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 Economic Forum (WEF) has released its Net Zero Industry Tracker 2023, the report's second edition. The report holds significant implications for the aluminium industry, particularly its efforts to achieve sustainability and reduce emissions. Focusing on heavy industrial and transport sectors, which contribute over 40 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the report emphasises the need for multifaceted solutions, accelerated technology development, supportive infrastructure, and increased capital to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Key highlights of the report: The aluminium industry strives for net-zero emissions through clean power, recycled aluminium, and low-emission technologies. Adopting low-emission technologies with a potential 40 per cent increase in production...
Leading automobile and aerospace companies like Tesla, General Motors and Boeing are increasingly incorporating Climate TRACE systems that use satellites, machine learning and other observatory paradigms to decarbonise their international supply chain. This new initiative called Climate TRACE, co-founded by former US Vice President Al Gore has developed a comprehensive database that tracks global greenhouse gas emissions down to individual polluters. This granular data is expected to help some of the world's largest companies to decarbonise their supply chains. Climate TRACE uses advanced technologies such as machine learning and satellites to detect and monitor greenhouse gas emissions from over 350 million sources, including power plants, steel mills, and mining operations. By providing...
Germany is extremely active on topics regarding green energy production or the transition to renewable energy. Olaf Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel in becoming the German Chancellor, on December 1, declared the introduction of a global club to aid interested nations to invest in and develop green energy solutions for heavy industries like steel, cement, and aluminium. During the United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Olaf Scholz announced the formation of the Climate Club, which currently has 36 members. The club's primary objective is to expedite the technical groundwork for a standardised calculation of CO2 intensity in selected products. Additionally, the club aims to launch an exchange that defines near-zero emissions for cement, steel and aluminium. Scholz also stated that...
In a strive to make its production chain sustainable, BMW Brilliance recently took a significant step by signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Henan Shenhuo Group Co., Ltd. and Shuaiyichi New Materials Group Co., Ltd. These memorandums emphasise the importance of green electrolytic aluminium and recycled aluminium, which have significant energy-saving and emission-reduction advantages compared to traditional aluminium. With this partnership, BMW will be able to meet its demand for high-quality, low-carbon aluminium in production while also reducing the carbon footprint of car production from the source. Seeing leading companies take concrete steps towards a more sustainable future is quite inspiring. Under the MOUs signed with Shenhuo Group and Shuaiyichi Group, both companies...
On Saturday, December 2, Norsk Hydro and Volvo Group announced from the COP28 platform that they entered a strategic partnership to support each other’s journey towards zero emission value chains. They signed the partnership agreement under the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition. Hydro said it would be all out to enable Volvo Group to achieve its ambitious net zero vehicles target by 2040 by supplying primary aluminium with an 80 per cent reduced carbon footprint than today’s global industry average. In addition, Hydro and Volvo’s partnership will work on defining a roadmap towards supplying near zero aluminium ahead of 2030, validating new recycling standards for alloys to optimise material reuse, and developing Hydro’s mining operations in Brazil by emulating Volvo’s...
The 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) is an event that brings together experts, activists, and stakeholders worldwide to address climate change issues. The discussions will include sustainable practices, reducing emissions, and the role of industries in achieving climate goals. It's an excellent opportunity to learn about innovative solutions and be a part of this critical platform that will help pave the way for a greener tomorrow for the aluminium industry. Japanese industrial giant Hitachi has pledged to produce all of its products in Japan using "green aluminium" made through less carbon-intensive processes than conventional methods. The company aims to achieve this goal by March 2024 and reduce its carbon footprint in order to achieve net-zero carbon emissions...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced that Otto Fuchs KG has been accredited against the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) with an emphasis on Material Stewardship and the ASI Chain of Custody Standard V1 (2017), according to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). Entities are now evaluated to Principles 1-4 of the Performance Standard V3 due to the transitional period of Performance Standard Material Stewardship certificates from V2 (2017) to V3 (2022). Except for the Casthouse/Foundry, the audit scope for the Performance Standard V3 Certification includes all design and production operations. "We congratulate OTTO FUCHS KG on achieving ASI Performance Standard Certification with a focus on Material Stewardship for its facility in Meinerzhagen, as well as Chain of...
Leading the automobile industry towards sustainability and net-zero carbon emission, Volvo Cars announced on November 30 its plan to cut per-car emissions by 75 per cent by 2030. Volvo makes this announcement after a few years of its previous plan to cut per-car emissions by 40 per cent by 2025. So far this year, the Swedish multinational automobile manufacturing company has cut emissions by 19 per cent compared to 2018. Volvo Cars also announced yesterday about joining the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition and that it would start investing in advanced near-zero emissions aluminium tech. The automaker also said it secured access to near-zero emission primary and recycled sheet steel from Sweden’s SSAB for vehicles. Volvo will be merging the applications of near-zero emissions...
In anticipation of COP28 , from November 30 to December 12, 2023, BMW Group is gearing up to play a pivotal role as the VIP E-Mobility Provider for the UN climate action summit. BMW is steering the course towards a more sustainable future, emphasising innovation, circular design, and responsibly sourced materials. At the heart of this commitment is BMW's deployment of a cutting-edge fleet for COP28, featuring the BMW i7, BMW iX, and the BMW iX5 Hydrogen. These vehicles will exclusively serve VIP guests and officials during the summit, showcasing the latest e-mobility technology. Sustainability crafted in the UAE: The BMW i7 The flagship BMW i7 leads the fleet, a beacon of Middle Eastern innovation. This vehicle's luxurious design, cutting-edge technology, and commitment to sustainability...
We all have experienced the prevailing heat wave during the hottest month in the history of humanity, July 2023. It made some of us realise that if we do not mend our ways and start thinking about the broader group of people, it won't be long before some of our civilisations will forever get lost in oblivion. The melting of icebergs and the rising water levels have somehow indicated that there has been a considerable fluctuation in the global climatic conditions. The gradual rise in Earth's temperature can be attributed to CFCs or direct carbon emissions and other industry-related fumes. The aluminium industry is highly energy-intensive, and the conventional process of primary aluminium production releases 95% more CO2 than the production of recycled aluminium. That is why many leading...
Recently, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Energy Bureau released a statement regarding the implementation of green power supply projects. Chinalco Group's "Baotou Aluminum Industrial Park Green Power Supply Project" and "Baotou Aluminum Coal-fired Power Plant Renewable Energy Alternative Project" have both been included in the list of market-oriented new energy projects. This is a significant step forward for Baotou Aluminum's new green energy initiatives. These two approved projects will have a combined installed capacity of 2.1 million kilowatts, with 1.9 million kilowatts coming from wind power and 200,000 kilowatts from photovoltaic sources. Upon project closure, the Baotou thermal power plant's peaking capacity and the electrolytic aluminium load absorption capacity will be...
Hydro's CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim, in a recent announcement, has declared that the Norwegian aluminium and energy giant is finally joining the First Movers Coalition. The President and CEO, Hilde Merete Aasheim, exclaimed with glee: "I am proud to announce that Hydro is joining the First Movers Coalition, signalling our determination to take responsibility and lead the way for the world to reach the climate targets. The challenge of climate change transcends borders and industries, and we can only maintain the critical climate pathway of 1.5ºC if we work together to create new markets for a sustainable future." The First Movers Coalition is a collaborative effort of prominent global companies working together to leverage their purchasing power in promoting the use of low-carbon...
Norsk Hydro has outlined a new roadmap for its operation and business, focusing more on recycling and extrusions in line with the growing demand for low-carbon aluminium. By 2030, the company is determined to scale up its recycling activities in pursuit of decarbonisation and green transition in the aluminium industry. Such was the message by Hydro at its Capital Markets Day 2023. The Norwegian company expects up to NOK 2 billion growth in greener earnings by 2030, primarily contributed by extrusion and recycling. To capitalise on this opportunity, Hydro plots to lift its extrusion business to NOK 10-12 billion EBITDA and recycling business to NOK 5-8 billion, banking on a potential rise in post-consumer scrap to 850-1,200 thousand tonnes. President and CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim indicated...
Alspec, a leading aluminium processing firm in New South Wales, has selected GoodWe's lightweight solar solution to fulfil their expanding energy demands while working within the limits of their new roof's low-bearing capacity. GoodWe, a global producer of solar energy solutions, has partnered with its authorised distributor, Umax Energy, to deliver the GoodWe BIPV smart solution to Alspec. The collaborative endeavour will use sustainable solar photovoltaic (PV) technology composed of aluminium to fulfil Alspec's expanding energy demands. The project entails delivering and installing a 100kW solar power system on the roof of Alspec's headquarters and production plant, which will use GoodWe's 315W Galaxy Ultra panels and HT100kW string inverters. Umax Power suggested GoodWe's Galaxy Series...
Mytilineos and Karatzis, two leading companies in Greece, have recently signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) that will pave the way for the construction of three large photovoltaic plants in the country. This initiative will not only boost the country's renewable energy sector but also bring significant economic benefits. Under the PPA, Karatzis will sell the electricity generated from the three projects with a total capacity of 270.8 MW to its customers. The investments for this project amount to EUR 190.8 million, of which EUR 159.6 million will be provided through the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) and bank loans. This is a well-thought step towards achieving a sustainable future for Greece. Karatzis had previously obtained loans from Eurobank and Bank of...
Unite. Act. Deliver. Isn't that what we all want when tackling climate change and its impact on our planet? The aluminium industry stands at a critical juncture, making it imperative for the sector to participate in, monitor, and support COP28 . With the industry contributing 2 per cent of global anthropogenic emissions, COP28 represents a unique opportunity for the aluminium sector to align its strategies with international efforts to combat climate change. While aluminium is inherently sustainable, its production is associated with a substantial carbon footprint. The industry's annual emission of 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2 necessitates collective efforts to find solutions. According to an AL Circle report , in bauxite mining, the concern about CO2 emissions is relatively low compared to...
Hitachi has pledged to make all its products in Japan from “green aluminium” produced through less carbon-intensive processes than conventional methods. To achieve this goal, the company has set a deadline of March 2024. Hitachi, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company specialises in a diverse range of products, including digital systems, power and renewable energy solutions, railway systems, healthcare products, and financial systems. The Japanese industrial giant uses approximately 10,000 tonnes of aluminium domestically to make refrigerators, washing machines, railroad cars, and so on. To achieve the net-zero carbon emissions goal across the entire supply chain by 2050, Hitachi has aimed to reduce carbon footprint by using low-carbon...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced the joining of VAF Def-Aero Systems Private Limited as the new production and transformation member. With 40 years of experience, the company is known for manufacturing precision aluminium castings in India. The company is known for providing precise defence castings, aerospace castings, gravity die castings, sand casting aluminium, and greensand casting for many sectors that need high-performance components. The ASI Certification program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. VAF Def-Aero Systems Private Limited provides completely processed anodized aluminium castings in India for many sectors, such...
