Pure Silicon production using Natural gas

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The long term vision of ReSiNa is a Norwegian Industrial plant where FeSi, Si and solar cell Si is produced from a local quartz deposit by use of natural gas. This vision is relevant for the current application which adress the challenges of use of natur al gas in metallurgical industry as a raw material for production of valuable metals from Norwegian raw materials. The objective of this application is to develop the fundamental basis for production of FeSi and Si with focus on solar cell Si by use of quartz and natural gas. These raw materials are both available and exploited in Norway. ReSiNa will investigate the possibilities for generation of added value from production based on these raw materials. The project will be a cooperation between NTN U, SINTEF and University of New South Wales. The 4 year project will have one PhD- and one PostDoc candidate. The PostDoc will investigate use of natural gas when going from SiO2 to Si and the PhD candidate will investigate the behaviour of B and P when u sing natural gas. In addition researchers from SINTEF and UNSW will be heavily involved, in addition to master students at NTNU and UNSW.