Novelis invests R$6 million in solar energy and electric machines in aluminium can collection centres to ensure a sustainable future

In accordance with global sustainability goals, Novelis will invest R$ 6 million in February 2023 to install nearly 1,000 photovoltaic solar energy panels in Brazil's 14 aluminium can collection centres. The sum includes the cost of replacing gas-powered forklifts with electric machines.

Beatriz Sobreira, the Senior Manager of Strategy and Sustainability at Novelis, Brazil, said, "This investment marks Novelis' first project in Brazil with a solar energy source. Our objectives of decarbonizing and producing increasingly sustainable aluminium are priorities for the company. We are focused on moving forward with initiatives that bring us closer to achieving these goals."

The collecting centres will be self-sufficient in energy use thanks to the new sources, which can produce 603.8 MWh of clean energy annually.

The anticipated decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is 231.1 tonnes of CO2 per year, equal to the carbon sequestration of 31,200 Amazon forest trees or 344 automobiles driving 10 km per day on average.

The collection centres' main functions include:

• Receiving post-consumer aluminium cans
• Cleaning them
• Packaging them for shipment to the Pindamonhangaba (SP) complex, where recycling takes place

To transport these big bales of cans, forklift trucks are used, but they will soon be electric. Novelis will purchase 16 new versions to replace the outdated gas-powered ones as part of an investment in updating its equipment.