お知らせ • Oct 05
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. Provides Update on the PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor and Fumed Silica Projects with HPQ Silicon Inc
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. provided, further to HPQ Silicon Inc’s (HPQ or the Client) press release dated September 28th, 2023 and the company’s news release dated June 1, 2023, an update on its strategic engineering partnership with HPQ on two projects: (i) the PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reaction (QRR) pilot plant and (ii) the Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) project. As part of the terms of both projects with HPQ, PyroGenesis benefits from a royalty payment representing 10% of the Client’s eventual sales, with set minimums. With respect to the FSR with HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. (HPQ Polvere), a wholly owned subsidiary of HPQ, this royalty stream, can, at any time, be converted by PyroGenesis into a 50% ownership in HPQ Polvere. Given the number of inquiries received by investors, PyroGenesis provides the following update: PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor (QRR) Project: The innovative QRR pilot plant was designed and built to transform lower-purity quartz (SiO2) into high-purity silicon (Si) in a single step. The QRR, which uses electric high temperature plasma arc, reduces production costs and significantly lowers energy consumption with a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional methods. As noted by HPQ, the demand for silicon (Si) is projected to surpass 3.8 million tonnes and be valued between USD 15 billion and USD 20 billion by 2025. This projection doesn’t consider the additional 300,000 tonnes of demand for silicon-based anode material projected by 2030 arising from demand in the battery market, representing an additional market valued at approximately USD 15 billion. The global silicon anode battery market is valued at USD 65.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 123.1 billion by 2030, for a CAGR of 22.3% during the forecast period of 2023-2030. As highlighted in HPQ's recent press release, significant milestones have been reached in the pilot plant project, leading to a silicon pouring step – an important milestone for both PyroGenesis and HPQ that marks the completion of the pilot stage and sets the stage for commercial production. The past few weeks have seen noteworthy progress and confirmations: Completion of the scaling up of the QRR process by 2,500x from the previous laboratory scale, validating the original proof of concept. Demonstration of operation in a semi-continuous batch cycle. Production of silicon from quartz using a one-step direct carbothermal reduction process. 25% reduction in raw material use compared with conventional methods. Achievement of 3N+ (or 99.9+%) silicon purity, a crucial purity level for battery-grade silicon applications. Optimized QRR design for high performance during the tapping process, minimizing silicon contamination. Further testing of the enhanced system will conclude with a silicon pouring step, which is scheduled within the next few weeks. After a successful pour, PyroGenesis and HPQ will determine the number of PUREVAP QRR systems required to construct a full commercial plant and thereafter will move towards full commercialization. Preliminary assessments have revealed that a minimum of two initial reactors, each capable of producing 2,500 MT of high-purity silicon per year, would be required - at a build cost to HPQ of at least $20 million each. PyroGenesis will be the engineering partner contracted to build these units. This assessment will be validated and finalized. The Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR), another plasma-based process, converts quartz into fumed silica (Pyrogenic Silica) in a single and eco-friendly step. By eliminating the use of harmful chemicals generated by conventional methods the FSR approach, if successful, will help contribute to the repatriation of silica production to North America. Conventional fumed silica processes, which rely on silicon metal (Si) as raw material, not only have a significant carbon footprint of around 9.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of fumed silica, but also present complex process challenges which include, but are not limited to, using hazardous materials. In contrast, the FSR offers an innovative solution by converting quartz directly into fumed silica, providing a sustainable alternative. This pioneering technology not only provides a solution to increasing market demand, but also significantly reduces CO2 emissions by over 60%, (equivalent to around 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of fumed silica produced) while not utilizing hazardous materials in the process. Once again, this project along with the quartz to silicon represents an essential step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. In a major step towards commercial-scale production, PyroGenesis has successfully deployed the FSR on a laboratory scale, resulting in the milestone production of fumed silica. Preliminary tests and analysis have confirmed that the material produced has chemical and physical characteristics compatible with those of commercially available fumed silica. PyroGenesis’ involvement in developing high-purity silicon and fumed silica from quartz is part of PyroGenesis’ three-tiered solution ecosystem that aligns with economic drivers that are key to global heavy industry. High-purity silicon is part of PyroGenesis’ Commodity Security & Optimization tier, where the recovery of viable metals and the optimization of production to increase output helps to maximize raw materials and improve the availability of critical minerals. Silicon has been identified as a critical mineral by many governments worldwide.