On 14th February 2022, the American industrial aluminium company, Novelis Inc., which is also recognised as the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling inked a long-term collaboration agreement with HES-SO Valais-Wallis in collaboration with EPFL of Energypolis Campus, a Swiss innovation and research hub, as well as energy distributor OIKEN, to commence a joint research and development (R&D) laboratory to progress carbon-neutral solutions for aluminium production.
The Net Zero Lab Valais named R&D lab will be established at Novelis' facility in Sierre, Switzerland. The Sierre site, the broader Valais region and Switzerland itself are an ideal fit for the planned initiatives due to the availability of renewable energy and strong research institutions, as well as a firm commitment to sustainability. The work of the lab will target identifying and implementing innovative solutions to neutralize the carbon footprint of Novelis' manufacturing operations and neighbouring communities, initiating in Sierre. The aim is to reach carbon neutrality for scope 1 and 2 emissions at the plant by 2030.
Pierre Labat, the Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, at Novelis Inc., said: “As the industry leader and the world's largest aluminium recycler, Novelis is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 or sooner. This partnership underscores that commitment and we expect the research to allow for greater innovation in advancing our efforts to create a sustainable world together."
During the initial months of collaboration, the Net Zero Lab Valais will conduct a research study to identify decarbonization solutions and will float an ecosystem by which Novelis, in collaboration with OIKEN, will share the energy from its Sierre plant with the surrounding area. This will help lower the area's carbon footprint, as well as the carbon footprint of the manufacturing site.
Emilio Braghi, the Executive Vice President, Novelis Inc. and President, Novelis Europe said, “We are working relentlessly on reducing all emissions at our sites, in our supply chain and in the energy we use. The Net Zero Lab Valais is another lever for increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste and supporting our communities. We will develop innovative solutions that we can later implement on a broader scale at our different production sites across the globe, while we simultaneously continue to work on increasing the recycled content in our products to deliver the lowest total carbon footprint for aluminium sheets. We are very proud to have such strong and experienced partners as HES-SO Valais-Wallis, EPFL and OIKEN at our side to drive carbon-neutral production."
François Seppey, the Director of HES-SO Valais-Wallis said, “We are excited about kicking off this laboratory for applied research activities and to find solutions for reducing CO2 emissions in the aluminium industry,". "Sustainable development is at the heart of the strategy of the HES-SO Valais-Wallis. The competencies within our energy and environment research institute perfectly meet the challenges of this collaboration with Novelis. Not only are the employees knowledgeable and passionate about sustainability, but the plant also includes all manufacturing steps in the aluminium production process and an R&D center, which will support meaningful research. This lab will be an ideal ecosystem to develop outstanding skills for early-career engineers and enhance their contribution to the decarbonization of the whole industry in the near future."
Professor François Marechal, the Head of Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering group in EPFL said, “The Net Zero Lab Valais is a model for joining efforts between research and industry to decrease the carbon footprint of a region and understanding symbiosis between industrial activities and the energy system. At the same time, it will give early-career talented engineers the chance to gain valuable insights and knowledge in applied and fundamental research."
François Fellay, the CEO of OIKEN said, “The Net Zero Lab Valais is an important initiative to help decarbonize the region. In addition, by supplying waste heat into the future district heating system, Novelis' manufacturing site will also become a major contributor to our low carbon energy system."
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