Hydro’s Karmøy Technology Pilot for primary aluminium successfully verified

Hydro announced that internal testing program has verified the company’s new primary aluminium production technology, HAL4e.  The test shows that Karmøy Technology Pilot is operating at around 15 percent lower energy consumption than the world average.

Hydro Karmøy Technology Pilot started producing aluminium in January 2018. The target was an industrial full-scale verification of aluminium production technology. The final performance test proved successful results.

 “Twenty of the 60 HAL4e pots were selected for the final performance test, which was conducted for 75 days between October and December. During the test period, a range of additional measurements were performed on a number of parameters and exact production figures were traced and recorded. The energy results came in at 12.27 kWh/kg Al – below the set target of 12.3 kWh/kg Al,” Hydro said.

The company’s aim was to produce aluminium with energy consumption of 12.3 kWh/kg and furthermore, to bring the direct CO2 emissions from the electrolysis process well below Hydro’s low-carbon aluminium average of 1.67 kg CO2/kg Al.

 “We knew the targets were ambitious and this is unchartered territory and unique technology.  The successful performance test is a result of great collaboration and stamina from many parts of Hydro. I want to congratulate everyone involved in this milestone and not least our external partners, who have contributed to making this happen,” said Head of Hydro Aluminium Metal Eivind Kallevik.

Technology Pilot plans to continue to optimize operations and support systems and prepare for the second-generation cells.