Rio Tinto and Hydro Forge Path for Net-Zero Aluminium
In a significant move towards sustainable aluminium production, industry giants Rio Tinto and Hydro have announced a partnership to explore and evaluate carbon capture technologies tailored for aluminium smelters.
This collaboration underscores the industry’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and advancing environmental stewardship.
A Strategic Alliance for a Greener Future
The partnership between Rio Tinto and Hydro aims to identify and assess existing carbon capture solutions suitable for integration into the aluminium electrolysis process. By pooling resources and expertise, the companies plan to share information, research outcomes, and associated costs across various R&D activities. These initiatives will range from laboratory tests with external suppliers to larger on-site pilot projects, all with the goal of enhancing commercially viable carbon capture offerings from relevant providers.
Over the next five years, the duo anticipates investing approximately $45 million to support this initiative. The majority of the research and development will be conducted at Rio Tinto’s facilities in Europe and Hydro’s sites in Norway. It’s noteworthy that, beyond this collaboration, both companies will continue to pursue their individual decarbonisation efforts independently.
Addressing the Carbon Challenge in Aluminium Production
A significant portion of a smelter’s direct CO₂ emissions—about three-quarters—stems from anode consumption during the electrolysis process. Recognising this, scientists from both Rio Tinto and Hydro have been delving into various carbon capture technologies as complementary solutions to meet their respective climate targets. This is in addition to the development and scaling up of carbon-free aluminium smelting technologies, such as Hydro’s HalZero technology and Rio Tinto’s involvement in the ELYSIS joint venture.
Capturing carbon from aluminium smelter flue gas presents unique challenges. With CO₂ concentrations around 1% by volume, there’s a need to adapt direct air capture technologies designed for higher concentrations or point source technologies suited for lower concentrations. Currently, the technology readiness level in this area is low, necessitating substantial development efforts to progress from laboratory research to commercial-scale applications. The collaboration between Rio Tinto and Hydro aims to expedite this development process, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions from smelters.
Leadership Perspectives
Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm emphasised the importance of a multifaceted approach to achieving climate objectives. He stated: “Rio Tinto 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.”
Echoing this sentiment, Hydro President and CEO Eivind Kallevik highlighted the critical role of carbon capture technologies in decarbonising existing smelters. He remarked: “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, and 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.”
The Broader Context of Decarbonisation in Aluminium Production
The aluminium industry has been under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact. Traditional smelting processes are energy-intensive and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Innovations like carbon capture and storage (CCS) are pivotal in mitigating these emissions.
Hydro has been proactive in this arena, evaluating over 50 CCS technologies and developing a roadmap for testing and piloting the most promising ones up to industrial scale. The goal is to have an industrial-scale pilot running by 2030. This initiative aligns with Hydro’s broader sustainability ambitions, which include reducing emissions from their aluminium smelters. The company has also invested in partnerships to advance CCS technologies, recognising that further development is needed to adapt these solutions to the specific challenges of aluminium production.
Similarly, Rio Tinto has been exploring innovative solutions to decarbonise its operations. In 2021, the company partnered with Carbfix to implement a technology for capturing carbon and permanently storing it underground at their ISAL aluminium smelter. This initiative reflects Rio Tinto’s commitment to finding practical solutions to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Path Forward
The collaboration between Rio Tinto and Hydro represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future for aluminium production. By leveraging their combined expertise and resources, the two companies aim to overcome the current technological challenges associated with carbon capture in smelting processes. This partnership not only underscores the industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship but also sets a precedent for future collaborations aimed at addressing climate change.
As the world continues to grapple with the pressing issue of climate change, initiatives like this serve as a reminder of the critical role that industry leaders play in driving innovation and fostering sustainable practices. The journey towards net-zero emissions is undoubtedly challenging, but with concerted efforts and strategic partnerships, a greener future for aluminium production is within reach.
A Beacon of progress
The alliance between Rio Tinto and Hydro exemplifies the proactive steps the aluminium industry is taking to address environmental concerns. By focusing on the development and implementation of carbon capture technologies, these industry leaders are not only working towards their own sustainability goals but also contributing to the global effort to combat climate change.
This partnership serves as a beacon of progress, highlighting the potential for collaborative innovation to drive meaningful change in industrial practices.
