Elkem Awarded EUR 1.8 million EU Grant to Investigate CO2-Free Silicon Production

Elkem ASA has secured EUR 1.8 million from the European Union to advance its pioneering Elkem Sicalo® (Silicon production with carbon looping) project, which aims to eliminate CO2 emissions in silicon production. The initial pilot phase of Elkem Sicalo® is being conducted at Elkem's technology park in Kristiansand, Norway, in collaboration with SINTEF and NORCE. This innovative project focuses on capturing carbon emitted from the silicon furnace and reusing it as a reductant in the production process.

Building on the success of Elkem Sicalo®, the EU has now awarded EUR 9.9 million for the Horizon Europe MECALO project, which will further develop carbon looping for general metal production. MECALO aims to demonstrate the potential for zero CO2 emissions in the production of silicon and manganese alloys. Eramet, a leading producer of manganese alloys with smelters in Norway, France, the US, and Gabon, is also part of the MECALO consortium. If successful, the technology could reduce CO2 emissions by 33 million tonnes annually by 2050 across European silicon and manganese production.

Elkem's CEO, Helge Aasen, highlighted the transformative potential of carbon looping, stating, “This technology could be a game changer for the metal alloys industry in achieving net-zero emissions. We are grateful for the EU's support, and together with our partners, we are strengthening Europe's critical raw materials supply chains.” Silicon, essential for the green and digital transitions, is used in products such as electric vehicles, solar cells, and smartphones. However, its production is carbon-intensive, as it requires carbon to reduce quartz into silicon. Unlike steel, which can be produced with hydrogen as a reductant, silicon and some other metals require alternative approaches, making projects like MECALO crucial for developing sustainable production methods.

The MECALO project will focus on capturing carbon oxides from process off-gases, converting them into solid carbon using low-carbon hydrogen, and reusing this carbon to produce critical metals. Although the method shows promise, it presents challenges, including higher energy demands. The total budget for MECALO is EUR 9.9 million, with Elkem’s share amounting to EUR 1.8 million.

Key features of the MECALO project include innovative carbon capture and reuse, aiming to eliminate the need for external carbon in carbothermic production. It will also explore producing “turquoise hydrogen” through methane pyrolysis, a process that produces hydrogen and solid carbon using significantly less energy than green hydrogen production.

Since 2021, Elkem has been collaborating with SINTEF on Elkem Sicalo®, with funding from The Research Council of Norway (2022-2024). The second phase of the project will involve extensive pilot testing, supported by Enova. Eli Aamot, Executive Vice President of SINTEF Industry, emphasized that reducing emissions while producing green products is crucial for competitiveness in a low-emission society. Eramet’s Bjørn Kolbjørnsen added that carbon looping offers a long-term solution for decarbonizing the steel value chain, with the potential for a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions.