Post by pling on Feb 22, 2016 18:26:37 GMT
Fra stockhouse.com 17. februar 2016
Uragold To Commence Testing Of Process to Convert High Purity Quartz to Solar Grade Silicon Metal
- As previously disclosed, the metallurgical testing will be done using PyroGenesis’ PUREVAP™ Quartz Vaporization Reactor (QVR), a novel proprietary process (Provisional Patent Filed) that uses a plasma arc within a vacuum furnace for the One Step Production of Silicon Metal (Mg Si), Solar Grade Silicon Metal (Sg Si) and Electronic Grade Silicon Metal (Eg Si) from Quartz. The dynamic testing program, whereby quartz material from Uragold properties is to be processed in PyroGenesis PUREVAP™ QVR, will start in March 2016.
- PyroGenesis’ PUREVAP™ QVR disruptive potential is its one step direct transformation of Quartz into Solar Grade Silicon Metal, thereby potentially allowing Uragold to manufacture Solar Grade Silicon Metal (Sg Si) at the same cost as making Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal (Mg Si) using traditional processes - and at a fraction of the capital cost.
- Under the traditional process, Mg Si at 98.5% purity sells for $USD 2,550 per Metric Ton (Mt)1. However, costs to manufacture it range between $USD 1,750 – 2,250 per Mt due to intensive capital and energy costs. Furthermore, under the traditional process, upgrading Mg Si to Solar Grade Silicon Metal is a capital intensive, environmentally unfriendly and a high energy demanding process, with best in class cash cost ranging between $USD 10,000 to 13,000 per Mt. In addition, the average Capital investment required to build a new 16,000 MT per year plant to make Solar Grade Silicon Metal is between $USD 900M and $USD 1B. Solar Grade Silicon (6N to 8N purity) presently sells for $USD 11,400 per Mt, while Polysilicon (9N Purity) sells for $USD 12,940 per Mt.
- Upon successful completion of our One Step Production Process, Uragold plans to provide the market with both the cash costs and capital cost estimates using PyroGenesis’ PUREVAP™ QVR process.
- The Silicon Metal, Solar Grade Silicon Metal and Electronic Grade Silicon Metal markets combined, was a $USD 12 billion a year industry in 2014. Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal world consumption topped 2.25Mt in 2014, exceeding $US 6 billion in sales. Propelled by increased demand for photovoltaic (PV) solar panels systems, Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal consumption is expected to grow by 6%+ per Annum
. About 10% of 2014 global Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal produced was further refined into Solar Grade Silicon Metal and Polysilicon, worth another $US 6 billion. GTM Research estimates that Installed PV demand will growth 15 % - 23 % annually, access to Solar Grade Si will be limiting factor in PV Growth, balance supply and demand for Sg Si demand expected for year-end 2016 as Gigawatt (GW) produce by Solar panels increases.
The science behind PyroGenesis PUREVAP™ QVR process is solid:
••Plasma arc based process can and has transformed High Purity Quartz into Mg Si.
••Plasma arc based process can and is being used to purify Mg Si into higher value materials such as Sg Si.
••Finally, refining Mg Si using an electron-beam furnace in a high vacuum-processing environment has proven the concept of the elimination of elements whose vapor pressures are higher than that of silicon.
What is unique and ground breaking is the combination of these three proven processes into one step.
Uragold To Commence Testing Of Process to Convert High Purity Quartz to Solar Grade Silicon Metal
- As previously disclosed, the metallurgical testing will be done using PyroGenesis’ PUREVAP™ Quartz Vaporization Reactor (QVR), a novel proprietary process (Provisional Patent Filed) that uses a plasma arc within a vacuum furnace for the One Step Production of Silicon Metal (Mg Si), Solar Grade Silicon Metal (Sg Si) and Electronic Grade Silicon Metal (Eg Si) from Quartz. The dynamic testing program, whereby quartz material from Uragold properties is to be processed in PyroGenesis PUREVAP™ QVR, will start in March 2016.
- PyroGenesis’ PUREVAP™ QVR disruptive potential is its one step direct transformation of Quartz into Solar Grade Silicon Metal, thereby potentially allowing Uragold to manufacture Solar Grade Silicon Metal (Sg Si) at the same cost as making Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal (Mg Si) using traditional processes - and at a fraction of the capital cost.
- Under the traditional process, Mg Si at 98.5% purity sells for $USD 2,550 per Metric Ton (Mt)1. However, costs to manufacture it range between $USD 1,750 – 2,250 per Mt due to intensive capital and energy costs. Furthermore, under the traditional process, upgrading Mg Si to Solar Grade Silicon Metal is a capital intensive, environmentally unfriendly and a high energy demanding process, with best in class cash cost ranging between $USD 10,000 to 13,000 per Mt. In addition, the average Capital investment required to build a new 16,000 MT per year plant to make Solar Grade Silicon Metal is between $USD 900M and $USD 1B. Solar Grade Silicon (6N to 8N purity) presently sells for $USD 11,400 per Mt, while Polysilicon (9N Purity) sells for $USD 12,940 per Mt.
- Upon successful completion of our One Step Production Process, Uragold plans to provide the market with both the cash costs and capital cost estimates using PyroGenesis’ PUREVAP™ QVR process.
- The Silicon Metal, Solar Grade Silicon Metal and Electronic Grade Silicon Metal markets combined, was a $USD 12 billion a year industry in 2014. Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal world consumption topped 2.25Mt in 2014, exceeding $US 6 billion in sales. Propelled by increased demand for photovoltaic (PV) solar panels systems, Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal consumption is expected to grow by 6%+ per Annum
. About 10% of 2014 global Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal produced was further refined into Solar Grade Silicon Metal and Polysilicon, worth another $US 6 billion. GTM Research estimates that Installed PV demand will growth 15 % - 23 % annually, access to Solar Grade Si will be limiting factor in PV Growth, balance supply and demand for Sg Si demand expected for year-end 2016 as Gigawatt (GW) produce by Solar panels increases.
The science behind PyroGenesis PUREVAP™ QVR process is solid:
••Plasma arc based process can and has transformed High Purity Quartz into Mg Si.
••Plasma arc based process can and is being used to purify Mg Si into higher value materials such as Sg Si.
••Finally, refining Mg Si using an electron-beam furnace in a high vacuum-processing environment has proven the concept of the elimination of elements whose vapor pressures are higher than that of silicon.
What is unique and ground breaking is the combination of these three proven processes into one step.