HPQ Silicon and Novacium Sign Industrial Cooperation Agreement with AD-VENTA, Advancing METAGENE™ Scale-Up

This second strategic partnership aims to increase the green hydrogen production capacity of the METAGENE™ process and support its scale-up toward industrial deployment.

MONTRÉAL and LYON, France, Dec. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ, OTCQB: HPQFF, FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in advanced materials innovation and the development of next-generation processes, and its French technology partner NOVACIUM SAS (“Novacium”), are pleased to announce the signing of an industrial and commercial cooperation agreement with AD-VENTA Innovative (“AD-VENTA”), a major player in the design of high-pressure hydrogen storage, regulation, and distribution systems based in Châteauneuf-sur-Isère, France.

Image 1) Photo (left to right): Oleksiy Nichiporuk, Novacium R&D Director; Jean-Luc Mussot, CEO of AD-VENTA;
and Jed Kraiem, Head of Novacium, in front of AD-VENTA’s facilities.

This agreement marks a pivotal step in the development of the METAGENE™ technology, the innovative solution developed by Novacium to autonomously produce high-pressure green hydrogen. This new partnership will accelerate the development of the METAGENE™ station and increase its production capacity, which could now reach up to 20 kilograms of hydrogen per day, compared with the previously anticipated 1 to 10 kg/day range.

“The arrival of AD-VENTA in the project, and in particular the involvement of its CEO, Mr. Jean-Luc Mussot, who is internationally recognized for his expertise in high-pressure hydrogen regulation and distribution, represents an important milestone for us,” said Jed Kraiem, Head of Novacium. “His forty years of experience, notably at COMEX, one of the most prestigious companies in hyperbaric engineering, is a major asset for successfully scaling the project.”

This alliance will not only shorten the METAGENE™ station’s development timeline but also significantly boost its production capacity. AD-VENTA already operates a high-pressure hydrogen dispensing station. While it does not produce hydrogen, it is supplied with compressed hydrogen cylinders at 200 bar, which are recompressed to 350 bar or higher via an integrated compressor and then stored in dedicated tanks. Hydrogen is then dispensed through a nozzle similar to a standard fueling station, with a maximum capacity of roughly 20 kg of H₂ per day.

Image 2) Photo of AD-VENTA’s high-pressure hydrogen distribution station, where the METAGENE™ hydrogen reactor will be installed.

A key objective of this agreement is to adapt the station’s upstream section to integrate the METAGENE™ hydrogen-production reactor. This reactor, which generates hydrogen from an aluminum–silicon fuel, will be directly incorporated into the station, replacing the external 200-bar compressed-hydrogen cylinders previously used as feedstock.

“We are delighted to join the project led by Novacium, as it opens the door to a highly promising collaboration,” said Jean-Luc Mussot, CEO of AD-VENTA. “I am familiar with the METAGENE™ technology developed by Mr. Kraiem and Mr. Nichiporuk, whom I have known for many years, and I am convinced it represents an important advancement for decentralized high-pressure hydrogen production. It is especially well-suited for off-grid applications, as it does not rely on heavy infrastructure and offers an economical way to generate hydrogen in isolated environments.”

“This agreement with AD-VENTA is a major accelerator for the project,” added Mr. Kraiem. “Even if this first version, based on an existing compression and dispensing station, will not achieve full autonomy, since the compressor will require minimal electrical power, it is a genuine accelerator. Fundamentally, it allows us to reach the market much faster while providing a system with greater capacity from the outset.”

Under this agreement, HPQ, Novacium, and AD-VENTA will collaborate on integrating the METAGENE™ hydrogen reactor into the station acquired by AD-VENTA. In practice, work already began in September 2025, with a pilot phase planned for 2026. The objective is to conduct operational tests as quickly as possible to validate hydrogen production capacity, particularly for hydrogen-vehicle fleets, hydrogen-powered drones, and autonomous power-supply stations.

POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

With a production of 20 kg of hydrogen per day (equivalent to 400 kWh of useful electrical energy via a 60% PEM fuel cell), a single METAGENE™ unit delivers performance enabling stable and autonomous power supply in regions without centralized electrical grids or where logistics constraints are particularly challenging.

This capability unlocks continuous power for critical systems such as inspection and mapping drones, communication and telemetry stations, remote-monitoring posts, and many other infrastructures requiring a reliable, durable, deployable energy source in isolated settings.

Examples include:

• 80 to 130 one-hour inspection flights for 15–25 kg multirotor drones (pipelines, flare stacks, high-voltage lines);
• 45 to 70 one-hour missions for 50–120 kg drones dedicated to offshore oil and gas platform monitoring;
• up to 30 hours of continuous flight for a 15 kg mapping drone covering 400–600 km of pipelines or 500 hectares of oilfields per mission;
• simultaneous powering of 6 to 10 ground-based inspection drones in ATEX zones (refineries, isolated wells, LNG terminals), with 72 hours of autonomous on-site operation without diesel logistics.

These figures [1] correspond directly to the needs currently expressed by major oil and gas companies, integrated electric-grid operators, and North American defense organizations.

“The strategic agreement with AD-VENTA not only decisively accelerates the development and commercialization of our METAGENE™ onboard hydrogen generator, for which HPQ holds the exclusive North American license, it also contributes to increasing the technology’s maturity,” said Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon. “METAGENE™ is an adaptable solution capable of autonomously delivering green gaseous hydrogen and is particularly suited to extreme environments, making it fully compatible with North America’s geographic realities.”

The agreement, signed at the end of November 2025, establishes a framework for collaboration but does not currently include any material terms.

About AD-VENTA

AD-VENTA is an innovative company specializing in the design and manufacture of on-board high-pressure hydrogen storage and management systems, including pressure regulators, smart valves, and cylinder heads for mobile applications. Based in Châteauneuf-sur-Isère (Drôme), it provides turnkey solutions for hydrogen mobility (light vehicles, aeronautics, marine), with recognized expertise in gas safety and regulation, contributing to the energy transition and carbon-emission reduction.

About NOVACIUM SAS

Novacium is an innovative technology startup founded in 2022 in France. It is an engineering and R&D company dedicated to energy-related materials, with specialization in silicon and hydrogen. Novacium is developing two technologies: a new silicon-based anode material that significantly increases Li-ion battery capacity, and a standalone hydrogen-generation system for civilian and military applications using a proprietary silicon–aluminum alloy fuel.

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Inc. is a Québec-based industrial issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: HPQ) focused on innovation in advanced materials and the development of critical processes. In partnership with its R&D collaborator Novacium, in which HPQ is a shareholder, the Company is developing next-generation (GEN3) battery-anode materials, commercializing its ENDURA+ lithium-ion cells, and advancing breakthrough technologies in autonomous clean-hydrogen production and waste-to-energy conversion, for which HPQ holds exclusive North American rights.

HPQ is also advancing its proprietary technologies to become a low-cost, zero-CO₂ producer of fumed silica and high-purity silicon, supported by PyroGenesis Inc. Together, these initiatives position HPQ to capture growth opportunities across the energy-storage, clean-hydrogen, and advanced-materials sectors, all of which are essential to meeting global net-zero objectives.

Pour en savoir davantage, veuillez consulter le site www.hpqsilicon.com.

REFERENCE SOURCES

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions regarding technological performance, market demand, permitting, financing, supply chains, and economic conditions, but remain subject to significant risks, including delays, regulatory challenges, competition, pricing, financing availability, and macroeconomic uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations. Detailed risk factors are presented in HPQ’s Annual Information Form available on SEDAR+. Forward-looking information is provided solely to outline management’s expectations and future objectives.

A more detailed cautionary note regarding forward-looking information related to the METAGENE™ technology is available [here].

Additional information about the Company is available in the SEDAR+ database (www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company’s website at: www.hpqsilicon.com

The TSX Venture Exchange and its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) assume no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release is available on the “CEO Verified Discussion Forum,” a moderated social media platform that enables civil discussion and Q&A between management and shareholders.

Source: HPQ Silicon Inc.

For further information:

Bernard J. Tourillon, President and CEO, HPQ +1 (514) 846-3271 info@hpqsilicon.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4026187-4773-4130-a65f-c4f8d5237d3c
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b3479223-a688-4f47-85cb-f69ff0f78d87

Image EN 1 Novacium and AD-VENTA Team

Image 1) Photo (left to right): Oleksiy Nichiporuk, Novacium R&D Director; Jean-Luc Mussot, CEO of AD-VENTA; and Jed Kraiem, Head of Novacium, in front of AD-VENTA’s facilities.

Image EN 2 High pressure Hydrogène distribution systems

Image 2) Photo of AD-VENTA’s high-pressure hydrogen distribution station, where the METAGENE™ hydrogen reactor will be installed

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