MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- December 18, 2017 --
InvestorsHub NewsWire -- HPQ Silicon Resources
Inc. (HPQ) (TSX
VENTURE:HPQ) (FRANKFURT:UGE)
(OTC
PINK:URAGF) is pleased to announce the signing of a partnership
with Apollon Solar SAS, ("Apollon"). Apollon is a private
French company that has become one of the world's leaders in
renewable energies, and the development of processes to make high
purity silicon metal for photovoltaic conversion used in high
performance solar cells.
THIRD PARTY VALIDATION OF THE POTENTIAL FOR THE
PUREVAPTMSOLAR GRADE
SILICON PROCESS
Before concluding the partnership, Apollon completed a
technological audit of the potential of the innovative PUREVAP™
process, that PyroGenesis Canada Inc. ("PCI"), a leader in the
design, development, manufacture and marketing of advanced plasma
processes, is developing for HPQ.
Its conclusions were as follows:
- PUREVAP™ is a unique metallurgical process, based on the
innovative plasma technology that is at the heart of PyroGenesis's
expertise,
- PUREVAP™ is a new metallurgical process (patent pending held by
HPQ) for the production of solar grade silicon metal,
- Successful commercial scaling-up of the PUREVAP™ process will
lead to the production of solar quality silicon at a significantly
lower cost compared to those of competing process technologies
(examples include Siemens chemical process, Elkem Solar, Silicor
Materials, etc.)
Bernard Tourillon, Chairman and CEO of HPQ Silicon
stated:
"This collaboration with Apollon Solar represents a
significant validation, by a leader in the solar industry, of the
potential for the innovative metallurgical production of Solar
Silicon using PUREVAP™. The addition of Apollon's
expertise to the knowledge of Pyrogenesis will take our development
efforts of the GEN 2 PUREVAP™and Pilot Plant to
the forefront of innovative development in the solar
industry."
APOLLON: A GREAT ADDITION TO THE TECHNOLOGICAL TEAM OF
HPQ'S
PUREVAP™PROJECT
For nearly 20 years Apollon has invested time and money in Solar
Silicon, and has become one of the world leaders in the development
of processes to make solar grade silicon metal refined
metallurgically "SoG Si UMG" that can generate high performance
Solar Cells". Apollon's achievements include:
- Being the first to manufacture entirely monocrystalline
Czochralski ("Cz") ingots made with 100% "SoG Si UMG";
- In previous collaboration with solar cell partners, Apollon
obtained conversion efficiencies of over 20% with monocrystalline
ingots;
- Has obtained, with the ANU (Australian National University) and
independently confirmed by Fraunhofer ISE, a world record
conversion efficiency of 21.1% with monocrystalline ingots, for a
solar cell made with "SoG Si UMG".
A WORLD CLASS TECHNICAL TEAM TO SUPPORT THE
PUREVAP™PROJECT
The formation of a single team of experts from
HPQ/PyroGenesis/Apollon with a common and fully defined objective
will enable the following:
- Apollon to commercialize the knowledge it has acquired in solar
silicon over the last 20 years,
- Pyrogenesis and HPQ to benefit from Apollon's many years of
innovative research and development work,
- HPQ to combine Pyrogenesis' and Apollon's abilities to achieve
a higher level of vertical integration from the extraction of raw
quartz (SiO2) and extend it all the way to the
production of high performance multi-crystalline and
monocrystalline solar cells.
PUREVAP™- A UNIQUE
PROCESS FOR THE GROWING GLOBAL SOLAR MARKET
The world market for solar cells exceeded US$35 billion in 2015,
with a projected annual growth rate of approximately 12% per
year(1). The primary material for the production of solar cells is
Solar Grade Silicon Metal "SoG Si". Currently, 99% of SoG Si used
in the solar industry comes from the refining of metallurgical
grade silicon using the Siemens process, a traditional chemical
purification method.
The strong growth in demand, along with recent production
disruptions, has resulted in a price increase of 35% for SoG
Si in the last four months, according to an article published by
BLOOMBERG(2).
The desire for more cost - effective processes that also are
less stressful to the environment (CO2 emissions,
aggressive chemicals, high energy consumption) creates a unique
opportunity for HPQ and its partners to develop the
PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor (QRR) metallurgical
process. The partnership with Apollon is expected to enable
HPQ to produce multi- and monocrystalline solar cells as effective
as those produced with SoG Si of chemical origin at a significantly
lower Capex and Opex cost compared to those of competing process
technologies.
The combination of innovative new technology of the combined
team, and strong market conditions are expected to create a dynamic
market for the commercialization of PURVAP™ process.
This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum, a
moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion
and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.
About HPQ Silicon
HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. is a TSX-V listed resource company
planning to become a vertically integrated and diversified High
Purity, Solar Grade Silicon Metal producer and a manufacturer of
multi and monocrystalline solar cells of the P and N types,
required for high performance photovoltaic conversion.
HPQ goal is to develop, in collaboration with industry leaders
that are experts in their fields of interest, the innovative
metallurgical PUREVAP™ "Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR)" process
(patent pending), which will permit it to produce in one step SoG
Si. The start of the pilot plant that will validate the
commercial potential of the process is planned for
2018.
Disclaimers:
This press release contains certain forward-looking
statements, including, without limitation, statements containing
the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue",
"anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other
similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information"
within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
statements reflect the Company's current expectation and
assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations
regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our
strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of
existing products, our strategy with respect to research and
development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new
product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory
approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the
Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time
in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory
authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance
may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements either as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable
securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Shares outstanding: 187,679,173
(1) https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/solar-cells-market
(2)
https:Bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-13/solar-companies-grapple-with-unexpected-shortage-of-key-material