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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The world's largest aluminium producer, China Hongqiao Group's subsidiary Shandong Hongqiao, has forged ahead with a strong dedication to innovation and industrial progress, solidifying its presence as a leading force in the aluminium production and deep processing sectors. The company prioritises innovation and environmental sustainability through its integrated industrial chain, cementing its pivotal role in driving contemporary industrial standards forward. Shandong Hongqiao places great importance on green development, focusing on technological advancements and promoting energy efficiency and resource recycling across its operations. Prioritising environmental sustainability, the company strives to establish a low-carbon production system to minimise its environmental footprint....
AlGalCo, a hydrogen energy startup that licenses innovations from Purdue University, has emerged as one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious 16th annual Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC). The startup developed a technology that generates hydrogen from water and aluminium alloy. "The technology is simple: Users generate hydrogen by adding any type of water to a solid alloy comprised of over 90% common aluminum. Because the spent alloy can be recovered and recycled an indefinite number of times using any form of excess electricity — windmill or solar for example — its capabilities for energy storage are limitless," added Koehler. The event, set for April 15 during the Society of Automobile Engineers World Congress in Detroit, will showcase cutting-edge...
On April 11, 2024, Gerald Group unveiled its North American trading centre, GT Commodities. It revealed that its Borrowing Base sublimit for low-carbon aluminium meets the criteria for a green sublimit, allowing for the issuance of green loans in accordance with Loan Market Association guidelines. This achievement comes after a rigorous evaluation of the LMA's green loan principles and other pertinent market standards. Gerald Group, established in 1962 in the United States and headquartered in the UK, is committed to fostering sustainable and responsible global trade and economic growth. As the world's most seasoned and sizable independent metals trading company, Gerald Group is entirely owned by its employees. It has earned a reputation as a dedicated and reliable partner for leading...
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has reportedly recertified two aluminium giants – Rio Tinto and Constellium. The former is a leading global mining group and the latter is a global manufacturer of aluminium rolled products, extruded products, and structural parts. Rio Tinto has achieved recertification to ASI Performance Standard V3 for aluminium smelting at its ISAL smelter facility in Iceland and Constellium has bagged recertification to ASI Chain of Custody Standard V2 for the extrusion plant in Singen, Germany and automotive structure production sites in Gottmadingen and Dahenfeld, Germany. All recertifications undertaken after June 1, 2023, are required to be against the 2022 standards. The companies have thus successfully transitioned these certifications to the updated 2022...
TAHA, a multi-discipline solutions provider offering innovative, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective services, equipment and products to the aluminium and steel industry worldwide. Environmental considerations are becoming increasingly pertinent in “green” aluminium production making reducing or eliminating waste ever more so important. TAHA’s aluminium dross process is a radical innovation in its industry whose process consumes less energy and produces no toxic salt cake. This enables organizations to save valuable resources and reduce costs. TAHA anticipated their operations to provide a dross processing solution with a lower carbon footprint than the conventional TRF (Tilting Rotary Furnace) process. Fully convinced internally that the TAHA process had a considerably reduced...
On March 28, Shanxi Zhongrun delivered 100 tonnes of green electric aluminium. Following this milestone, on March 31, Yuantai High Guide Materials (Shanxi), the designated user of the aluminium liquid within the industrial park, formally commenced the extraction of the environmentally friendly electric aluminium liquid. About the milestone This milestone marks a substantial advancement, symbolising the complete depletion of all remaining inventory of Shanxi Zhongrun's green electric aluminium ingots and aluminium liquid. Upon securing the "Green Aluminum Product Evaluation Certificate" for the company's inaugural batch of "green aluminium remelting aluminium ingots and electrolytic source aluminium liquid," the Marketing and Procurement Department has redoubled its efforts to ensure the...
According to a report, Adani Group, a leading integrated business conglomerate, has commenced the commercial production of polysilicon wafers and ingots at its factory in Gujarat to increase the supply of raw materials for the manufacture of in-house solar power cells and modules. Vneet S Jaain, a director at Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL), said: "We are the first company in India which has set up ingot and wafers factory of 2 gigawatts and we have already started production." The Group aims to become India's first integrated renewable energy player, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India becoming a net-zero country by 2070. By 2030, the Adani Group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, aims to generate 45 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power, the two-thirds of which is to...
The Rishi Sunak Government's decision to delay or weaken UK climate targets has stirred concerns among environmentalists and industry players alike. This shift has not only impacted the UK's carbon market but also raised potential challenges for exporters facing EU carbon border taxes. Let's delve into the details of this evolving scenario. The UK's carbon market has witnessed a significant downturn, with prices plummeting to less than half of the equivalent EU carbon cost. This decline, exemplified by UK carbon prices hitting a low of £33 per tonne while the EU price stands at €82 (£71), indicates a substantial gap in carbon pricing dynamics. EU Carbon Border Tax Implementation The EU has introduced carbon border tax rules aimed at imposing CO2 emissions tariffs on imported goods like...
Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe (AGP-Europe), under the umbrella of Ardagh Group, unveils its latest endeavour in sustainable energy at its Irvine facility in Scotland. The installation of rooftop solar panels marks a significant stride towards reducing carbon emissions and embracing renewable electricity on-site. With a commitment to sustainability, AGP-Irvine aims to mitigate its environmental footprint while maintaining operational excellence. AGP-Europe's initiative entails the deployment of a 1.75MWp solar photovoltaic system, comprising 3,842 panels, across the rooftops of its Irvine facility. This solar infrastructure is projected to generate approximately 1.584MWh of electricity annually, contributing significantly to the production of over 350 million glass bottles. By harnessing...
The 438-megawatt (MW) solar complex, Boa Sorte, located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, has commenced its commercial operations. This expansive power plant is set to provide renewable energy to the Albras aluminium smelter. The solar plant, which comprises multiple projects, is the result of collaboration between renewable energy solution providers Hydro Rein and Atlas Renewable Energy, alongside Albras. Albras is a joint venture between Hydro and Nippon Amazon Aluminium Co. Ltd. (NAAC). About Boa Sorte With its substantial installed capacity of 438 MW, Boa Sorte is projected to generate approximately 920 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually. This output is equivalent to powering over 394,000 Brazilian households with clean, sustainable energy. Boa Sorte marks the second significant solar plant project...
The Hyundai Motor Company has announced its decision to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it had in place to procure aluminium from the new 1.1GW coal power plant-powered smelter in North Kalimantan, Indonesia. This plant is operated by Adaro Minerals, a subsidiary of Adaro, the second-largest coal mining company in Indonesia. This move by Hyundai comes a year after the launch of the "Hyundai, Drop Coal" campaign by the fan-driven climate platform Kpop4Planet in March 2023. Over 11,000 K-pop fans had signed a petition urging Hyundai to withdraw from the agreement and opt for materials manufactured from renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, for their car production in Indonesia. By shifting to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, the aluminium industry...
Nemak S.A.B de C.V, popularly known as Nemak, specialised in developing and manufacturing aluminium components for e-mobility, structure and chassis, has reportedly received Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for its three global production facilities in Poland, Slovakia, and Brazil. The three facilities, named Nemak Slovakia s.r.o., near Ladomerská Vieska, Slovakia; Nemak Poland Sp. z o.o. in Bielsko-Biała, Poland; and Nemak Alumínio do Brazil Ltda. in Betim, Mato Grosso, Brazil, produce a wide range of automotive components. While the Slovakia facility manufactures engine blocks, transmission cases, and housing for electric engines, the Poland facility produces high-pressure diecasting, with production departments focused on powertrain...
In this week's recap of significant developments in the aluminium industry, several key advancements have emerged, showcasing a collective commitment towards sustainability and innovation. Constellium's Ravenswood plant in West Virginia stands poised to pioneer zero-carbon technology with a substantial $75 million investment. This funding, under the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Energy Demonstrations program, aims to revolutionise the facility's operations by decarbonising its cast houses and deploying state-of-the-art SmartMelt furnaces. Meanwhile, RUSAL's forest carbon offset project in Russia marks a milestone in environmental stewardship, demonstrating the efficacy of aerial forest fire management in sequestering millions of tonnes of CO2 equivalent. On the domestic front, Vedanta...
To commemorate World Water Day under the theme' Water for Peace', Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, announced that it recycled over 15 billion litres of water across its operations in FY2023-24. This quantity of water is equivalent to 6,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. In addition, Vedanta has helped restore over 60 water bodies in communities across its operational areas in rural India. The company has restored 47 water bodies in Korba, Chhattisgarh; 10 in Jharsuguda, Odisha; and 3 in Lanjigarh, Odisha. All these initiatives are bringing Vedanta close to its goal of becoming Net Water Positive by 2030. On the occasion, the company also announced its three major water management initiatives that are currently underway at its refining operations in Lanjigarh, mining...
To curb carbon emissions and propel industrial decarbonisation, Turkey has initiated its Low-Carbon Pathways (LCPs) project, bolstered by support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This strategic endeavour primarily focuses on reducing carbon footprints within pivotal sectors such as steel, cement, aluminium, and fertilisers. Laying the foundation Backed by thorough consultations with sector associations and pertinent stakeholders, the LCPs serve as a beacon, offering clear directives to both domestic and international entities regarding requisite technologies and sustainable financing avenues. By fostering a conducive environment, these pathways aim to expedite Turkey's journey towards decarbonisation while concurrently fortifying infrastructure...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has acknowledged Crown Holdings for sustainable beverage cans manufacture at Mexico facilities by granting the Chain of Custody Standard V2 (2022) Certification. Crown's headquarters in Monterrey and facilities, including Crown Ensenada, Crown Guadalajara, Crown Toluca, Crown Latas Monterrey, and Crown Cierres Monterrey, have been granted the certification for producing beverage cans, can ends, and ROPP closures. These same facilities had obtained ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification in January 2022. Crown's Mexico facilities collectively produce 6.85 billion beverage cans annually, and the Cierres Monterrey facility produces 6.7 billion can ends and 400 million ROPP closures. The ASI Chain of Custody Standard V2 Certification presents specific...
Ball Corporation emerges as a beacon of green innovation in the diverse landscape of sustainable packaging solutions. Their 2023 annual financial and sustainability report unveils a strategic shift towards renewable energy and recycled content, propelling the company into a leadership role within the aluminium packaging sector. Ball Corporation’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its concerted efforts towards renewable energy adoption and recycled content integration. With renewable sources contributing to over half of its global electricity usage, including a full transition at US beverage packaging plants, Ball has achieved a noteworthy 50% reduction in the global scope of two greenhouse gas emissions compared to the preceding year. Recycled content advancements Noteworthy...
Constellium, the global leader in the development, manufacturing, and recycling of aluminium products and solutions, recently announced that its Ravenswood, West Virginia facility was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations for potential award negotiations for up to $75 million in funding. This funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act under the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP). "We are honored and proud to have been selected for this investment and express our gratitude to the Department of Energy for their support of Constellium and the aluminium industry. Public investments such as the ones made through the Inflation Reduction Act are essential to accelerate the decarbonization of our industry, and...
