Norwegian aluminium company Hydro achieved a significant milestone in its journey towards sustainable aluminium production, earning the title of an Energy Transition Changemaker at the 2023 Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai on December 5. The recognition, bestowed by the COP28 UAE Presidency, applauds Hydro’s strides in pioneering the green aluminium transition through its innovative HalZero project.
President and CEO of Hydro, Hilde Merete Aasheim, expressed pride in their breakthrough in a press release.
“We are changing the game for aluminium. This is an important recognition of our efforts to develop new technology that could be the biggest thing to happen in aluminium production since the invention of the Hall-Héroult process in 1886.”
The HalZero technology aims to revolutionize aluminium production by emitting oxygen instead of CO2, a significant shift from the current CO2-emitting electrolysis technology. If successful, this technology could be adopted globally, significantly reducing emissions in one of the world’s most challenging sectors to decarbonize.
Hydro is now set to begin construction of a test facility for HalZero at their technology center in Porsgrunn, Norway. The facility will be a hub for advancing the different process steps of the technology. Hydro anticipates producing the first aluminium by 2025 and achieving industrial scale pilot volumes by 2030, readying HalZero for widespread use in new aluminium smelter capacities.
In parallel, Hydro is also focusing on carbon capture and storage for existing smelters, increasing the use of renewable energy, and testing green hydrogen across its value chain.
“The road to zero-carbon aluminium production is a long haul. We have made significant progress in the past three decades, reducing CO2 emissions at Hydro’s smelters in Norway by 55 percent since 1990, while almost doubling production. The HalZero test facility is another important step on our path to zero.”
Hydro’s decarbonization efforts were showcased at COP28 as part of the Energy Transition Changemakers initiative by the COP28 UAE Presidency, promoting private sector collaboration in delivering scalable decarbonization projects. Hydro was one of the selected companies to present solutions for the energy transition in heavy emitting sectors.
The company was also part of the official Norwegian business delegation led by Innovation Norway at COP28, highlighting Norway’s leadership in offering carbon-neutral solutions for the green transition. Håkon Haugli, CEO of Innovation Norway, commended Hydro’s achievements.
“I congratulate Hydro on the recognition as an Energy Transition Changemaker. This not only acknowledges the significance of Hydro’s HalZero project but also demonstrates how Norway’s leading companies are at the forefront in offering carbon-neutral solutions for the green transition.”
The proprietary HalZero technology involves converting alumina to aluminium chloride before electrolysis, keeping chlorine and carbon in a closed loop and eliminating CO2 emissions. This innovation could fully decarbonize aluminium smelting by addressing emissions from both electrolysis and anode baking.
Hydro already stands out in the industry with a carbon footprint of less than 4 kg CO2e/kg aluminium, a quarter of the global average. By 2030, the company aims to reduce emissions by a further 30 percent and deliver industrial scale pilot volumes of its emission-free smelting technology.
Dedicated to leading the green aluminium transition, Hydro says its ultimate goal is to produce net-zero aluminium by 2050, ensuring a positive impact on local communities, nature, and the climate.
