LCA Comparison of the Elkem Solar Metallurgical Route and Conventional Gas Routes to Solar Silicon

Abstract

Preliminary Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of solar grade silicon production via gas- and metallurgical route indicates that environmental impacts can be reduced by: • making efficient use of the metallurgical silicon, • installing waste heat recovery systems, • using a clean source of electricity. The metallurgical route has the advantage of a lower energy consumption compared to the traditional routes with purification via the gas phase resulting in lower environmental impacts.