There is an increased demand for aluminium products with a low-climate footprint and Hydro is investing in new technology to produce low-carbon aluminium. During the last two years, Hydro has initiated projects worth NOK 3 billion at the Karmøy, Husnes, Høyanger, Årdal and Sunndal aluminium plants.The investments at the Norwegian primary aluminium plants will help Hydro take a leading role in climate efficient aluminium solutions through continued industrial development and initiatives driving the green transition. The primary aluminium plants will have an extended lifespan and the products are turned towards low-carbon aluminum for a growing market.In 2021, Hydro launched new climate ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2050, with a partial goal of having several technologies ready on an industrial scale by 2030. The company has initiated several projects to develop new technology that will help reduce emissions from aluminium production. Over the last two years, Hydro has initiated projects worth around NOK 3 billion at the Norwegian aluminium plants. The investments will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, on the way to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.The technology of increased recycling of post-consumer aluminium will contribute to reducing emissions faster today. In 2022, Hydro produced aluminium products for customers that were 100 percent recycled, and with near zero-carbon footprint. By introducing green hydrogen to replace natural gas, it could bring the production to zero-carbon emissions. Hydro Høyanger has tested using more post-consumer aluminium in its primary production, with good results. They are now building a special facility that will take in more post-consumer aluminium directly into the primary aluminium casthouse production, and further reduce the climate footprint for aluminium produced in Norway.The development of carbon capture, adapted to aluminium production, will be able to reduce the direct emissions at the existing primary plants. At the same time, Hydro is developing a completely new production method that will remove the emissions from the electrolysis process. The new process is called HalZero and involves replacing the current Hall-Heroult process, which was patented in 1886, and which has been gradually improved and used for almost 140 years.Examples of projects that have started at the Norwegian primary aluminium plants in 2021-2022:KarmøyBath cleaning machine, equipment for cleaning anode material for easier maintenance and residual waste management (NOK 116 million)Upgrade of the high voltage distribution network for electrolysis (NOK 205 million)Relining facility for the technology pilot (NOK 55 million)HusnesUpgrade of cranes in hall A (NOK 35 million)In addition, over NOK 1.5 billion was invested in the start-up of the B hall in the period before 2021ÅrdalNew alumina silos for electrolysis (NOK 73 million)Control systems for electrolysis (NOK 82 million)Preheating chamber in TYA casthouse (NOK 34 million)Upgrading the PFA casthouse (NOK 62 million)HøyangerRecycling plant for post-consumer aluminium (NOK 184 million)Anode cover material technology project (NOK 27 million)SunndalPower supply and upgrade of electrolysis line SU3 (NOK 845 million)Electric vehicles (NOK 74 million)Anode furnance upgrade (NOK 42 million)
There is an increased demand for aluminium products with a low-climate footprint and Hydro is investing in new technology to produce low-carbon aluminium. During the last two years, Hydro has initiated projects worth NOK 3 billion at the Karmøy, Husnes, Høyanger, Årdal and Sunndal aluminium plants.The investments at the Norwegian primary aluminium plants will help Hydro take a leading role in climate efficient aluminium solutions through continued industrial development and initiatives driving the green transition. The primary aluminium plants will have an extended lifespan and the products are turned towards low-carbon aluminum for a growing market.In 2021, Hydro launched new climate ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2050, with a partial goal of having several technologies ready on an industrial scale by 2030. The company has initiated several projects to develop new technology that will help reduce emissions from aluminium production. Over the last two years, Hydro has initiated projects worth around NOK 3 billion at the Norwegian aluminium plants. The investments will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, on the way to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.The technology of increased recycling of post-consumer aluminium will contribute to reducing emissions faster today. In 2022, Hydro produced aluminium products for customers that were 100 percent recycled, and with near zero-carbon footprint. By introducing green hydrogen to replace natural gas, it could bring the production to zero-carbon emissions. Hydro Høyanger has tested using more post-consumer aluminium in its primary production, with good results. They are now building a special facility that will take in more post-consumer aluminium directly into the primary aluminium casthouse production, and further reduce the climate footprint for aluminium produced in Norway.The development of carbon capture, adapted to aluminium production, will be able to reduce the direct emissions at the existing primary plants. At the same time, Hydro is developing a completely new production method that will remove the emissions from the electrolysis process. The new process is called HalZero and involves replacing the current Hall-Heroult process, which was patented in 1886, and which has been gradually improved and used for almost 140 years.Examples of projects that have started at the Norwegian primary aluminium plants in 2021-2022:KarmøyBath cleaning machine, equipment for cleaning anode material for easier maintenance and residual waste management (NOK 116 million)Upgrade of the high voltage distribution network for electrolysis (NOK 205 million)Relining facility for the technology pilot (NOK 55 million)HusnesUpgrade of cranes in hall A (NOK 35 million)In addition, over NOK 1.5 billion was invested in the start-up of the B hall in the period before 2021ÅrdalNew alumina silos for electrolysis (NOK 73 million)Control systems for electrolysis (NOK 82 million)Preheating chamber in TYA casthouse (NOK 34 million)Upgrading the PFA casthouse (NOK 62 million)HøyangerRecycling plant for post-consumer aluminium (NOK 184 million)Anode cover material technology project (NOK 27 million)SunndalPower supply and upgrade of electrolysis line SU3 (NOK 845 million)Electric vehicles (NOK 74 million)Anode furnance upgrade (NOK 42 million)
