Objective Solar energy direct conversion to electricity is expanding rapidly to satisfy the demand for renewable energy. The most efficient commercial photovoltaic solar cells are based on silicon. While the reuse of feedstock is a severe concern of the photovoltaic industry, up to 50% of the valuable resource is lost into sawdust during wafering. Presently, the majority of silicon ingots are sliced in thin wafers by LAS (loose abrasive sawing) using slurry of abrasive silicon carbide particles. The silicon carbide is not separable from the silicon dust in an economical way. The newer FAS (fixed abrasive sawing) uses diamond particles fixed to the cutting wire. It is expected that FAS will replace LAS almost completely by 2020 for poly/mono-crystalline wafering. The intention of the proposed project is to recycle the FAS loss aiming at a sustainable solution. The main problem is the large surface to volume ratio of micron size silicon particles in the kerf loss, leading to formation of SiO2 having a detrimental effect on the crystallisation. The compaction process developed by GARBO meets the requirements of a reasonable crucible-loading factor. Overheating the silicon melt locally in combination with optimised electromagnetic stirring provides the means to remove SiO2. The technology developed by GARBO removes the organic binding agents, leaving about 200 ppm wt diamond particle contamination. If untreated, the carbon level is above the solubility limit. Formation of silicon carbide and precipitation during crystallisation is to be expected. The electromagnetic mixing, in combination with the effective means to separate electrically non-conducting silicon carbide and remaining SiO2 particles from the silicon melt by Leenov-Kolin forces and the control of the solidification front, is the proposed route to produce the solar grade multi-crystalline silicon blocks cast in commercial size in a unified process. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecyclingnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compoundsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloidsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic Programme(s) FP7-ENVIRONMENT - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Environment (including Climate Change) Topic(s) ENV.2013.6.3-1 - Turning waste into a resource through innovative technologies, processes and services Call for proposal FP7-ENV-2013-two-stage See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP - Collaborative project (generic) Coordinator HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM DRESDEN-ROSSENDORF EV EU contribution € 395 922,00 Address BAUTZNER LANDSTRASSE 400 01328 Dresden Germany See on map Region Sachsen Dresden Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Rainer Maletti (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all GARBO SRL Italy EU contribution € 284 282,00 Address VIA PRATI NUOVI 9 28065 CERANO NO See on map Region Nord-Ovest Piemonte Novara Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Ilaria Lombardi (Mrs.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA Italy EU contribution € 262 574,00 Address VIA 8 FEBBRAIO 2 35122 Padova See on map Region Nord-Est Veneto Padova Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Andrea Stella (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH United Kingdom EU contribution € 233 396,00 Address PARK ROW GREENWICH OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE SE10 9LS London See on map Region London Outer London — East and North East Bexley and Greenwich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Alison Yakub (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data ELEKTRISCHE AUTOMATISIERUNGS- UND ANTRIEBSTECHNIK EAAT GMBH CHEMNITZ Germany EU contribution € 225 324,00 Address GOTTFRIED-SCHENKER-STRASSE 4 09244 Lichtenau See on map Region Sachsen Chemnitz Mittelsachsen Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Heinz Steinbach (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data