Prysmian and Rio Tinto put ELYSIS aluminum into Amazon data center cables

Prysmian and Rio Tinto are supplying electrical cables made with ELYSIS aluminum for installation at an Amazon data center near Columbus, Ohio, marking what the companies describe as the first known use of aluminum produced with inert-anode smelting technology in a data center.

The collaboration brings together aluminum produced using ELYSIS technology, Prysmian’s cable manufacturing, and Amazon’s data center infrastructure. The cables are being produced and shipped from Prysmian’s facility in Sedalia, Missouri.

ELYSIS technology is designed to eliminate direct greenhouse gas emissions from the aluminum smelting process, producing oxygen instead of carbon dioxide and perfluorocarbons.

Prysmian and Rio Tinto previously announced the introduction of ELYSIS-produced aluminum into building wire in March 2026 as part of their efforts to develop lower-carbon electrical infrastructure.

ELYSIS aluminum enters data center infrastructure

Joern Tinnemeyer, vice president of Data Center Engineering at Amazon Web Services (AWS), said the project supports Amazon’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions across its operations by 2040, including emissions associated with its supply chain. "We aim to reach net-zero emissions across our operations by 2040 through decarbonizing our operations and supply chain, down to the raw materials," Tinnemeyer said.

He noted that conventional aluminum production is carbon-intensive, while ELYSIS technology produces oxygen instead of carbon dioxide and perfluorocarbons during smelting. "Prysmian, Rio Tinto, and Wesco are showing that lower-carbon materials aren't a future concept—they're here and going into Amazon data centers today," he stated.

For Prysmian, the project demonstrates how lower-carbon aluminum can be incorporated into electrical products while maintaining the performance required for data center applications.

"The data center industry needs advanced technologies like this: cables that can effectively carry power, meet high-quality standards, and make a positive impact to the sustainability of the entire value chain," said Srinivas Siripurapu, chief sustainability, R&D, and innovation officer at Prysmian.

Join the fourth edition of webinar "Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours" by Jorge Dyszel.

Quebec aluminum powers US-made cables

Matt Schicke, Rio Tinto Aluminum vice president of sales and marketing, said combining renewable electricity with ELYSIS inert-anode technology provides another pathway for reducing emissions associated with critical infrastructure.

"All of the aluminum supplied by Rio Tinto for these cables was produced in Quebec, Canada, using hydropower, including the aluminum made with ELYSIS inert anode technology," Schicke said.

"By combining renewable power with a breakthrough smelting process that eliminates direct greenhouse gas emissions and produces oxygen as a by-product, we are helping create a new pathway to support the decarbonization of critical data center infrastructure," he said.

The finished electrical cables are manufactured and shipped directly from Prysmian’s Sedalia factory, highlighting the companies’ focus on developing and delivering lower-carbon cable solutions within the US supply chain.

Wesco is supporting the project as the distribution partner. David Speidelsbach, vice president of sales and strategic initiatives at Wesco, said the collaboration demonstrates how manufacturers, distributors, and end users can work together on sustainability-focused infrastructure.

Prysmian targets wider sustainability gains

The company has set a target of becoming Net Zero by 2035 and aims for 55% of its revenues to come from sustainability-linked solutions by 2028.

The Amazon data center project provides an early application for ELYSIS aluminum in data center electrical infrastructure, while the companies continue to explore ways to expand lower-carbon materials across the broader cable and power infrastructure value chain.

Explore aluminum products and connect with suppliers on the AL Circle B2B marketplace.