Recording of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | The smarter E Europe | Exhibition Program | Language: English | Duration: 8:60 .
A German startup, founded in 2020 and specializing in critical materials, is exploring an innovative method to produce hydrogen from waste. The speaker introduces their concept of using silicon waste from solar module production—a material typically discarded—to generate hydrogen. Silicon dust and small fragments ("silicon calf") created during the mechanical processing of silicon are highlighted as a potential resource. These byproducts have high surface areas that facilitate wet chemistry reactions. The process involves reacting pure or contaminated silicon with water and sodium hydroxide to produce hydrogen gas, heat, and a soluble product known as water glass (sodium silicate), which has applications in the building industry. This reaction efficiently harnesses the stored energy within silicon. Given the vast amounts of global silicon waste—millions of tons annually—the startup sees significant potential for this approach to contribute to renewable energy strategies. Additionally, they note that recycling end-of-life photovoltaic cells can yield valuable metals like silver and graphite alongside hydrogen production. Currently focused on building a demonstration plant, they seek expertise in handling, storing, and transporting hydrogen safely while underscoring the substantial energy output: 7 kilograms of silicon can generate 11 cubic meters of hydrogen equating to nearly 40 kilowatt-hours of energy.
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Dr. Wolfram Palitzsch
CEO
LuxChemtech GmbH
Germany
Industrial/Product Live Pitches: Hydrogen Production
Further Talks of this session:
Speaker
Christian Metzger
Patent Attorney
Realpatent - Grättinger Möhring von Poschinger Patentanwälte
Germany