6N Silicon

6N Silicon Inc. operated as a specialized manufacturer of high-purity, solar-grade silicon designed to meet the demands of the photovoltaic industry across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 2006 by Scott Nichol, who initiated the venture on a credit card budget. Nichol, who holds a degree in Materials Engineering from McMaster University, leveraged his academic background to pioneer the company's core technology.

The firm developed a proprietary, low-cost metallurgical process to purify silicon to a "six nines" or 99.9999% purity level (6N). This low-temperature process utilized aluminum as a metal solvent, which was a departure from the energy-intensive Siemens process commonly used in the industry. This method was not only more energy-efficient, requiring significantly less than 25% of the energy of the Siemens process, but it also allowed the use of cheaper, lower-grade silicon feedstock. The business model centered on supplying this purified silicon to manufacturers of multicrystalline and monocrystalline silicon solar cells.

A significant milestone was achieved in July 2007, when 6N Silicon secured $6 million in a Series A financing round led by Ventures West and Yaletown Venture Partners, supplemented by a CDN $4 million contribution from Sustainable Development Technology Canada to establish a pilot production line. The company raised a total of $29.7M over its lifespan from investors including Bregal Energy. In January 2008, Paolo Maccario, a veteran of the metallurgical industry, was appointed CEO, with founder Scott Nichol continuing as President and CTO. The company constructed a pilot line in Mississauga, Ontario, capable of producing 70 metric tons annually on a single shift. On February 11, 2010, 6N Silicon was acquired by Calisolar Inc. (later renamed Silicor Materials) through a stock-for-stock transaction. The acquisition was intended to integrate 6N's purification technology into Calisolar's manufacturing process, aiming to lower costs and improve solar cell performance.

Keywords: solar grade silicon, polysilicon manufacturing, metallurgical silicon purification, photovoltaic industry supplier, silicon feedstock, Scott Nichol, Paolo Maccario, low-temperature silicon process, CleanTech, Silicor Materials acquisition, Canadian technology, solar cell components, high-purity silicon, Ventures West Capital, Yaletown Partners, Bregal Energy, silicon purification, solar energy materials, renewable energy components, semiconductor materials