HPQ Silicon and Novacium Sign MOU with GLD Alloys to produce Green Hydrogen with METAGENE™

A partnership with the goal of accelerating large-scale GREEN hydrogen production to meet the demands of a rapidly growing market

MONTREAL and LYON France, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ, OTCQB: HPQFF, FRA: O08) — a technology company specializing in green engineering processes — along with its French subsidiary NOVACIUM SAS (“Novacium”), is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GLD Alloys (GLD), a leading Malaysian producer of recycled aluminum.

This strategic agreement aims to accelerate the industrial-scale production of METAGENE™, a next-generation fuel that enables the autonomous generation of high-pressure green hydrogen. While the MoU does not currently include any binding terms or financial commitments, it lays the foundation for a collaboration with economic and environmental potential.

“This partnership with HPQ and Novacium is a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition toward a cleaner energy industry,” said Mr. John Lee, CEO of GLD Alloys. “With METAGENE™, we are combining sustainability and innovation to meet the world’s rapidly growing demand for green hydrogen — a market with growth potential.”

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Strategic Alliance at the Heart of Green Hydrogen Innovation

Through this partnership, HPQ, Novacium, and GLD are combining their strengths to leverage GLD’s expertise in producing low-carbon recycled aluminum alloys — a key component of METAGENE™ fuel. This solid fuel, based on an innovative silicon–aluminum formulation, generates 1.25 m³ of hydrogen per kilogram — an energy density that surpasses conventional solutions. With an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons of recycled aluminum, GLD brings quality, cost-efficiency, and scalability to the table, positioning METAGENE™ as a future key player in the global clean energy market.

“We are on the cusp of an energy revolution,” says Dr. Jed Kraiem, COO of Novacium. “METAGENE™ makes green hydrogen accessible, safe, and cost-effective.”

A 95% Reduction in Carbon Impact Thanks to Recycled Aluminum

The use of recycled aluminum by GLD in the METAGENE™ process results in a substantial reduction in carbon emissions — 95% less CO₂ compared to primary aluminum, according to industry benchmarks [1]. For instance, producing one tonne of recycled aluminum emits approximately 0.6 tonnes of CO₂, versus 12 tonnes for primary aluminum. With a target of 500 tonnes of METAGENE™ fuel production per year by 2027, this translates to an annual CO₂ reduction of over 5,500 tonnes — equivalent to the emissions of 1,200 gasoline-powered cars over the course of a year [2]. This important environmental benefit and strong economic efficiency, enhance METAGENE™’s appeal to impact-focused investors and clean energy stakeholders.

“GLD Alloys is the ideal partner to make METAGENE™ a global commercial success,” said Bernard Tourillon, CEO of HPQ Silicon. “Their substantial production capacity and strong environmental commitment position us to target the rapidly growing green hydrogen market.”

A Springboard to Commercialization

This partnership represents a pivotal milestone in advancing METAGENE™ from pilot-scale development to full-scale industrial and commercial production. By leveraging GLD’s industry expertise, HPQ and Novacium aim to streamline the supply chain and reduce production costs by 30–50% compared to competing technologies [3]. This cost efficiency, combined with METAGENE™’s autonomous operation — requiring no electricity, costly storage, or heavy infrastructure — positions it as an ultra-competitive solution in the rapidly expanding green hydrogen market, which is projected to reach US$500 billion by 2030 [4].

In 2025, a pilot phase — currently under discussion with the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) for potential financial support — will produce 10 kg of hydrogen per day, with operational field tests planned for the first half of 2026. By 2027, commercial production is expected to reach 500 tonnes of METAGENE™ fuel per year, generating 50,000 kg of hydrogen — enough to meet the needs of high-demand industrial, military, and civilian applications.

Next Steps: An Ambitious Timeline

• 2025: Pilot phase — production of 10 kg of hydrogen per day
  
• 2026: Field Operational validation tests in the first half of the year
  
• 2027: Commercial launch — 500 tonnes of fuel per year, equivalent to 50,000 kg of hydrogen
  

"With a business model rooted in disruptive technology and a minimal carbon footprint, HPQ and Novacium are ideally positioned to lead the next wave of hydrogen-based green energy," added Mr. Tourillon.

REFERENCE SOURCES

[1] Data based on International Aluminium Institute (IAI) standards.   
[2] Calculation based on an average emission of 4.6 tCO2e per car/year (French Environment and Energy Management Agency, ADEME).   
[3] Internal estimates from Novacium's technical team   
[4] Green Hydrogen Market Projections by BloombergNEF, 2023.   

About NOVACIUM SAS

Novacium is an HPQ - affiliated company that started in Q3 2022. This green technology startup is based in Lyon, France and is a partnership with HPQ and three of France’s leading research engineers, Dr. Jed KRAIEM PhD, Novacium's Chief Operating Officer (“COO”), Dr. Oleksiy NICHIPORUK PhD, Novacium's Chief Technical Officer (“CTO”), and Dr. Julien DEGOULANGE PhD, Novacium’s Chief Innovation Officer (“CIO”). Novacium is a new Research and Development company which allows researchers to develop their own technology in high-added-value fields connected to renewable energy and allows HPQ Silicon Inc. a Canadian company, to expand the depth and reach of its technical team to help develop its silicon and new renewable energy projects.

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ activities are centred around the following five (5) pillars:

1) Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) manufacturer of Fumed Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR, a proprietary technology owned by HPQ Silica Polvere Inc being developed for HSPI by PyroGenesis.

2) Becoming a producer of silicon-based anode materials for battery applications with the assistance of NOVACIUM SAS.

3) HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM SAS is developing a low carbon, chemical based on demand and high-pressure autonomous hydrogen production system.

4) HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM SAS is developing a new process to transform black aluminium dross into a valuable resource.

5) Becoming a zero CO2 low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using our PUREVAP™ “Quartz Reduction Reactors” (QRR), a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.

For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon web site.