Hydro has produced what it claims is the world's first aluminium batch using green hydrogen instead of natural gas. The Norwegian company reports that the successful test is an important step towards carbon-free aluminium. The project partner on the technical side was the French engineering group Fives.
Successful test: green hydrogen replaces natural gas at Hydro's aluminium foundry
During the test run, green hydrogen replaced the natural gas normally used, he said. The test was conducted in a foundry at Hydro's extrusion plant in Navarra, Spain.
"By removing carbon emissions from the energy source, we are able to produce carbon-free aluminium from recycled scrap," said Paul Warton, executive vice president of Hydro Extrusions.
The test was conducted by Hydro Havrand, Hydro's hydrogen subsidiary, in collaboration with French engineering group Fives. Fives contributed to the success of the test run by designing and supplying components and controls, he said.
Successful test proves viability of green hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels
The test proves: In the aluminium industry, green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in high-temperature processes. According to Hydro, the test in Navarre is the world's first successful attempt to use hydrogen as an energy source in aluminium production on an industrial scale. The aluminium produced will be further processed at Hydro Extrusions' Navarra plant, it said.
"This test is part of the development of commercial fuel switching solutions and aims to demonstrate that hydrogen is applicable in aluminium production. Green hydrogen can eliminate difficult-to-reduce emissions from fossil fuels in processes where electricity is not an alternative, both in the aluminium industry and in other heavy industries," says Per Christian Eriksen, head of Hydro Havrand.
Hydro and Fives are currently analysing the test results, and a final report is expected in the fall. Hydro Havrand intends to continue building capacity for hydrogen fuel conversion to become "the leading provider of industrial solutions for green hydrogen conversion."
Use of green hydrogen: impact on metal quality and smelting process
He said the test provides new insights into the conversion from natural gas to hydrogen and the resulting impact on metal quality. Hydrogen behaves differently and burns at a different temperature than natural gas.
The test examined how these differences affect the aluminium smelting process and aluminium quality. According to the company, the results may also be relevant to the use of hydrogen in primary aluminium foundries and other high-temperature processes such as the production of glass or cement.
(Source: Hydro/2023)
