Net Zero Lab completes first year of R&D collaboration with Novelis for decarbonisation goals

Novelis, one of the largest low-carbon aluminium solutions supplier and the world's leading aluminium rolling and recycling agency in partnership with an R&D laboratory, Net Zero Lab Valais, has reached acute success in ending the first year of operation. The collaboration has introduced major projects focusing on optimising Scope 1 and 2 carbon-neutral aluminium productions at Novelis' Sierre plant in Switzerland.

Within the first year of Novelis' alliance with Net Zero Lab Valais, the company had to allot a proper budget for a new electric pusher furnace, which would be crucial in negating the usual amount of carbon emissions from the production lines. This new technology will help Novelis to pre-heat aluminium sheet ingots with renewable or green energy in place of natural gas use, tactfully saving almost 4,500t CO2eq annually and up to 180,000 CO2eq throughout the furnace's life cycle.

Other than that, the lab associates completed an elaborate project to extract waste heat from the casting process in Novelis' plant, transforming it into the Technopôle, a building compound in the vicinity. The 200KW of energy that is supplied to the building's grid suffices for almost one-third of the total electricity required to power Technopôle. Novelis has joined hands with a regional energy provider, OIKEN, to further implement this renewable energy ecosystem. The company has ambitious sustainability goals of supplying the entire Sierre region with renewable energy before 2030.

Executive Vice President Novelis Inc., and President Novelis Europe, Emilio Braghi exclaimed: "This lighthouse project brings to life our holistic decarbonisation approach toward a net zero production."

"Additionally, it makes us very proud to see that beyond this important mission, we are also adding value to our surrounding communities and further expanding our position as a sustainability frontrunner and attractive employer," Braghi concluded.

The inception of Net Zero Lab Valais in 2022 was specifically to understand and find greener ways around the aluminium value chain that encircles the origination of raw material, conversion and reuse. With a goal of encouraging a carbon-free economy, many major metal industry heads are mending their processes to evolve into a fossil-free sector. The main aim of Lab Valais is to track methods that can move Novelis' reliance from fossil fuels to carbon-neutral energy sources. The results of this assessment will be available to the public from May this year.

The Plant Manager, Novelis Sierre, and Director, Automotive Operations, Novelis Europe, Serge Gaudin, commented: "Three decarbonisation projects by the Net Zero Lab Valais were rewarded with funds by the Swiss government, which allowed us to expand the size of the team."

"It's amazing to see the extraordinary results of this interdisciplinary, talented team and to know that this is just the beginning of our journey," Gaudin added.

The main objective of the R&D studies and projects that seep out of Net Zero Lab Valais is to make Novelis' Sierre plant eligible for carbon neutrality (Scope 1 & 2) by 2030. The Lab also prophesies expanding the same protocol in the company's other manufacturing plants.

The magnitude of the decarbonisation projects undertaken by the company gladly highlights Novelis' sustainability goals. The brand is on an endeavor to decrease 30 per cent of its carbon footprint by 2026 and reach Net Zero by 2050 or earlier. Other than focusing vehemently on energy efficiency drives and recycling programmes, Novelis desires new integrations to decarbonise its production lines. The company is spending heavy incentives to streamline renewable energy sources.