Solar-Grade Silicon in the Energy Transition: A Strategic Commodity for the Global Photovoltaic Market

César Ramírez-Márquez ()
Additional contact information
César Ramírez-Márquez: Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Francisco J. Múgica S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia 58060, Michoacan, Mexico

Commodities, 2025, vol. 4, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: As global economies accelerate their energy transitions, the photovoltaic sector faces critical challenges linked to material supply, security, and sustainability. Solar-grade silicon, enabling over 90 percent of photovoltaic technologies, has become a strategic commodity underpinning the expansion of renewable energy infrastructures. This short communication examines the evolving role of solar-grade silicon within the global energy transition, moving beyond its traditional classification as a technical material to frame it as a commodity of geopolitical and economic significance. We analyze recent price trends, regional production asymmetries, and trade dependencies, identifying key vulnerabilities in current supply chains. Although alternative photovoltaic materials such as perovskites and organics attract research interest, their commercial immaturity reinforces the centrality of silicon. The novelty of this contribution lies in treating solar-grade silicon through a commodity lens, integrating techno-economic metrics with policy and investment considerations. We highlight opportunities for reinforcing supply resilience through domestic production, circular economy strategies such as silicon recovery and reuse, and diversification of technological pathways. Our findings advocate for the inclusion of solar-grade silicon in strategic resource planning and industrial policy frameworks. Recognizing its unique position at the intersection of energy, technology, and trade is essential to achieving secure, scalable, and sustainable photovoltaic deployment worldwide.

Keywords: solar-grade silicon; photovoltaic commodity; strategic materials; renewable energy markets; critical supply chains (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 D4 E3 E6 F0 F1 F3 F4 F5 F6 G1 O1 O5 Q1 Q2 Q4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2432/4/3/18/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2432/4/3/18/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jcommo:v:4:y:2025:i:3:p:18-:d:1736172

Access Statistics for this article

Commodities is currently edited by Ms. Wendy Yu

More articles in Commodities from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().