Innovative Decarbonization: Novelis Pioneers Industrial-Scale Hydrogen Use for Carbon-Neutral Production
Key Ideas
  • Novelis successfully tested using hydrogen to power a recycling furnace at its UK plant, potentially reducing CO2e emissions by up to 90% compared to natural gas.
  • The hydrogen pilot project prioritized safety and tested blending different hydrogen percentages with natural gas to assess impact on infrastructure and equipment compatibility.
  • Downstream processing and further research will be conducted to establish 'end-to-end' parameters for a hydrogen-based, recycled alloy production process.
  • Novelis is part of the UK government's Industrial Fuel Switching Competition programme, aiming to decarbonize operations through a shift to low carbon hydrogen.
Novelis Inc., a prominent sustainable aluminium solutions provider, has made strides in decarbonization by successfully utilizing hydrogen fuel to operate a recycling furnace at its Latchford plant in Warrington, UK. The initiative, part of a UK government decarbonization program, in partnership with Progressive Energy, demonstrated the capability of hydrogen to reduce CO2e emissions significantly compared to natural gas. The project involved rigorous safety testing and assessment of hydrogen's integration with existing infrastructure, with promising results in remelting scrap aluminium alloy. Further evaluations will be conducted to determine the viability of a hydrogen-based, recycled alloy production process. The endeavor, supported by the UK government's Industrial Fuel Switching Competition program, aims to transition industries to low carbon hydrogen. Novelis plans to expand its sustainability efforts by increasing recycled content and reducing carbon emissions, aligning with its vision for carbon neutrality by 2050. This innovative approach signifies a progressive step towards achieving carbon-neutral production in the aluminium industry.
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