Hydro and Rio Tinto join forces to identify and evaluate available carbon capture technologies the aluminium electrolysis process.
The companies have signed a partnership agreement that allows for certain information to be shared.
Together the partners expect to invest approximately USD 45 million over five years to support this initiative.
Most of the work is expected to be conducted at Hydro’s facilities in Norway and Rio Tinto’s facilities in Europe.
Anode consumption during the electrolysis process accounts for approximately three quarters of a smelter’s direct CO2 emissions.
Capturing carbon from aluminium smelter flue gas, with CO2 concentrations around 1 percent (vol.), requires adapting direct air capture technologies for higher concentrations or point source technologies for lower concentrations.
In both cases, the current technology requires significant development efforts to mature from laboratory to commercial scale. The collaboration between Hydro and Rio Tinto aims to speed up this development process.
“Hydro is accelerating our ambitious roadmap to achieve net-zero aluminium production by 2050 or sooner, advancing solutions across every step of our value chain, from mine to metal. Carbon capture technologies are critical to decarbonising existing smelters. Our partnership with Rio Tinto will amplify efforts to develop fit for purpose solutions that can accelerate the aluminium industry’s transition towards net-zero production,” says Hydro President and CEO Eivind Kallevik.
“Rio Tinto’s is committed to reaching net-zero emissions from our operations by 2050, and we know that achieving our climate objectives will require a portfolio of solutions. By working in partnership with Hydro to assess certain carbon capture technologies for aluminium smelters, we are finding better ways to leverage our complementary networks and R&D capabilities to address the climate change challenge,” says Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm.
Sourec: Hydro with additional information added by GlassBalkan
