From industrial waste to hydrogen, and then to electricity!

What if you could take industrial waste and combine it with water to produce hydrogen, which is then used to generate useful heat and valuable electricity with zero greenhouse gas emissions? In Taiwan, Semisils Applied Materials Corp. Ltd (Semisils) is doing exactly this!

Semisils specializes in the recycling of silicon slurry which is produced by semi-conductor manufacturers during cutting and grinding processes. By combining the silicon with water and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), Semisils is able to produce hydrogen gas with a purity of 99.99%. The chemical reaction also results in the production of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) that can be converted into calcium silicate (Ca2SiO4), which has a wide range of uses including insulation and fireproofing.

The hydrogen gas is stored and used to fuel a cogeneration unit (2G Agenitor 404) which generates both heat and electricity, without producing any carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions. The electricity is fed into the public electricity grid and can be certified as energy from a renewable source. Meanwhile, the heat is used on-site to facilitate the hydrogen production process, thereby saving energy, avoiding waste and increasing the overall energy efficiency of the process.

The Agenitor 404 cogeneration unit, designed and manufactured by 2G Energy AG, has been installed in a container placed directly next to the production facility. It has an electrical output of 115 kW and a thermal output of 129 kW. The company responsible for the installation and maintenance of the system is Ampower, which is a supplier and installer of integrated emergency power systems with operations throughout south-east Asia.

“The Agenitor is a highly efficient, dependable and durable cogeneration unit that can run on either natural gas, biogas or hydrogen. Thanks to 2G’s proven technology, operators can benefit from having access to reliable supplies of electrical power and thermal energy, as well as low operating and maintenance costs.”
Stefan Liesner – Head of Marketing and Public Affairs, 2G Energy AG

For more information about the Agenitor cogeneration unit – visit the 2G website.

Technical details

Location: Taiwan

CHP unit: 2G Agenitor 404

Fuel: Hydrogen (H2)