Integrated Solar Supply Chain

QSM's unique point of difference

QSM high-purity quartz sand

QSM’s secured quartz mineral deposits are processed into high-purity quartz sand.

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QSM quartz crucibles

QSM Ausquartz develops specially designed quartz crucibles used in  crystal growth furnaces.

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QSM Silicon metal and Polysilicon

QSM Southland Silicon Materials is developing the worlds first green silicon-metal smelter and polysilicon plant.

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Monocrystalline Silicon Ingots

Ingots are grown in specialised furnaces using the Czochralski process (CZ) creating ingots for wafers.

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QSM Silicon Wafers

Sliced from the ingots, these thin wafers are the fundamental building blocks for the solar cells used in solar panels. 

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QSM distinguishes itself with an integrated supply chain that spans every key upstream production stage, from raw quartz to finished wafer.

The solar industry relies on quartz to produce polysilicon and to manufacture the crucibles in which silicon is melted into ingots, which are then sliced into wafers. By owning domestic resources and manufacturing operations in each part of the supply chain, QSM avoids bottlenecks and offshore dependencies, delivering stability and resilience to our customers.

QSM high-purity quartz sand​

QSM has secured quartz resources (mineral deposits) and processes quartz rock into high-purity quartz sand. This is the essential starting point for silicon wafer production. Through our subsidiary Ausquartz, we have a secure and reliable supply of ultra-pure quartz sand. This is critical as this sand is used for making quartz crucibles used in the wafer manufacturing process.

QSM quartz crucibles​

Through our subsidiary Ausquartz, we are developing our own quartz crucibles used in crystal growth furnaces. Crucibles made from high-purity quartz are essential for melting polysilicon. By making crucibles in-house (via Ausquartz and partners), QSM ensures this critical equipment is available when and where needed, avoiding a potential chokepoint in wafer production. This capability also reduces dependence on the limited global crucible supply, which today is concentrated in Asia.

QSM silicon metal and polysilicon

  • Through our New Zealand subsidiary Southland Silicon Materials (SSM), QSM is developing the world’s first green silicon metal smelter and green polysilicon plant. SSM’s facilities in New Zealand’s South Island will run on renewable energy, enabling us to produce polysilicon with a minimal carbon footprint.  Silicon metal (refined from quartz) is the base material which we further purify into polysilicon.
      • SSM is developing the world’s first industrial-scale green silicon, a chemical-grade product (2202) that will be used as the feedstock to produce polysilicon with a minimal carbon footprint.
      • By producing our own polysilicon, QSM secures a crucial input for wafer manufacturing and bypasses the global polysilicon concentration out of China. Our “green poly” strategy not only ensures supply but also significantly cuts the embedded emissions of our wafers.

Monocrystalline silicon ingots

QSM grows monocrystalline silicon ingots in dedicated furnaces using the industy-standard Czochralski process (CZ) and other proven crystal growth techniques. In this step, polysilicon is melted in a quartz crucible, and a single crystal silicon boule (ingot) is pulled from the molten metal. The result is a large cylindrical ingot of pure silicon. By controlling ingot production, we can optimize crystal quality and size for downstream wafer slicing. Keeping ingot growth in-house also means we retain the silicon “kerf” (waste from wafer cutting) for recycling, improving overall resource efficiency.

QSM silicon wafers

Finally, QSM slices the silicon ingots into thin wafers using advanced diamond-wire saw technology. These wafers are the fundamental substrates for solar cells and must meet strict thickness and purity specifications. QSM’s wafers will be supplied to local and regional solar cell and module manufacturers, enabling truly local solar panel production. Our wafer lines leverage mature, state-of-the-art processes to ensure high yield and low cost without requiring any new technology. By manufacturing wafers domestically, QSM shortens the supply chain between raw materials and finished solar panels, boosting the competitiveness of local solar industry players.

Redefining Solar Logistics
Providing a competitive alternative to the traditionally Asia-centric solar supply chain, we can make it where it’s sold, minimizing transport costs and uncertainties, thus ensuring each region has access to the essential building blocks of clean energy technology.