Ontario Invests $1.5 million in 6N Silicon

The Ontario government announced today that it is investing $1.5 million in Mississauga's 6N Silicon Inc., a local company that uses silicon – the second most abundant element on earth – to turn the sun’s energy into clean, solar electricity.

Ontario's $1.5 million investment comes from the Innovation Demonstration Fund, which supports promising environmental and alternative energy technologies.

6N Silicon Inc. has developed a revolutionary process to purify silicon to the needed "six nines" — or 99.9999 per cent — purity required for use in solar panels. This process promises to reduce the cost of the material, and will help encourage the adoption and growth of solar power in Ontario.

The new investment will help 6N Silicon Inc. demonstrate the commercial viability of this process and promote the expansion of Ontario's rising solar industry.

6N Silicon's pilot plant will produce about 70 tonnes a year of solar-grade silicon.

"We are thrilled with the culture of innovation that is thriving in Mississauga," said Amrit Mangat, MPP for Mississauga—Brampton South. "Our investment in 6N Silicon Inc. will create jobs and provide clean energy solutions to Ontario and to the world."

"A key part of our government's strategy to make innovation a driving force for Ontario’s economy is to invest in technologies that will create the jobs of tomorrow. This project is a great example of the power of innovation to turn challenges — like how to generate clean energy — into solutions we can sell to the world," commented John Wilkinson, Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation.

"This is an opportune time to think big. Ontario has the opportunity to develop a domestic solar industry that includes the entire manufacturing value chain and 6N's technology will play a part in that," said Paolo Maccario, CEO of 6N Silicon Inc.

Founded in 2006, 6N Silicon is backed by Good Energies Investments B.V., Ventures West, and Yaletown Venture Partners.