What's Happening?
Novelis has successfully completed the UK's first full-scale hydrogen fuel switching demonstration in the aluminium industry at its Latchford plant. The trial involved converting a natural gas furnace to operate on hydrogen, funded by the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. This achievement marks a significant step toward industrial decarbonisation, demonstrating that existing infrastructure can be adapted to run on hydrogen without compromising safety, quality, or performance.
Why It's Important?
The successful hydrogen trial by Novelis represents a major advancement in sustainable industrial practices, particularly in hard-to-decarbonise sectors like aluminium recycling. This innovation supports global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources. The trial's success could encourage further investment in hydrogen technologies and infrastructure, potentially leading to widespread adoption across industries. Novelis' commitment to sustainability aligns with broader environmental goals and positions the company as a leader in green technology.
What's Next?
Novelis plans to eliminate up to 45,000 tonnes of direct CO2 emissions annually at the Latchford site, contingent on hydrogen availability. Future deployment depends on connection to the HyNet hydrogen network or on-site electrolytic production. The company is also investing in expanding its recycling capacity for used beverage cans, which will further reduce CO2 emissions. Novelis aims to achieve ambitious sustainability targets by 2030, including increasing recycled content and reducing carbon emissions.
