OUR COMMITMENT
Eliminate the concept of wasteWHO WE ARE
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
OUR GOAL
About Nuvosil
The solar industry consumes almost half of the silicon raw materials used in the production of solar cells. Nuvosil is focused on innovating the remanufacturing of the silicon waste to valuable end-market industrial applications. Nuvosil aims to catalyze the solar industry to be a fully circular, or closed-loop ecosystem with all materials staying in endless cycles of value.
Marty Neese
Founder
- Board of Trustees Member of the Ellen Macarthur Foundation chartered with advancing the Circular Economy
- Former COO of SunPower and Flextronics
- Recipient of the ASQ Hutchens Medal for Sustainability
- BS, United States Military Academy at West Point and MBA from Univ. of Florida
Moon Chun
Ph.D., Founder & CTO
- Former Director of Silicon R&D at SunPower
- Former Director of Technology at Intevac to commercialize solar ion implanters
- Former VP of Engineering at Solar Implant Technologies
- Ph.D. in Eng. Physics, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison and B.S., Univ. of California-Berkeley
Bjørn-Olav Brelin
Founder & CEO
- Former CEO and General Counsel of NorSun, General Counsel of Scatec and Partner at Frick, Langseth Law, Oslo
- CEO/Chairman of private investment firm focusing on cleantech and renewables sectors and related industries
- Stanford University Executive program 2017 and LL.M, University of Oslo
Problem
PRODUCTION OF SILICON WAFERS generates ~40% of the starting material as waste (swarf)
Silicon metal particle waste (swarf) results from the sawing process and is recovered by filtering.
Solution & Value Chain
NUVOSIL and our Partners have co-developed a low energy recycling process.
A patented and exclusive screw extruder technology allows silicon and aluminum waste to be remanufactured into Low Energy Master Alloy rods.
Low Energy Master Alloy
Nuvosil’s Low Energy Master Alloy (LEMA) rods – are produced using an environmentally friendly and novel screw extrusion process eliminating the need for high energy intensity heating or re-melting. These master alloy rods are made up of silicon and aluminum. Compared to conventional alloying processes, the LEMA technology consumes 90% less energy, costs less per processed unit and offers a cleaner end-product.
CLEANER – higher purity & less CO2
CHEAPER – lower cost
GREENER – 90% less energy
Low Energy Master Alloy
Nuvosil’s Low Energy Master Alloy (LEMA) rods – are produced using an environmentally friendly and novel screw extrusion process eliminating the need for high energy intensity heating or re-melting. These master alloy rods are made up of silicon and aluminum. Compared to conventional alloying processes, the LEMA technology consumes 90% less energy, costs less per processed unit and offers a cleaner end-product.
CLEANER – higher purity & less CO2 CHEAPER – lower cost GREENER – 90% less energy
The key component of the Low Energy Recycling (LER) process is a screw extruder unit developed and patented by Hydro in collaboration with NTNU. The technology was initially developed for use on different aluminum recyclable materials. In 2018, Nuvosil, Hydro, SINTEF and NTNU engaged in a R&D project to test the LER process using a combination of aluminum and silicon and the lab-scale extruder at NTNU. This novel application was verified in 2019 with very promising results. Consequently, in early 2020 Nuvosil and Hydro initiated the LER Pilot project. The LER Pilot project aims to design, build, test and qualify an industrial-scale extruder unit and associated processes. The Pilot project is the last development stage before the industrial phase and commercialization planned for 2022. Once launched, Nuvosil will focus on the combination of silicon and aluminum, while Hydro will focus on aluminum and other non-silicon materials applications.
Research & Development
2019
Ref: Hydro patent (US9616633B2)
Illustration by permission of Hydro
1st Extruded LEMA Rod
Prototype System & IP Development
Prototype
2020
Illustration by permission of Hydro
Scalability Modifications
Lab-Scale Throughput
Pilot & Commercial Scale Development
2021
Illustration by permission of Reifenhauser
High volume Pilot system
Commercial-Scale Throughput
Nuvosil and Hydro
In August 2020 Hydro and Nuvosil were granted financial support by ENOVA for the Low Energy Recycling (LER) Pilot project, in the amount of MNOK 9,6. The project is a collaboration between Hydro and Nuvosil aiming to verify scalability of the Low Energy Recycling process for use on a combination of silicon and aluminum, and aluminum either alone or in combination with non-silicon materials. The total budget is MNOK 18,3 and the project shall be completed by year end 2021. In addition to Nuvosil and Hydro resources, the LER Pilot project is supported by a strong team of technology and industry partners: SINTEF, NTNU, Reifenhauser GmbH and CEMTEC GmbH.
About Hydro
Headquartered in Norway, Hydro is rooted in more than a century of expertise in hydropower, development of technology and product innovation. Hydro is the only fully integrated company in the global aluminum industry, with operations in 40 countries all over the world. By combining local expertise, worldwide reach and unmatched capabilities in R&D, its 35,000 employees create innovative aluminum solutions for more than 30 000 customers throughout the value chain.
About ENOVA
ENOVA is a governmental entity owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment. ENOVA’s purpose is to support and contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, development of new energy and climate technology and a strengthened security of energy supply. ENOVA has 80 employees and is headquartered in Trondheim Norway.
