Rio Tinto and Hydro Invest $45M in Carbon Capture Tech for Aluminium Smelting

Rio Tinto and Hydro have partnered to explore and evaluate carbon capture technologies for use in the aluminium electrolysis process. The agreement will share R&D costs and results, from lab tests with suppliers to large-scale pilot projects. Rio Tinto and Hydro are identifying carbon capture technologies for aluminium manufacturing, aiming to bring them to commercial reality.

Investment of $45 Million Over Five Years

Both the companies are committing about $45 million over the next five years to this program. Most R&D work will take place at Rio Tinto's European facilities and Hydro's facilities in Norway, which will push the project forward. The two companies will be working on this project, but each of them will carry out its independent decarbonization program.

Reduction of Carbon Emissions in Aluminium Production

Anode consumption during the electrolysis process accounts for around 75% of a smelter's direct CO2 emissions. For years, Rio Tinto and Hydro have explored carbon capture technologies, seeking solutions to meet their climate goals. This effort adds to their work over the carbon-free smelting technologies, including Hydro's HalZero and Rio Tinto's involvement in ELYSIS.

Jakob Stausholm, Rio Tinto's Chief Executive, explained that the company is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and recognizes that achieving its climate objectives will require a range of solutions. He added that through its partnership with Hydro to assess certain carbon capture technologies for aluminium smelters, Rio Tinto seeks to leverage more effectively their complementary networks and R&D capabilities in tackling the climate change challenge.

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The Challenge of Capturing Carbon from Aluminium Smelters

Aluminium smelters typically produce flue gas with CO2 concentrations around 1% (vol.), presenting a unique challenge for carbon capture. Adapting existing direct air capture or point source technologies to these lower concentrations requires significant development and innovation. The two companies are working together to accelerate carbon capture technology development, reducing emissions from aluminium smelters.