REC Silicon stopped polysilicon production at its Moses Lake, Washington, facility at the end of 2024 after it could not meet a customer’s required purity levels, according to the company. The polysilicon line had restarted in 2023 after being mothballed in 2019. The site’s silane plants were retained in a safe, non-operating condition, but that is not the same as active production or an announced restart.
Why did REC Silicon shut the plant again?
REC Silicon’s 2024 annual report says it restarted the Moses Lake facility in 2023 to produce solar-grade polysilicon after the facility had been mothballed since 2019. The company had secured a ten-year offtake contract for all polysilicon volumes, but said it could not achieve the purity levels required by its customer. REC decided at the end of 2024 to shut the facility again. This is the company’s explanation, not an independent technical assessment. REC Silicon 2024 annual report
In its 2025 annual report summary, REC described the decision as a result of “persistent quality issues and uncertain resolution paths” affecting its Moses Lake polysilicon product. The shutdown followed a separate production change: REC’s 2024 annual report says polysilicon production at its Butte, Montana site had been discontinued in mid-2024. REC Silicon 2025 annual report summary
What does “mothballed” mean in this case?
The production history is not one uninterrupted closure or a permanent abandonment of every operation at the site. REC’s reported timeline distinguishes a 2019 mothballing, a 2023 polysilicon restart, and a renewed shutdown decision at the end of 2024. The company’s disclosures also distinguish the discontinued polysilicon operation from silane equipment kept in a non-operating state.
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What remains at the Moses Lake site?
REC said its Moses Lake facility has 24,000 metric tons per year of silane capacity. Its Q4 2025 report describes the silane plants as maintained in a safe, non-operating status and characterizes that capacity as being for the company’s own use. Additional investment would be needed to supply external customers. The capacity figure therefore does not establish current production, available commercial supply, or a restart date. REC Silicon Q4 2025 report
REC’s 2024 annual report had also described the 24,000-metric-ton annual monosilane capacity as being kept ready for possible growth in the electric-vehicle battery industry, with a restart dependent on sufficient market demand. REC Silicon 2024 annual report
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- Wafer Pattern May Vary from the Product Images. Great to be used as gift, display object, exhibition, educating demonstration, testing, decoration or your collection
- Beautiful microchip pattern structure made by the advanced copper technology
- 90~130nm minimum microchip feature Copper Characterization with TEOS or Black Diamond Low-k ILD on the single crystal silicon wafer
- The original value of un-polished wafer is above $500
- No guarantee for research and other applications
Is the Moses Lake facility still closed?
The latest specific local status report in the available record is from February 17, 2026. The Columbia Basin Herald reported that the facility remained closed and quoted REC vice president of polysilicon sales and government relations Chuck Sutton saying, “There are no changes to the Moses Lake facility.” That statement reflects the status reported on that date; it does not confirm the facility’s status on October 4, 2026. The available sources do not establish a later restart or status change. Columbia Basin Herald, February 17, 2026
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about silane supply to Sila Nanotechnologies?
The Spokesman-Review reported in January 2025 that REC said it planned to honor its silane supply contract with Sila Nanotechnologies despite the Moses Lake closure. That report provides regional battery-material context, but it does not establish whether the contract was fulfilled later or remains in effect. The Spokesman-Review, January 2025
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