Alliance between Novelis and Southern Company aims to decarbonise aluminum production in North America

Novelis Inc., the world's leading sustainable aluminium solutions provider, has reportedly collaborated with Southern Company to take initiatives to achieve decarbonisation of aluminium production across North America. Southern Company, headquartered in Atlanta, is a reputed producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy.

The partnership will start with Novelis' new Bay Minette aluminium recycling and rolling plant through a win-win mutual settlement. As per the terms, Novelis will support Southern Company's subsidiary Alabama Power in developing two new 80-megawatt solar power generation plants in Alabama, which, in return, will provide renewable energy to Novelis' new Bay Minette aluminium recycling and rolling plant.

Once this new plant comes into operation, it will help meet North America's growing demand for sustainable beverage packaging and automotive industry with low-carbon, energy-efficient rolled aluminium products.

Alabama Power will cover over half of the Bay Minette facility's renewable energy needs while reducing Scope2 greenhouse gas emissions.

Novelis and Southern Company will also work together on advancing new technologies to reduce the aluminium producer's Scope1 carbon emissions, including hydrogen fuels, carbon capture, energy storage and electrification of thermal processes. Southern Company is also assisting Novelis to achieve carbon neutrality at its other sites in North America.

"At Novelis, we believe that strong partnerships like this are critical to advancing our commitment to the environment, the economy and the communities in which we operate," said Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Novelis' Vice President of Sustainability. "Partnering with Southern Company and Alabama Power on renewable energy solutions, such as solar power, and exploring new technologies for carbon reduction will help us as we seek to meet our goals to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2026 and be carbon neutral by 2050 or sooner."

Chris Cummiskey, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial and Customer Solutions Officer for Southern Company Services, said: "The future of clean energy depends on unlocking these types of partnerships. Whether it's with new or existing companies, finding ways for Novelis and Southern Company to mutually identify and test innovative technologies will be key to advancing the availability of renewable power and reaching our respective decarbonisation goals."