing 10 000 tonsof high-purity industrial silicon need to consumeat least 125 million kWh of electricityand 45 000 cubic meters of timber. In addition,producing one ton of industrial silicon candischarge 2 300 - 2 500 cubic meters of ex-