Aluminium’s decarbonisation challenge extends beyond the electricity powering its smelters. Inside the reduction cell, electrode quality influences how efficiently that electricity is used, how much carbon is consumed and how consistently the process performs. Improving electrodes therefore offers producers a practical opportunity to address operating costs and emissions together. For Switzerland-based R&D Carbon , understanding the relationship between raw materials, electrode quality and industrial performance has been a focus for four decades. Founded in 1986 by Werner K. Fischer, the company built on carbon research previously undertaken at Swiss Aluminium Ltd., or Alusuisse. Today, it operates from Granges, near Sierre, with a team of 30 specialists serving more than 150 customers...
Mexico’s aluminum industry is looking to capitalize on rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electric mobility, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace. Expanding technology investments and international market opportunities are expected to support sales growth, while the country’s reliance on imported aluminum highlights the importance of strengthening domestic processing capabilities. Ramón Beltrán, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Aluminum Industry (Canalum), expects the country’s domestic and international aluminum sales to gain momentum in 2026, supported by demand from advanced technology applications and established manufacturing sectors. “We expect to close out this year with growth of between 7.5% and 7.8% in domestic and international...
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Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has become the Sea Cargo Charter's latest signatory, strengthening the organisation's global presence in the aluminium sector and reaffirming its commitment to decarbonisation and transparency. As the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter, Alba produces around 1.62 million tonnes of aluminium and exports significant quantities of aluminium products annually to more than 270 customers worldwide. With a robust international presence, including sales offices in Zurich and Singapore and a subsidiary in the U.S., Alba serves markets across the Americas, MENA region, Europe, and Asia. Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (ALBA): Aluminium production, 2023-24 (in million tonnes) Source: Alba website Rasmus Bach Nielsen, Chairman of Sea Cargo Charter, said, “With the...
China continues to spearhead the global transition to renewable energy, achieving remarkable progress in 2024 with an addition of 277 GW of solar and 79 GW of wind capacity — outpacing many other nations. Image source: Freepik These new additions elevated China's total renewable energy capacity (except hydro power) to 1,407 GW, signaling a steady shift towards renewables, with solar power alone contributing 886 GW and wind power accounting for nearly 521 GW. By the end of 2024, China's renewable energy capacity accounted for 15% of the world's total installed capacity for the year alone. The rest of the world added 193 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity in 2024, with the United States contributing 163 GW and India 91 GW. Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Spain followed with additions of 91 GW,...
Pilot Energy, a leader in the clean energy transition, has partnered with South32 Worsley Alumina to conduct a feasibility study on carbon capture and storage (CCS) for its operations. Launched in the quarter of January-March 2025, the study aims to evaluate the supply chain for capturing and storing up to ~700,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It will assess the onshore conditioning, transportation, and delivery of CO₂ from the alumina refining process’s flue gas streams to Pilot’s Cliff Head Carbon Storage project. However, the study is expected to be completed by Q3 2025. Depending on the findings, the study could serve as a foundation for deeper commercial and technical discussions on Worsley Alumina's decarbonisation strategies. Additionally, the results will support Pilot's...
Policy tweaks have played a major role in the European carbon prices — but in the recent couple of days what seems to be the real driver behind is investor behaviour. As the European Commission tweaks with its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), traders and funds are calling the shots, slashing positions in the EU market while doubling down in the UK. Image Source: https://www.worldbank.org/ Investor exodus hits EUAs European carbon allowances (EUAs) fell during the week ending February 28, with December 2025 contracts trading at EURO 72.26 per tonne CO2e (USD 75.19 per tonne CO2e) at 12:45 GMT, down about 4 per cent from the previous week, according to Intercontinental Exchange data. Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, pegged the December 2025 EUA contract at EURO 72.72...
Britain is yet again at a turning point in its climate journey, with the Climate Change Committee (CCC) laying down a bold and urgent roadmap to hit net zero by 2050. The message is clear: ditch fossil fuels, embrace electric vehicles and heat pumps, and rethink diets — all while unlocking new economic opportunities. Ambitious climate targets The CCC’s latest carbon budget doesn’t pull any punches — in its seventh carbon budget, the CCC has outlined the need for Britain to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 87 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2040, a crucial step towards meeting its net zero target. This updated goal builds upon Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge at last year’s UN COP29 climate summit, where Britain committed to cutting emissions by 81 per cent by 2035. The...
The aluminium industry is at the precipice of a technological revolution. With growing demands for energy efficiency, sustainability, and productivity, industry leaders are pushing the boundaries of technological or rather digital innovation to stay ahead. Companies like Quaker Houghton, Granco Clark, Hacklab Solutions, and Hamilton Research & Technology are driving these changes, harnessing advanced technologies to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable aluminium manufacturing processes. Smart automation: The backbone of modern aluminium production Automation has evolved from a mere productivity tool to an essential component of modern aluminium plants. Granco Clark, a leader in aluminium extrusion technology, has embraced adaptive technology to optimise operations. “At Granco...
India is walking a razor’s edge. On one side, the promise of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) — a gateway to stronger economic ties. On the other, the looming shadow of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) — the EU’s carbon tariff that threatens to squeeze India’s exports of steel, aluminium, and cement. Image Source: European Council on Foreign Relations While several countries, including China, South Africa, Russia and Brazil, have taken the EU to the World Trade Organisation regarding CBAM, rather commonly known as ‘carbon tax’, India is yet to officially take any step mostly as both the parties are on the path of negotiation for trade tariff exemption. However, India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush...
Founded in 2006, Sonoma-based Vode Lighting is set to become the first company in North America to integrate Hydro CIRCAL into its products. By adopting low-carbon recycled aluminium produced domestically, Vode Lighting will reduce emissions, enhance supply chain resilience, and contribute to a circular U.S. economy. Image Source: Hydro website Specialising in high-performance linear LED architectural lighting, Vode partners with lighting designers, architects, and interior designers to illuminate public, commercial, and educational spaces. The company has already transitioned its top-selling product line, ZipTwo, to Hydro CIRCAL and plans to extend this sustainable shift across its entire product range whenever possible. “We are impressed by Vode Lighting’s continuous commitment to...
Novelis Inc., a global leader in sustainable aluminium solutions and the foremost company in aluminium rolling and recycling, has successfully tested hydrogen fuel to power a recycling furnace at its Latchford, Warrington plant in the UK. Image Source: Linkedln The tests involved installing new burners, regenerators, and furnace lining materials as part of a UK government decarbonisation initiative in collaboration with Progressive Energy, an independent UK energy company. Replacing natural gas with hydrogen in a melting furnace has the potential to cut CO₂e emissions by up to 90 per cent. About the project Prioritising safety, the hydrogen pilot project involved multiple test phases, blending hydrogen with natural gas in varying proportions (30 per cent to 100 per cent) to assess its...
The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was introduced as a bold step in the fight against climate change. It is meant to prevent carbon leakage—where companies move production to countries with weaker climate policies—by ensuring that imported goods face the same carbon costs as those produced within the EU. In theory, this levels the playing field for European industries while pushing other nations towards greener practices. But there’s a problem: CBAM, in its current form, simply does not work for aluminium. Instead of protecting one of Europe’s most critical industries, it risks making it uncompetitive, increasing costs for manufacturers, and even worsening global emissions. Without urgent reforms, CBAM could do more harm than good. An aluminium industry on the...
As a result, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a technique that can be used for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and monitoring and managing PFC emissions to drive process improvements and emission reductions. Image Source: ISCOBA PDF The aluminium industry is striving to reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) launched an initiative encouraging its members to track and publicly report their emission reduction efforts and progress as part of COP28 in 2023. These potent greenhouse gases significantly contribute to global warming due to their high efficiency in trapping infrared radiation. Thirteen major aluminium producers have endorsed this initiative, publishing their greenhouse gas...
China's National Energy Administration has released statistics on power generation and clean energy power generation in 2024, and the transition is impressive. China's aluminium industry is gaining a huge advantage when it comes to moving to clean energy. We are all familiar with the success story in Yunnan province. Despite recurring problems with drought, hydropower in that province is supporting several million tonnes of primary aluminium capacity. But that wasn't where the biggest growth was in 2024. Guangxi province recorded an improvement of 40 per cent over 2024, with hydro, wind and solar all contributing. Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia also saw increases of over 25 per cent. Yunnan province saw a growth in clean energy of 15 per cent. Apart from hydro, wind power is picking up in...
China is the world's second-largest economy after the United States and despite its recent challenges, China poured an impressive $940 billion into clean energy initiatives in 2024, bringing its investment close to the $1.12 trillion spent globally on fossil fuels. This substantial commitment underscores China's accelerating shift toward renewable energy and its pivotal role in reshaping the global energy landscape, as highlighted by a new analysis for the U.K.-based research organisation Carbon Brief. Note: Here’s the graph visualising China's clean energy investment growth and its contribution to GDP from 2023 to 2024. The green line represents the sharp decline in investment growth, while the black dashed line shows the sector's increasing share of GDP. Although there was a slowdown in...
The aluminium industry is witnessing a digital transformation, with path-breaking technologies redefining processes, boosting efficiency, and driving sustainability. From AI-powered recycling solutions to real-time in-line testing and advanced additive manufacturing software, digitalisation is solving industry challenges while unlocking new possibilities. In this roundup, we explore seven exciting stories showcasing how digital innovation is accelerating progress and reshaping the aluminium landscape. Revolutionising aluminium wheel scrap sortation with Austin AI The increasing demand for aluminium in the automotive industry, particularly for electric vehicles, has highlighted the need for efficient recycling of aluminium wheel scrap, as shared by Judit Jeney, Managing Director, Austin AI...
The aluminium industry stands at a turning point in its path to sustainability. With mounting regulatory pressures, bold corporate ambitions, and accelerating innovation in clean energy technologies, the industry is keenly engaged in decarbonising its footprint. The shift is not without difficulties, but it also holds tremendous opportunities to align with global climate ambitions. This article discusses the most important factors influencing the decarbonisation roadmap based on the Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025 . The transition to renewable energy: The use of renewable energy is one of the most important measures to decrease carbon emissions in the aluminium industry. Renewables will provide 45 to 50 per cent of the world's power supply by 2030 and rise to 60 to 70 per cent by...
On January 8, 2025, LI hosted its inaugural Annual Forum on Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality in Beijing. During the event, LI, Lizhong Group, and other partners officially launched the construction of a circular aluminium supply chain. LI actively advocates for the development and reuse of sustainable materials. By advancing aluminium applications and establishing a recycled aluminium supply chain, LI addresses the growing challenge of increasing aluminium waste year by year. For the past 40 years, Lizhong Group has been dedicated to recycling aluminium resources, continuously advancing its green and sustainable development strategy. As a leader in recycled aluminium processing, the company has built a comprehensive domestic and international recycling network for sourcing and sorting...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), a collaborative endeavour aimed at enhancing sustainability throughout the value chain, announced the successful ‘General Supporter’ membership certification to the first media house and marketplace AL Circle Private Limited. Abhimanyu Prakash, CEO of AL Circle, shared on a spirited note, “We are thrilled to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) as part of our commitment to sustainable and responsible aluminium production. By aligning with ASI’s rigorous standards, we aim to enhance our environmental, social, and governance practices, contributing to a more sustainable future.” The company is optimistic that this membership in ASI will bolster its dedication to transparency, innovation, and collaboration within the aluminium value chain....
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China recently released the "2024 Green Manufacturing List Publicity," featuring three categories: green factories, green industrial parks, and green supply chain management enterprises. Yongjie Aluminum, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yongjie New Materials, has been recognised as a national "green factory" for 2024. The company has actively developed green factories by establishing a comprehensive organisational and management framework, continuously seeking areas for improvement, and maximising the use of green energy to reduce carbon emissions. It has completed carbon footprint verification and certification for multiple products, consistently elevating its sustainability efforts. Significant progress has been made in infrastructure,...
