Hydro will conduct a three-year industrial-scale pilot at Hydro Høyanger, Norway, and test green hydrogen technology in their new recycling unit. This initiative aims to replace fossil energy, particularly liquid natural gas, in the remelting process of 100 per cent post-consumer scrap aluminium.
About the project
This project leverages Hydro's expertise in both energy and aluminium. Hydro's green hydrogen unit, Hydro Havrand, has secured soft funding of up to NOK 83.3 million from the Norwegian Government (Enova) to facilitate this pilot. The aluminium produced in the recycling process will be utilised to further reduce the CO2 footprint of aluminium products from Hydro's Norwegian smelters.
By leveraging green hydrogen, Hydro seeks to achieve zero-carbon aluminium production, addressing the high-energy demands of aluminium remelting without relying on fossil fuels like natural gas. Building on their pioneering use of green hydrogen in aluminium recycling tested in June 2023, this pilot project holds significant global potential for advancing sustainable industrial practices.
"Hydro is pursuing multiple paths to decarbonise our operations. With this pilot we take another step on our path to zero-carbon aluminium. Green hydrogen is an exciting potential option to decarbonise aluminium and other hard to abate industries," stated Hanne Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal.
Green hydrogen to fuel one remelting furnace
Green hydrogen will fuel one remelting furnace at the Høyanger recycling unit throughout the pilot phase. This step is pivotal in harnessing the decarbonisation potential of this renewable fuel within the aluminium sector, offering valuable insights into fuel-switching technologies, metal quality enhancements, and the required infrastructure for future green hydrogen initiatives.
This initiative is integral to Hydro's strategy to lead the shift towards greener aluminium and marks a significant step in their technology roadmap towards zero-carbon products. In recent years, Hydro has achieved milestones such as producing initial quantities of near-zero carbon aluminium from recycled sources, initiating carbon capture tests in Sunndal, and exploring biomethane and plasma technologies as potential solutions for decarbonising high-temperature processes.
A groundbreaking technology
Hydro is constructing a test facility for a pioneering process technology in Porsgrunn, Norway, marking a significant advancement in the aluminium industry. A crucial factor enabling such industry investments is the predictable CO2 compensation scheme established in Norway through a long-term agreement reached earlier this year.
While green hydrogen stands out as one of the most promising emissions-free fuels for substituting natural gas in aluminium casthouses, it has yet to be adopted at an industrial scale within the aluminium sector.
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