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Uragold Bay says Purevap QVR generates less CO2

2016-03-15 16:20 ET - News Release

Mr. Patrick Levasseur reports

URAGOLD CARBON FOOTPRINT FROM IMPENDING SOLAR GRADE SILICON METAL PROCESS ESTIMATED 75% LOWER THAN CONVENTIONAL SIEMENS PROCESS

Uragold Bay Resources Inc. has released the results of a carbon footprint analysis evaluating the environmental impact of its Purevap QVR process versus the conventional Siemens process to make polycrystalline solar-grade (Sg) silicon metal.

The study was conducted by PyroGenesis Canada Inc. ("PCI"), a clean-Tech company that designs, develops, manufacture and commercializes plasma waste-to-energy systems, plasma torch products and the PUREVAP™ Quartz Vaporization Reactor (QVR).

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS LOWERED BY 75% - SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES

The analysis2 shows that the PUREVAP™ QVR process would generate 14.1 kg CO2 eq/Kg SG Si, while the Siemens process normally generates 54.0 kg CO2 eq/Kg SG Si of emissions. This represents 3.8 times, or 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which is justified by elimination of the emissions emanating from the use of chemicals, as well as, energy consumption from the additional purification step.

Bernard Tourillon, Chairman and CEO of Uragold Stated: "Reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing Sg Si by 75% opens up Uragold to Green and Cleantech investment funds. Furthermore, eliminating approximately 40,000 Ton of CO2 eq/per Ton SG Si produced could represent an opportunity for Uragold to benefit from carbon tax credits and incentive funding for green technologies."

Tourillon further stated: "In addition to the Carbon footprint reduction, Uragold is going to replace the traditional toxic process with a one step direct transformation of Quartz into Sg Si using the PyroGenesis PUREVAP™ QVR process, thereby providing a green manufacturing process for the Solar industry. This is important because - In addition to be energy heavy process - it is a well-kept secret that the traditional manufacturing process to make Sg Si is not a very environmentally friendly process. Specifically, three to four tons of silicon tetrachloride (a very toxic compound) is generated for every ton of polysilicon produced."

Study Methodology

The environmental advantages of the PUREVAP(TM) QVR are demonstrated by comparing its theoretical carbon footprint with the baseline process.

Key Hypothesis

Explanation of carbon footprint study boundaries Description Reference - PyroGenesis Reference - Baseline case Procurement Operations for extracting the quartz and the reducing agents.Analysis in FerroQuebec's report on carbon footprint of metal silicon [5]. Analysis in FerroQuebec's report on carbon footprint of metal silicon [5]. Quartz reductionReduction of quartz to metallurgical-grade silicon. From theoretical mass balance. Analysis in FerroQuebec's report on carbon footprint of metal silicon. Electricity Electricity required for production. From theoretical heat balance and estimated furnace power. Electricity generation profile from Ecoinvent 2.2.B.S. Xakalashe and M. Tangstad. Silicon processing: from quartz to crystalline silicon solar cells [1] . Purification Refining from metallurgical-grade to solar-grade silicon. None, since it's a one-step process. R. Glockner. M. de Wild-Scholten. Energy payback time and carbon footprint of Elkem Solar silicon [2] .

Carbon footprint Calculations are summarized in Table 2

   
   
   
   
    Carbon footprint study results
  
  PCI PUREVAP TM  processBaseline processUnit              
                                                                         
Procurement     10.6                   10.6            kg CO2 eq/kg SG Si
Quartz reduction3.54                   3.68            kg CO2 eq/kg SG Si
Electricity     0.00080                0.00078         kg CO2 eq/kg SG Si
Purification    -                      39.8            kg CO2 eq/kg SG Si
Total           14.1                   54.0            kg CO2 eq/kg SG Si


  The data and results are taken from several reference articles that had done
the research and calculations.

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