Taiwan silicon wafer firm sees '09 capacity up 40-50 pct

HSINCHU, Taiwan, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Sino-American Silicon Products Inc, Taiwan's top maker of silicon wafers for solar cells, said on Tuesday it will boost its capacity 40-50 percent next year, amid booming demand for alternative energy.

The company also expects its 2009 sales to rise by a similar amount next year to about T$16 billion ($481 million) from T$11 billion this year, President Doris Hsu said at a media event.

Established in 1981, Sino-American Silicon competes with Green Energy Technology Inc and bigger rivals such as Norway's Renewable Energy Corp ASA and China's LDK Solar Co Ltd.
It sells wafers to downstream solar cell makers such as Motech Industries and E-Ton Solar in Taiwan.