Innovative silicon solutions provider HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”), announced that it has received the TREKHY® system, a portable hydrogen-based mini-power generator, jointly developed by the French companies Apollon Solar SAS (“Apollon”) and Pragma Industries SAS (“Pragma”).
While continuing to work with Apollon on the development of new generations of more efficient silicon powders for hydrogen production, HPQ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Apollon and Pragma to study the commercial potential of the TREKHY® autonomous power generator in Canada.
The TREKHY® provides energy on demand. The system uses a compact fuel cell to provide electrical power. The integrated fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to provide useful electricity + H2O. Hydrogen is produced through a chemical reaction resulting from contact between water and a powder bag. Each bag delivers 30W of power for more than one hour. (Video of the system in operation). In January 2021, a Japanese distributor purchased 300 TREKHY® systems to equip the survival shelters of the Japanese Civil Security.
Bernard Tourillon, Chairman and CEO of HPQ Silicon Resources Inc;
In addition to continuing our research, development and commercialization of advanced nanoscale silicon materials, HPQ continues to look for synergistic opportunities in order to remain at the forefront of innovative processes for the storage and delivery of clean renewable energy.
“This new collaboration with Apollon and Pragma represents another unique opportunity to combine the expertise of HPQ in the lowcost manufacturing of silicon nanomaterials, Apollon in the manufacturing of hydrogen reactors, and Pragma in the manufacturing of fuel cells,”
Autonomous energy storage and generation capacity superior to batteries
The energy autonomy of TREKHY® depends on the number of bags used. This option significantly reduces weight and operating costs, as compared to batteries. The table below compares the weights and costs of delivered energy between:
- Li-ion primary batteries
- Li-ion rechargeable batteries,
- Zn-Air primary battery,
- TREKHY® with 150, 300, 450, 600 powder bags.
TREKHY®, with its revolutionary fuel cell and powder technology, offers unmatched performance.
A superior clean renewable hydrogen production thanks to silicon
The current cost of manufacturing silicon nanopowders is very high and it has led Apollon and Pragma to use a less efficient, but more economical, environmentally friendly chemical powder to begin the commercialization of their system.
However, the use of silicon nanopowders manufactured by HPQ’s PUREVAPTM Nano Silicon Reactor could increase the hydrogen generation potential of the system by 40%, while the use of porous silicon nanopowders could double the amount of hydrogen released by the system.
HPQ and Apollon are currently working to compare the technical and commercial potential of nanoscale and porous silicon materials to create new generations of environmentally friendly powders with better performance for hydrogen production.
“HPQ’s Silicon R&D Consortium has the depth and flexibility to meet the challenges, as we strive to produce products for renewable energy storage participants and electric vehicle manufacturers, each of which is searching for cost-effective ways to increase the Silicon content of their batteries.
“Silicon’s potential to meet energy storage demands is undeniable, generating massive investments, and serious industry interest. We are very confident that the Silicon materials we are producing, with our expected low-cost scalable processes, will be in high demand for batteries, and by EV manufacturers and other participants in the ongoing renewable energy revolution,” added Bernard Tourillon.
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