MG-silicon production, at plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U
Unit process Australia v00.00.001
This dataset represents the production of 1 kg of metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-silicon) with a purity of 99%. Silicon is used for the production of aluminium compounds (ca. 50%), silicones (plastics) (ca. 40%) and electronics (ca. 4%). Most of the MG-silicon is produced by carbothermic reduction. For the use in semiconductors further purification is necessary. About one million tonnes of MG-silicon with a purity of 98.5-99.5% was produced in the year 2000. The electricity use is the most important economic factors. The major producers are in Norway, the USA, South-Africa, Brazil, France and Australia. This dataset is based on production in Norway (electricity supply is basically from hydropower), because most data are available for this country and it represents an important share of the total production. Most of the five production plants (Meraker, Bremanger, Fiskaa, Salten and Thamshavn) are in low-density populated areas and have a direct access to a harbour. Reference(s): Production volume: 1000000000 kg Included activities start: The activity starts when the raw materials enter the process. Included activities end: This activity ends with the production of MG-silicon from silica sand. The dataset includes material inputs, energy use, wastes and air emissions. Emissions to water are not included. Energy values: 0 Geography: The inventory is modelled for Norway Technology level: 3 Technology: The technology used is modern; waste heat is partly recovered and used for electricity generation and/or district heating. Further improvement options for the process are mainly a further reduction of energy consumption by heat recovery, reduction of emissions with environmental technology and use of sustainable biogenic carbon sources instead of fossil carbon sources.;Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009.;Reference:;The production of MG-silicon with a purity of over 99% is based on carbothermal reduction of silica sand using petrol coke, charcoal and wood chips as reduction agents. Start date: 01/01/2000 End date: 31/12/2020 Is data valid for entire period: True Time period: Time of publication. Macro-economic scenario name: Business-as-Usual Version: 39.3.0.0 Created: 1/25/2021 5:17:49 PM Last edited: Source: 62b76623-107e-4d83-8a17-f7d97a10c1fe_da4a421e-2d42-4537-bfcd-162fe38ec8a9.spold UUID: 62b76623-107e-4d83-8a17-f7d97a10c1fe Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009. Record: data entry by: Niels Jungbluth info@esu-services.ch Margrit-Rainer-Strasse 11c, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland is active author: False Generator: generated by: Niels Jungbluth info@esu-services.ch Margrit-Rainer-Strasse 11c, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland
- Sector
- Other Materials
- Contributor
- —
- Last updated
- 12 Oct 2026
- Reference ID
4d567c31-87a2-3593-8af0-d1a47eedda44
Download this dataset Ask a question about this dataset
Downloads require a free account. You'll be asked to register or sign in.
Documentation
- Quantitative reference
- MG-silicon production, at plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U
- Sampling procedure
- sampling procedure: Publication of plant-specific data in a European survey.
- Creation date
- 25 Jan 2021
- Is copyright protected
- No
- Is infrastructure process
- No
- Tags
- material
- Sources
-
Ecoinvent 3
Product outputs
| Flow | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG-silicon production, at plant {AU}| | AusLCI, U | 1.0 | kg | Produced in Western Australia. |
Technical inputs
| Flow | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charcoal {GLO}| market for charcoal | Cut-off, U | 0.17 | kg | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Literature value, Jungbluth et al. (2009) are combining several different literature sources for this value. Reference(s): Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009. |
| Coke {GLO}| market for coke | Cut-off, U | 23.12 | MJ | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Literature value, reported as 'coal' in Jungbluth et al. (2009). Several different literature sources are combined by Jungbluth et al. (2009). Reference(s): Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009.' |
| Electricity, low voltage {AU-WA-SWIS}| market for electricity, low voltage | AusLCI, U | 11.68450704 | kWh | Source: Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd 2020, Annual compliance assessment report – Silicon Project: Kemerton Smelter and Moora Mine. |
| Graphite {GLO}| market for graphite | Cut-off, U | 0.1 | kg | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Literature value, reported as 'graphite electrodes' in Jungbluth et al. (2009). Several different literature sources are combined by Jungbluth et al. (2009). Reference(s): Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009.' |
| Oxygen, liquid {RoW}| market for oxygen, liquid | Cut-off, U | 0.02 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature value, Jungbluth et al. (2009) are combining several different literature sources for this value. Reference(s): Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009. |
| Petroleum coke {GLO}| market for petroleum coke | Cut-off, U | 0.5 | kg | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Literature value, Jungbluth et al. (2009) are combining several different literature sources for this value. Reference(s): Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009. |
| Silica sand {GLO}| market for silica sand | Cut-off, U | 2.7 | kg | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Literature value, Jungbluth et al. (2009) are combining several different literature sources for this value. Reference(s): Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009. |
| Silicone factory {RoW}| silicone factory construction | Cut-off, U | 0.00000000001 | Item(s) | (1,2,5,1,3,na) Estimation. |
| Wood chips, wet, measured as dry mass {RoW}| market for wood chips, wet, measured as dry mass | Cut-off, U | 0.549757 | kg | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Literature value, Jungbluth et al. (2009) are combining several different literature sources for this value (1.35 kg). Reference(s): Jungbluth N., Stucki M, and Frischknecht R. (2009) Photovoltaics. In Dones, R. (Ed.) et al., Sachbilanzen von Energiesystemen: Grundlagen für den ökologischen Vergleich von Energiesystemen und den Einbezug von Energiesystemen in Ökobilanzen für die Schweiz. ecoinvent report No. 6-XII, Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH, 2009. |
Outputs to treatment
| Flow | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slag from metallurgical grade silicon production {GLO}| market for slag from metallurgical grade silicon production | Cut-off, U | 0.025 | kg | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Literature value. This slag is reported to be disposed in a landfill. Production Volume Amount: 25000000 |
Elementary flow outputs
| Flow | Compartment | Sub-compartment | Amount | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium III | Emission to air | low population density | 0.00000155 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Antimony, ion | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.00000000785 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Arsenic, ion | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000378 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Beryllium compounds | Emission to air | unspecified | 0.0000000503 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Boron | Emission to air | low population density | 0.000000279 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Cadmium compounds | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000119 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Calcium (II) | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000775 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Carbon dioxide, fossil | Emission to air | low population density | 0.994884507 | kg | Adjusted to add up to total CO2 emissions literature value. Source: Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd 2020, Annual compliance assessment report – Silicon Project: Kemerton Smelter and Moora Mine. |
| Carbon dioxide, non-fossil | Emission to air | low population density | 1.6098 | kg | (2,2,5,1,1,na) Calculation, biogenic fuels. |
| Carbon monoxide, fossil | Emission to air | low population density | 0.016488574 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Carbon monoxide, non-fossil | Emission to air | low population density | 0.00062027 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature value. |
| Chlorine | Emission to air | low population density | 0.0000000785 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature value. |
| Chromium, ion | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000153 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Copper compounds | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000918 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Cyanide | Emission to air | low population density | 0.00000687 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Estimation. |
| Fluorine | Emission to air | low population density | 0.0000000388 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Formaldehyde (methyl aldehyde) | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.0000144 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Hydrogen fluoride | Emission to air | low population density | 0.0005 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Estimation. |
| Hydrogen sulfide | Emission to air | low population density | 0.0005 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Estimation. |
| Iron, ion | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.00000388 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Lead compounds | Emission to air | low population density | 0.00000169 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Mercury compounds | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000186 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| NMVOC, non-methane volatile organic compounds | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000096 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature. |
| Nickel compounds | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000503 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Nitrogen oxides | Emission to air | low population density | 0.017935354 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | Emission to air | low population density | 0.0000000341 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Particulate Matter, > 10 um | Emission to air | low population density | 0.000445849 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Polychlorinated dioxins and furans | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000000000403 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Potassium (I) | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000062 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Silicon | Emission to air | low population density | 0.0075134 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, SiO2 in dust. |
| Sodium (I) | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000000775 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| Sulfur dioxide | Emission to air | low population density | 0.007476188 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
| Tin ion | Emission to air | low population density | 0.00000000785 | kg | (3,4,5,3,1,na) Literature, in dust. |
| VOC, volatile organic compounds, unspecified origin | Emissions to air | low. pop. | 0.000111238 | kg | Source: Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy 2020, 2019/2020 Report for SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY LTD, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd – Wellesley, WA, National Pollutant Inventory. |
Parameters
| Name | Value | Formula | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c_Silica | 354.0 | — | $/tonne - Sensitivity Analysis of Life Cycle Impacts Distribution Methods Choice Applied to Silica Fume Production, J F G Timm et al 2019 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 323 012131 |
| All_Silica | 0.005643247896402297 | c_Silica*m_Silica/(c_Silicon*m_Silicon+c_Silica*m_Silica) | Value allocation for Silica. |
| c_Silicon | 3145.0 | — | $/tonne - Sensitivity Analysis of Life Cycle Impacts Distribution Methods Choice Applied to Silica Fume Production, J F G Timm et al 2019 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 323 012131 |
| m_Silicon | 0.952 | — | Mass allocation - Sensitivity Analysis of Life Cycle Impacts Distribution Methods Choice Applied to Silica Fume Production, J F G Timm et al 2019 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 323 012131 |
| All_Silicon | 0.9943567521035976 | c_Silicon*m_Silicon/(c_Silicon*m_Silicon+c_Silica*m_Silica) | Value allocation for Silicon. |
| m_Silica | 0.048 | — | Mass allocation - Sensitivity Analysis of Life Cycle Impacts Distribution Methods Choice Applied to Silica Fume Production, J F G Timm et al 2019 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 323 012131 |