Norsk Hydro’s Sunndal aluminium plant to become 70% biomethane-powered

Norsk Hydro has said that bioenergy can replace fossil energy in the casthouse and the anode production at its Sunndal aluminium plant in Norway.
The move will reduce CO2 emissions by 20,000 tonnes each year, and is an example of Hydro taking another step towards zero-carbon aluminium, the organisation added.
Hydro has signed a letter of intent with Havila to purchase biomethane from local plants to be built in Møre og Romsdal.
The agreement is conditional on Havila receiving Enova support for the construction of a biomethane plant, and that this is carried out.
Hydro Sunndal plans to replace 70% of the natural gas used at the smelter with biomethane.
Over the past year, Hydro has produced the first quantities of near-zero carbon aluminium from recycled aluminium, demonstrated that green hydrogen can be used in remelting aluminium, and started testing carbon capture in Sunndal.
Hydro is also preparing to build a test facility for a brand new process technology in Porsgrunn, Norway.
"This is a very exciting project. The collaboration with Havila enables us to use local, sustainable bioresources to replace fossil fuels and cut emissions from our production. If the biomethane plant comes into place, the introduction of biomethane at Hydro Sunndal can start during 2024," said Ola Sæter, head of Hydro's primary aluminium plants.
"We supply aluminium to the most demanding customers in Europe," he added. "They prefer aluminium from Hydro that is produced in Norway, based on renewable energy and with 75% lower CO2 emissions than the industry average.
"At the same time, they expect us to also remove the last carbon emissions coming from our manufacturing processes. That is a challenge we take seriously and a goal we are working hard to reach," Sæter said.