Japanese aluminium manufacturer UACJ Co Ltd has signed a 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with Hokuriku Electric Power Biz Energy Solution Co Ltd to supply renewable electricity to its Fukui Works. The 7.43 MW solar project in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, is expected to deliver 8.5 GWh of electricity annually while reducing UACJ’s carbon dioxide emissions by 27,694 tonnes per year. Private-line solar supply to begin in November Under the agreement announced on October 26, 2026, Hokuriku Electric Power Biz Energy Solution will supply UACJ’s Fukui Works through a dedicated 4.2 km private power line. The offsite solar plant has a capacity of 5 MWAC/7.43 MWDC, with electricity deliveries scheduled to begin on November 1, 2026. Built on a 75,197-square-metre site, equivalent to...
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...
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Rio Tinto Group has reportedly entered into a five-year low-carbon aluminium supply contract with Prysmian Group to help the latter manufacture cables for power grids in North America with more sustainable materials. The news came after Rio Tinto and Prysmian jointly announced the collaboration on Monday, October 30. Rio Tinto’s Canadian operations will support Prysmian efforts in decarbonisation with its low-carbon aluminium using renewable hydropower. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, power generation from renewable energy will increase from 21 per cent in 2021 to 44 per cent in 2050, requiring substantial investments in building new power grids and making innovative materials required in electrification projects. Rio Tinto and Prysmian have also agreed to utilise...
Calix, a developer of low-carbon industrial technology, has expanded its commitment to Direct Air Capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide by entering a global licensing agreement for its technology. In this partnership, Calix's subsidiary, Leilac, will exclusively collaborate with Heirloom Carbon Technologies on DAC applications. Leilac's innovative technology, which employs externally heated calcination, effectively isolates CO 2 from limestone to create decarbonized lime. The same process is utilized for the production of low-carbon cement and the processing of lithium ores. Nevertheless, this technology also holds significant potential for the aluminium industry, which grapples with carbon emissions as a pressing issue and seeks to transition towards a more environmentally sustainable...
In the remote backdrop of Iceland's Hellisheidi geothermal power plant, Olafur Teitur Jonsson is unveiling a groundbreaking method for storing CO2 emissions, and the world is taking notice. Inside a small geodesic dome owned by the Icelandic startup Carbfix, CO2 from the nearby power plant is blended with groundwater and then injected into the volcanic basalt rock beneath. What makes Carbfix's approach remarkable is its efficiency. Over nine years, nearly 95 per cent of the CO2 pumped into the power station has transformed into solid rock within just two years. This acceleration of the natural CO2 mineralisation process, facilitated by water as a carrier, is revolutionary. While nature typically takes thousands of years to achieve this, Carbfix accomplishes it in two years, all while...
The sustainable sector, this week, has seen significant upheavals with Macquarie Asset Management firmly sealing a deal with Hydro, securing the future acquisition of 49.9 per cent of Hydro Rein, the company's renewable energy arm. Hydro and Macquarie Asset Management will jointly own the company through a joint venture (JV), with Hydro retaining a majority 50.1 per cent ownership. Macquarie Asset Management is showing its confidence by investing an impressive equity of USD 332 million to acquire its 49.9 per cent stake in Hydro Rein. According to recent reports, Amcor Capsules has successfully reduced the carbon footprint of its STELVIN ® aluminium screw cap range by up to 35 per cent. The updated range of products is now made of low-carbon aluminium and incorporates 46 per cent...
Fujian Nanping Aluminium Co., LTD. has acquired ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for three divisions within its Yanping District, Nanping City, Fujian Province, China factory. The divisions include the Foundry Branch, responsible for producing aluminium alloy round ingots; the Extrusion Division, dedicated to making aluminium alloy profiles for building purposes; and the Production Department, focused on manufacturing industrial aluminium alloy profiles. DNV Business Assurance Services UK Ltd. conducted an independent, third-party audit of the Fujian Nanping Aluminium Co., LTD. Plant. Fujian Nanping Aluminium Co., LTD. will adopt a corrective action plan throughout the Certification Period, which will be confirmed in follow-up audits. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer...
Amcor Capsules, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical, has reported to have lessened the carbon footprint of its STELVIN ® aluminium screw cap range by up to 35 per cent. The updated range of products is made of low-carbon aluminium and from 46 per cent post-consumer recyclate. Amcor’s STELVIN ® screw cap and all 30H60 caps emit less carbon than the standard screw cap produced with European aluminium sheets. This milestone has been achieved using certified, independently verified low-carbon and recycled aluminium. This advancement is part of the company’s TRANSPARENCE sustainability programme, a one-of-a-kind programme designed with more focus on environmental impact to enable the wine and spirits industry to deliver...
After Hindalco’s Renukoot Downstream facility comes the turn of Hindalco Alupram Works to have received the ASI certification. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced on Thursday, October 25, that it successfully recognised Hindalco Alupram Works manufacturing operation against the Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification. The plant, located in the Kochi district of Kerala, India, produces aluminium alloy extruded products for the construction, aerospace, automotive, marine, and defence industries. Currently, Hindalco Alupram Works has a capacity of 8,000 tonnes per annum. The ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) certification defines environmental, social, and governance principles and criteria, aiming to address sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain. Alupram Works...
The UK's cross-industry coffee pod recycling scheme, Podback, has reached an important milestone, with more than one million households now able to recycle their used coffee pods from the kerbside. With two new local authorities joining Podback this month, a total of 1,078,600 households across 16 UK local authorities can now recycle their used aluminium and plastic coffee pods alongside other household waste and recycling. Podback's latest partner is the London Borough of Havering, which has become the second London authority to offer residents a kerbside recycling service for coffee pods. Earlier this month, East Ayrshire Council became Podback's first local authority partner in Scotland. The response from residents has been excellent, with over 1,200 households already registered for...
In 2023, the industrial metal markets, including aluminium, experienced a year marked by prolonged waiting and uncertainty. The shadow of elevated interest rates has affected the world economy, and the eagerly anticipated rebound in demand from China, particularly in its real estate sector, has yet to materialize as expected. As a result, prices for base metals have remained relatively stagnant for significant periods during the year. The aerospace industry stands out as an exception despite the cautious market climate due to its strong demand for aluminium. The aviation and aerospace sectors faced significant hardships during the covid pandemic, with widespread repercussions felt from major aerospace corporations to smaller suppliers. Drastic production reductions and raw material...
Alimex GmbH Precision, an inventor and producer of aluminium cast plates, has acquired Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. The company has bagged the certification for producing high-precision components, surface machining of rolled plates and distribution, and machining semi-finished products at its facility in Willich facility, Germany. Alimex's products serve industries like electronics, laser, packaging, medical technology, mechanical engineering, automotive, semiconductor, and solar. The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) was launched in May 2022 after several rounds of revision through multiple years. It defines 11 principles and 62 criteria under three sustainability pillars – Environment, Social, and Governance, aiming to address...
On Friday, October 20, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced the joining of South32 Worsley Alumina as new Production and Transformation member. Worsley Alumina is an integrated bauxite mining and alumina refining operation in the South West of Western Australia. The company began its operations in 1984 and over the year earned recognition as one of the largest alumina refineries in the world. Worsley Alumina mines bauxite in the south-west of Australia and transport it on an overland conveyor belt to a refinery where the bauxite is processed into alumina. Alumina is then shipped to smelters around the world, including South32’s Hillside and Mozal aluminium smelters in Southern Africa. Worsley Alumina has a significant contribution in shaping up the economy of the South West of...
Chris Buchanan, the client solutions director of Dell Technologies South Africa, found it consistently astonishing how little awareness there is regarding the pressing environmental concern of electronic waste (e-waste). According to a recent survey conducted among Gen Z and Millennials, 60 per cent of adults are unfamiliar with the concept of e-waste, and 57 per cent are unaware of its significant contribution to pollution. E-waste encompasses any electronic device featuring a plug, battery, or cable, including electronics that have outlived their usefulness. Annually, on the 14th of October, the world observes International E-Waste Day, a global initiative to increase awareness surrounding the growing issue of electronic waste and advocate for responsible e-waste management. He further...
There is no end to sustainable moves in the global aluminium industry. This week has witnessed ASI certifications granted to many companies, alongside automobile giants striving to achieve production chain decarbonisation, and institutions collaborating with metal and mining companies to drive a long-term research on ESG. According to a report on Tuesday, October 17, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative granted Performance Standard V2 (2017) certification to Hindalco’s Renukoot downstream facility in Uttar Pradesh for remelting and refining activities, casthouses, and semi-fabrication. The facility manufactures aluminium ingots, wire rods, and rolled and extruded products destined for diverse industries, including building and construction, transportation, and industrial applications....
According to a recent Gulf Investment Report 2023 published by Century International Holdings, investing in green and sustainable projects can boost the Gulf countries' gross domestic product (GDP) to $13 trillion by 2050. This figure is double the initially projected $6 trillion regional GDP. While the combined GDP of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states has already surpassed $2 trillion and is expected to reach $6 trillion by 2050, the new $13 trillion estimate could be attainable if these nations adopt a green growth strategy. Key areas of focus to realize this potential include the production of green and blue hydrogen. The report highlights that the region could attract as much as $300 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) if it takes swift action to position itself as the...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has reportedly certified Gränges Konin SA with dual certification. As per the report on October 20, ASI has acknowledged the company with both the Performance Standard V3 (2022) and Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) certifications for designing and manufacturing rolled aluminium strips and sheets at Gränges Konin SA facility in Konin, Poland. This certification marks the completion of Granges’ goal of achieving certification at all its aluminium rolling and recycling sites. Gränges Konin SA manufactures heat exchanger materials, construction sheets, battery casing materials, closure & packaging materials, and common alloys that serve various industries, including building & construction, automotive, packaging and consumer electronics. The company...
Every year, with the arrival of Durga Puja, the cultural capital of India, Kolkata gets ready to display an array of superbly talented pandal makers, sculptures and decorators. Durga Puja is a festival that has a significant economic impact on the city. According to a report in 2019, it was estimated the festival yielded approximately INR 28,000 crore (around $3.8 billion USD) in revenue from spending on decorations, clothing, food, transportation, and other related expenses. The same year, Kolkata had a tourist count of about 5 million, and it has been calculated the festival resulted in the temporary employment of 150,000 artisans and craftsmen. The celebration is not just a continuation of an age-old custom, but Kolkata has shown how traditions evolve with time, incorporating various...
Svante, a leading player in carbon capture and removal technology, has entered into a Commercial Supply Agreement with BASF to scale up its proprietary sorbent material, Calgary Framework 20 (CALF-20). CALF-20 is a metal-organic framework (MOF) sorbent that is designed to capture up to 95% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from industrial sources, including the aluminium industry. The sorbent uses rapid solid adsorption and low-pressure steam to capture CO2, making it an ideal solution for industrial sources that emit large volumes of diluted flue gas at low pressure and in dilute concentrations. Svante's technology is tailored specifically to the challenges of separating CO2 from nitrogen in industrial flue gas, making it an important tool for decarbonizing industrial activity in diverse...
Companies like Volvo and Audi are leading the way by implementing measures to reduce emissions from their operations and supply chains while still maintaining profitability. In this article, we will delve deeper into the sustainability initiatives undertaken by these companies and the impact they are making in the industry. In a recent interview with Forbes, Karin Svensson, Volvo Group's chief sustainability officer, and Spencer Reeder, Audi of America's director of government affairs and sustainability, discussed how their respective companies are working towards reducing emissions. Sustainability has become a buzzword in the modern world, and for a good reason. With the ever-increasing population and the growing need for resources, it has become imperative for every industry to shift...
