MONTREAL, April 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. ("HPQ" or the "Company") (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) (FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in green engineering of silica and silicon-based materials, updates shareholders on its HPQ Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) technology pathway to commercialization.
HPQ Silicon's subsidiary, HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. (HPQ Polvere), is pleased to share that its technology provider and equipment supplier, PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX: PYR) (OTCQX: PYRGF) (FRA: 8PY) responsible for the Fumed Silica project, has reworked and simplified the overall design of the 50 tonnes per year (TPY) pilot plant system. This rework is set to accelerate the process to commercial scalability, effectively minimizing the risks associated with scaling up. Furthermore, it streamlines the process of constructing HPQ Polvere's inaugural 1,000 TPY commercial-scale plant, ensuring a smoother path to production.
Importantly, this rework will not impact the scheduled commissioning of the pilot plant in Q2 2024.
"Fast tracking and de-risking the commercial scale-up of our proprietary Fumed Silica Reactor technology, with its disruptive capability to produce Low-Carbon Footprint and Hydrogen Chloride (HCI) free Fumed Silica in just one step, represents a significant advantage for HPQ," said Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon Inc and HPQ Silica Polvere Inc.
PILOT SCALE VALIDATION TIMELINE FOR THE FUMED SILICA REACTOR TECH:
For the remainder of Q2- 2024, the project will focus on finalizing the assembly of the FSR pilot plant and completing its commissioning.
Beginning Q3 2024, the pilot plant will start operations. Initially, the system will operate under a batch protocol with the goal of replicating the production of fumed silica material with specific surface areas between 150 – 200 m2/g, similar results to those obtained at lab-scale.
Subsequently, the system will progress to semi-continuous operations with the goal of producing 5m3 (200kg) of commercial-grade fumed silica, equivalent to 199 times the entire lab-scale production. This quantity will provide HPQ Polvere with enough material to send samples for qualification to multiple potential clients who have shown interest in our products, with the aim of securing priority offtake agreements for our low-carbon fumed silica material.
During a follow up phase, the pilot plant operations will be optimized in order to target the production of food/pharma grade fumed silica material with specific surface areas exceeding 300 m2/g. This high value material is used in 'beauty and personal care' products—a market segment expected to drive increase demand for fumed silica and is projected to constitute 30% of the entire Fumed Silica market by 2032 [1].
Furthermore, if additional material were to be needed to fulfill clients demand and or qualify HPQ Polvere low-carbon fumed silica with additional potential clients, the system could switch to its full capacity mode, running multiple production cycles throughout the day. Assuming 20 hours of operations per day, the system could produce around 161 kg/day, equivalent to about 50,000 kg per year (50 TPY).
"Going forward, HPQ Polvere plans to negotiate offtake agreements in order to optimize the financial model and secure favorable financial terms for the construction of our first 1,000 TPY commercial-scale plant," added Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO. "Depending on the size of the offtake demand, HPQ may look at building additional 1,000 TPY units concurrently or over time."
FUMED SILICA MARKET TRENDS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF HPQ PATHWAY TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION
In 2023, the Fumed Silica market was valued at US$ 1.9 billion. It is projected to grow by more than 5.5% CAGR over the next seven years, reaching US$ 3.1 billion [1] in 2032. The physical market for Fumed Silica is anticipated to grow by 80,000 tonnes (t) between 2024 to 2029, to about 390,000 t per year in 2029 [2], which translates to a requirement of approximately 16,000 additional tonnes of capacity annually.
The traditional Fumed Silica market is very consolidated around 5 large integrated chemical companies, (Evonik Industries AG, Cabot Corporation, Wacker Chemie AG, Tokuyama Corporation, and OCI Company Ltd.) [2], that use their capital-intensive, low margins and carbon intensive legacy technologies, to produce Fumed Silica.
Because of HPQ Polvere's Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) disruptive advantages [3] regarding both capital investment requirement and high operating margins at commercial scale, is very well positioned to compete with traditional fumed silica manufactures and go to market after the end of the pilot plant phase. In addition to the new annual demand for Fumed Silica mentioned above, Canada, with its 24,000-ton fumed silica consumption per year [4], can certainly support HPQ Polvere's objective of building multiple 1,000-ton-per-year Fumed Silica Reactors (FSRs), and becoming the first and the sole producer of Low-Carbon Fumed Silica globally.
REFERENCE SOURCES
[1] | | GML, Global Market Insight. Fumed Silica Market - By Product (Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic), By Application (Pharmaceutical, Beauty & Personal Care, Silicone Elastomers, Paints, Coatings & Inks, UPR, Adhesives & Sealants, Food & Beverages) & Global Forecast, 2024 – 2032. |
[2] | | Mordor Intelligence: Fumed Silica Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029). Source. |
[3] | | HPQ January 10th, 2024, release. |
[4] | | Sales data per regions from MarketsandMarkets 2017 "fumed silica market – global forecast to 2022". |
About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a high-tech company, is a leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes and sustainable solutions which reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and are economically attractive alternatives to conventional "dirty" processes. PyroGenesis has created proprietary, patented, and advanced plasma technologies that are being vetted and adopted by multiple multibillion dollar industry leaders in three massive markets: iron ore pelletization, aluminum, waste management, and additive manufacturing. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of its Montreal office, and its 3,800 m2 and 2,940 m2 R&D and manufacturing facilities, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. The operations are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified, having been ISO certified since 1997.
About HPQ Silicon
HPQ Silicon Inc. (TSX-V: HPQ) is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer.
HPQ is developing, with the support of world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS, new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions.
HPQ activities are centred around the following four (4) pillars:
Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) manufacturer of Fumed Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR, a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.
Becoming a producer of silicon-based anode materials for battery applications with the assistance of NOVACIUM SAS.
HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM SAS is developing a low carbon, chemical base on demand and high-pressure autonomous hydrogen production system.
Becoming a zero CO2 low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using our PUREVAP "Quartz Reduction Reactors" (QRR), a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.
蒙特利爾，2024年4月11日（GLOBE NEWSWIRE）——專門從事二氧化硅和硅基材料綠色工程的科技公司HPQ Silicon Inc.（“HPQ” 或 “公司”）（TCQB：HPQFF）（FRA：O08）向股東介紹了其HPQ氣相二氧化硅反應器（FSR）商業化技術路徑的最新情況。
HPQ Silicon的子公司HPQ Silica Polvere Inc.（HPQ Polvere）很高興地分享說，其負責氣相二氧化硅項目的技術提供商和設備供應商加拿大PyroGenesis公司（多倫多證券交易所股票代碼：PYR）（OTCQX：PYRGF）（FRA：8PY）已經重新設計並簡化了每年50噸（TPY）試點工廠系統的總體設計。此次返工將加快實現商業可擴展性的過程，從而有效地將與擴大規模相關的風險降至最低。此外，它還簡化了HPQ Polvere首個每年1,000噸商業規模工廠的建造過程，確保了更順暢的生產之路。
重要的是，此次返工不會影響 2024 年第二季度試點工廠的計劃投產。
HPQ Silicon Inc和HPQ Silica Polvere Inc.總裁兼首席執行官伯納德·圖裏隆表示：“快速跟蹤我們專有的氣相二氧化硅反應器技術的商業規模擴大並降低風險，該技術具有顛覆性能力，只需一步即可生產低碳足跡和不含氯化氫（HCI）的氣相二氧化硅，這是HPQ的重大優勢。”
氣相二氧化硅反應器技術的中試規模驗證時間表：
在2024年第二季度的剩餘時間內，該項目將重點完成FSR試點工廠的組裝並完成其調試。
從2024年第三季度開始，試點工廠將開始運營。最初，該系統將在批處理協議下運行，目標是複製比表面積介於 150 — 200 m2/g 之間的氣相二氧化硅材料的生產，與實驗室規模獲得的結果相似。
隨後，該系統將進入半連續運行，目標是生產5m3（200kg）的商用級氣相二氧化硅，相當於整個實驗室規模產量的199倍。這個數量將爲HPQ Polvere提供足夠的材料，可以將樣品發送給對我們的產品表現出興趣的多個潛在客戶進行資格認證，目的是確保我們的低碳氣相法二氧化硅材料的優先採購協議。
在後續階段，將優化試點工廠的運營，目標是生產比表面積超過300 m2/g的食品/藥品級氣相二氧化硅材料。這種高價值材料用於 “美容和個人護理” 產品，該細分市場預計將推動對氣相二氧化硅的需求增加，預計到2032年將佔整個氣相二氧化硅市場的30％ [1]。
此外，如果需要額外的材料來滿足客戶的需求，或者需要更多潛在客戶來滿足HPQ Polvere低碳氣相法二氧化硅的資格，則該系統可以切換到滿負荷模式，全天運行多個生產週期。假設每天運行 20 小時，該系統每天的產量約爲 161 千克，相當於每年約 50,000 千克（50 噸/年）。
總裁兼首席執行官伯納德·圖裏隆補充說：“展望未來，HPQ Polvere計劃就承購協議進行談判，以優化財務模式，爲建設我們的第一座年產1,000噸的商業規模工廠確保有利的財務條件。”“根據承購需求的規模，HPQ可能會考慮同時或隨着時間的推移再建造1,000TPY單位。”
氣相二氧化硅的市場趨勢支持了 HPQ 的商業化生產之路
2023年，氣相二氧化硅的市場價值爲19億美元。預計在未來七年中，其複合年增長率將超過5.5％，到2032年達到31億美元 [1]。氣相二氧化硅的實際市場預計將在2024年至2029年之間增長8萬噸（噸），到2029年達到每年約39萬噸 [2]，這意味着每年需要增加約16,000噸產能。
傳統的氣相二氧化硅市場非常鞏固，有5家大型綜合化工公司（贏創工業股份公司、卡博特公司、瓦克化學股份公司、德山公司和OCI有限公司）[2]，這些公司利用其資本密集型、低利潤率和碳密集型傳統技術來生產氣相二氧化硅。
由於HPQ Polvere的氣相二氧化硅反應器（FSR）在資本投資要求和商業規模的高營業利潤率方面具有顛覆性優勢 [3]，因此完全有能力與傳統的氣相二氧化硅製造商競爭，並在試點工廠階段結束後進入市場。除了上述氣相二氧化硅的年度新需求外，加拿大的氣相二氧化硅年消費量爲24,000噸 [4]，無疑可以支持HPQ Polvere的目標，即建造多座每年1,000噸的氣相二氧化硅反應堆（FSR），併成爲全球第一家也是唯一的低碳氣相二氧化硅生產商。
參考來源
[1] | | GML，全球市場洞察。氣相二氧化硅市場——按產品（親水、疏水）、應用（製藥、美容和個人護理、有機硅彈性體、油漆、塗料和油墨、UPR、粘合劑和密封劑、食品和飲料）以及2024-2032年全球預測。 |
[2] | | 魔多情報：氣相二氧化硅市場規模和份額分析——增長趨勢與預測（2024-2029）。來源。 |
[3] | | HPQ 於 2024 年 1 月 10 日發佈。 |
[4] | | 來自2017年MarketsandMarkets的 “氣相二氧化硅市場——到2022年的全球預測” 的每個地區的銷售數據。 |
關於 PyroGenesis 加拿大公司
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. 是一家高科技公司，在設計、開發、製造和商業化先進等離子體工藝和可持續解決方案方面處於領先地位，這些解決方案可減少溫室氣體 (GHG)，是傳統 “骯髒” 工藝的經濟替代方案。PyroGenesis創造了專有、專利和先進的等離子體技術，這些技術正被價值數十億美元的行業領導者在三個龐大的市場中審查和採用：鐵礦石造粒、鋁、廢物管理和增材製造。PyroGenesis擁有一支由經驗豐富的工程師、科學家和技術人員組成的團隊，在蒙特利爾辦事處及其3,800平方米和2940平方米的研發和製造設施中工作，通過保持技術開發和商業化的前沿來保持其競爭優勢。這些業務已獲得 ISO 9001:2015 和 AS9100D 認證，自 1997 年以來一直獲得 ISO 認證。
關於 HPQ Silicon
HPQ Silicon Inc.（多倫多證券交易所股票代碼：HPQ）是一家總部位於魁北克的多倫多證券交易所風險交易所一級工業發行人。
在世界一流的技術合作夥伴加拿大PyroGenesis Inc.和NOVACIUM SAS的支持下，HPQ正在開發新的綠色工藝，這對於生產實現淨零排放所需的關鍵材料至關重要。
HPQ 活動圍繞以下四 (4) 個支柱展開：
使用氣相二氧化硅反應器成爲氣相二氧化硅的綠色低成本（資本支出和運營支出）製造商。氣相法二氧化硅反應器是HPQ擁有的一項專有技術，正由PyroGenesis爲HPQ開發。
在 NOVACIUM SAS 的幫助下，成爲電池應用硅基負極材料的生產商。
HPQ SILICON的子公司NOVACIUM SAS正在開發一種低碳、按需化學基礎的高壓自主制氫系統。
使用我們的PUREVAP “石英還原反應器”（QRR），成爲零二氧化碳低成本（資本支出和運營支出）的高純度硅（2N+至4N）生產商，這是HPQ擁有的專有技術，由PyroGenesis爲HPQ開發。
