WACKER Successfully Captures CO2 from Silicon Production Process in Groundbreaking Pilot

WACKER Successfully Captures CO2 from Silicon Production Process in Groundbreaking Pilot

(IN BRIEF) WACKER has successfully tested a CO2 capture process at its Holla, Norway, site, achieving a 95% capture rate of emissions from silicon production. Using technology from SLB-ACC JV, the pilot marks a major step toward climate-neutral silicon manufacturing. The captured CO2 can be reused for synthetic fuels or stored underground, aligning with WACKER’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2045. Plans are underway to scale up the process, potentially capturing 180,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.

(PRESS RELEASE) HOLLA/MUNICH, 11-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — WACKER has successfully tested a carbon dioxide (CO2) capture process at its silicon production site in Holla, Norway, marking a key step toward climate-neutral manufacturing. Utilizing technology from the SLB and Aker Carbon Capture Joint Venture (SLB-ACC JV), the project captured over 95% of CO2 emissions generated during the production of silicon, a critical material for microchips, solar modules, and silicone products.

The pilot involved the installation of a mobile test unit (MTU) that employed amine scrubbing, a chemical process that selectively removes CO2 from waste gases. WACKER and SLB-ACC JV have now begun exploring the feasibility of scaling up the process, with plans for a facility capable of capturing 180,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.

This CO2 capture process not only prevents greenhouse gas emissions but opens up opportunities for using captured CO2 in synthetic fuels, methanol production, or storage underground. WACKER’s CEO, Christian Hartel, emphasized the importance of this development in the company’s journey toward net-zero emissions by 2045, alongside the ongoing use of green electricity and sustainable carbon sources.

The successful pilot positions WACKER as a leader in sustainable silicon production, moving toward a fully CO2-neutral silicon value chain.

The Company in Brief:
WACKER is a global company with state-of-the-art specialty chemical products found in countless everyday items, with applications ranging from tile adhesives to computer chips. It has a worldwide network of 27 production sites, 22 technical competence centers and 48 sales offices with some 16,400 employees and annual sales of around €6.4 billion (2023).

WACKER operates through four business divisions. The chemical divisions WACKER SILICONES and WACKER POLYMERS supply products (silicones, polymeric binders) for the automotive, construction, chemical, consumer goods and medical technology industries. WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS, the life sciences division, specializes in bioengineered products such as biopharmaceuticals and food additives. WACKER POLYSILICON produces hyperpure polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries.

Media Contact:

Media Relations & Information
Franziska Gruendel
Phone +49 89 6279-1695
Franziska.gruendel@wacker.com

SOURCE: Wacker Chemie AG