Russian Rostec launches first production of germanium wafers for space industry in Krasnoyarsk
KRASNOYARSK. Oct 3 (Interfax) - Krasnoyarsk-based JSC Germanium (part of the Shvabe holding of the Rostec group of companies) has launched the first industrial production of polished germanium wafers in Russia, which are used as a base for solar cells for the space industry and renewable energy, the Industrial Development Fund (IDF) said.
The new production is part of an investment project within which the production of germanium tetrachloride for fiber-optic communication lines (FOCL) was previously launched at the sites of JSC Germanium, the IDF told Interfax. Total investment in the project exceeded 328 million rubles, of which 222 million rubles were provided by the IDF as a concessional loan.
Germanium previously manufactured polished wafers in a pilot production section, it said. According to the company's estimates, the average annual demand of the Russian market is approximately 50,000 wafers, and until recently around 90% was supplied from abroad. The enterprise will be able to largely replace imports.
"Polished germanium wafers, which photovoltaic converters for solar batteries are based on, are in high demand among manufacturers of space technology. Solar cells on germanium substrates are actively used in on-board power sources because they can provide a service life of 15 or more years. We are ready to meet a large part of the demand in the Russian market," the general director of Shvabe, Vadim Kalyugin, was quoted as saying.
Polished germanium wafers are an alternative to silicon ones. Germanium solar cells have a higher efficiency compared to silicon ones - around 30%, and possess increased radiation resistance and mechanical strength.
Germanium is one of the strategically important rare chemical elements. It is used in high-tech technologies related to space research, solar energy, infrared technology and thermal imaging, electronics and medicine, and in the production of FOCL. It is also used to create chips based on silicon-germanium alloys and detectors for radiation control and in the search for dark matter and double beta decay.
As reported, in July this year, JSC Germanium for the first time in Russia began producing ultra-pure germanium tetrachloride for FOCL. The substance with low impurity content will make it possible to create optical fiber for connecting data centers and building 5G network infrastructure.
After reaching design capacity, the company will be able to produce at least 2 tonnes of the substance annually. This will fully meet the needs of the domestic industry. The main consumers of ultra-pure germanium tetrachloride are companies producing preforms and optical fiber from them.
JSC Germanium was established in 1993. According to the company's website, the enterprise has three main production sections - hydrometallurgical, metallurgical and a section for mechanical processing of germanium. They form a complete production cycle from raw materials and internal recycling to finished products.
The Shvabe holding unites several dozen industrial facilities and scientific centers in ten Russian cities. Within the holding's scope, a full creation cycle is implemented, from development to production, for optoelectronic equipment for the civilian sector, as well as for ensuring state and public security.
