\u00a9 shutterstock\/Philip Steury Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe company\u2019s pilot plant, under construction with the collaboration of KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, is expected to initially produce up to five kilogrammes of silicon per hour, with plans for a larger demo plant capable of producing up to 100 kilogrammes per hour. This scaling up is not just a demonstration of the technology\u2019s viability but a stepping stone to larger production efforts in the EU in line with the Critical Raw Materials Act. Silicon is classified as a critical raw material within this new piece of Brussels legislation, as it is a key factor in semiconductors for computing and renewable energy devices, including solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines.<\/p>\n
GREEN14\u2019s technology development is not without its challenges. Scaling up plasma metallurgy to industrial levels, particularly where megawatt-scale equipment is required, faces significant limitations due to the limited number of suppliers capable of producing such high-powered plasma equipment. This can lead to longer lead times for equipment procurement and potentially higher costs due to the lack of competitive pricing. The dependency on a few suppliers also poses risks related to supply chain disruptions. To address this, GREEN14 is working closely with several suppliers of plasma equipment, and investing in the development of alternative plasma generation technologies. Furthermore, the limitations in science around modelling plasma, especially in the context of plasma metallurgy, form a crucial area of ongoing research. Plasma behaviour is incredibly complex and dynamic, making accurate modelling a difficult task. GREEN14 prioritises its in-house simulations for optimising its patent pending processes and works to integrating this progress with its AI development roadmap.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, GREEN14\u2019s technology also encompasses the recycling of silicon. Retired solar panels, which degrade over time, can be reintegrated into the company\u2019s silicon production process. This circular approach not only reduces waste but also maximises the utility of existing materials. The waste from silicon wafer production, known as kerf, is also well suited to be integrated into the process. The recycling of solar modules and silicon kerf have presented challenges to date with respect to their integration in the silicon value chain.<\/p>\n
Upgrading silicon production technology<\/h3>\n In the realm of battery technology, GREEN14\u2019s silane \u2013 a by-product of their silicon production process \u2013 addresses significant supply constraints. Silane, a gas consisting of a silicon atom and four hydrogen atoms, is a preferred material for silicon-based battery anode manufacturers. Major American scale-ups such as Sila Nanotechnologies Inc. and Group14 Technologies Inc. require increasing amounts of silane for their next-generation battery electrodes as well as European scale ups such as Leyden Jar. This shift from traditional graphite anodes to silicon-graphite anodes is expected to enhance batteries\u2019 efficiency and storage capacity by 30%, meeting the automotive industry\u2019s demands for faster charging electric vehicles.<\/p>\n
The installation of such silane plants facilitates these next generation anodes, as there is currently significant under-supply of silane for such technologies. The inclination of customers to adopt green silicon varies significantly between industries, primarily driven by the proportion of embodied energy or emissions that silicon contributes to the final product. In the solar panel industry, where silicon constitutes up to 50% of the embodied energy, the impact of switching to green silicon is much more pronounced. This substantial contribution means that using green silicon can dramatically reduce the overall carbon footprint of solar panel production. Customers in this industry, who are typically more environmentally conscious and invested in sustainable solutions, are likely to view the switch to green silicon as a critical step towards achieving their environmental goals. Furthermore, the solar panel industry\u2019s inherent focus on sustainability aligns well with the adoption of green silicon, making it an attractive option for both manufacturers and end-users.<\/p>\n
In contrast, the scenario in the computing industry presents a different dynamic. Silicon accounts for only about 8% of the embodied emissions in computing devices, positioning it as a less impactful factor in the industry\u2019s overall carbon emissions. Consequently, the motivation for customers to switch to green silicon in the computing industry may be less compelling. However, supply chain security ought to influence this industry more, given the critical nature of semiconductor devices. In this sector, the focus tends to be more on performance and cost-efficiency rather than on the environmental impact of components, but transparent and secure supply chains are becoming more apparent.<\/p>\n
The future for GREEN14 looks promising as it aligns with the global shift towards more sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes. The company\u2019s innovative approach of producing in the silicon market while licensing for other markets, combined with its strategic utilisation of AI in R&D, positions it not only as a pioneer in green technology but also as a key player in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions in industrial manufacturing. With its pilot plant set to operationalise and plans for expansion underway, GREEN14 is on the cusp of leading a significant shift in how silicon is produced, setting new standards in both environmental sustainability and cost-efficiency.<\/p>\n
Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our\u00a0quarterly publication<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GREEN14\u2019s plasma technology facilitates greener, cheaper silicon production for solar, semiconductors, and batteries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":43330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24502],"tags":[529,24335,24546],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Green silicon production: Securing critical raw materials for western markets<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n