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BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena

Waste to value in the value chain from reductant to ferrosilicon- and silicon-metal

Alternative title: Maksimere utbytte av kull og biprodukter i verdikjeden fra reduksjonsmiddel til ferrosilisium- og silisium-metall

Awarded: NOK 8.4 mill.

Project Number:

321600

Project Period:

2021 - 2025

Funding received from:

CleanCarbon is a company with extensive experience in sourcing and processing of carbon materials for the silicon and ferrosilicon industry. Over the years, the company has developed from local carbon trade to become a global manufacturer and seller of specialized carbon materials. Now the company is focusing on development of environmentally friendly products giving lower CO2 emissions and utilising today's waste streams. The goal for CleanCarbon is to develop new reductants based on 50 - 100% biochar. For the Norwegian ferroalloy industry, the goal is that about 40% of the CO2 emissions from Norwegian smelters will come from renewable biocarbon sources by 2030. To achieve this goal, the transition to increased use of biocarbon will be crucial. Development of agglomerates with a high content of biochar, as in this project, will be an important contribution to achieving this goal as well as to the green shift. The goal for all production of silicon alloys, is to be carbon neutral by 2050. Since the supply of sustainable biocarbon will not be sufficient, a future Norwegian carbon-neutral silicon production will depend on carbon capture or the use of carbon from new sources, or a combination of these. Further, the aim of this project is to utilize waste streams in the entire value chain from raw materials to ferrosilicon and silicon metal. Finnfjord as a partner, represents the end-user of the material flows and will strengthen the project. If successful, the entire value chain will be more sustainable through increased value creation for the involved companies, more flexibility regarding choice of raw materials, less impact and volume of mined materials, improved yield, reduced waste, and lower CO2-emissions.

CleanCarbon is a company with extensive experience in sourcing and processing of carbon materials for the silicon and ferrosilicon industry. Over the years, the company has developed from local carbon trade to become a global manufacturer and seller of specialized carbon materials. Now the company is focusing on development of environmentally friendly products giving lower CO2 emissions and utilising today's waste streams. Until today, CleanCarbon has been processing raw coal into a standard-sized and high carbon low ash reductant with an ash content of about 1 %, that is utilized by the silicon- and ferrosilicon industry. The low ash coal is achieved through careful selection of raw coal and through a specialized washing process. The yield in the process is around 50 %. The remaining 50 % solid fuel consists mainly of fine grained (<2mm) higher ash coal. This material was previously sent to coal power plants. Through this project, CleanCarbon aims to utilize 75 - 100 % of the carbon source by increasing yield and finding alternative applications for the by-products. Further, the aim of this project is to utilize waste streams in the entire value chain from raw materials to ferrosilicon and silicon metal. Finnfjord as a partner in the project, represents the end-user of the material flows and will strengthen the project. If successful, the entire value chain will be more sustainable through increased value creation for the involved companies, more flexibility regarding choice of raw materials, less impact and volume of mined materials, improved yield, reduced waste, and lower CO2-emissions.

Funding scheme:

BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena