• $45M Investment: Rio Tinto and Hydro will invest approximately $45 million over five years to develop carbon capture technologies for aluminium smelting.
• Decarbonisation Goal: The partnership aims to accelerate the aluminium industry’s transition to net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Technology Development: The initiative will evaluate and scale up carbon capture technologies from lab tests to commercial viability.

Rio Tinto and Hydro have signed a partnership agreement to explore carbon capture solutions for aluminium smelting. The collaboration will focus on identifying and assessing technologies to reduce CO2 emissions from the electrolysis process, which accounts for 75% of a smelter’s direct emissions.

The companies will share research, costs, and results, spanning from lab testing with external suppliers to larger on-site pilots. Most of the work will take place at Rio Tinto’s European facilities and Hydro’s sites in Norway. Beyond this initiative, both companies will continue their independent decarbonisation efforts.

Why It Matters:

Carbon capture is crucial for reducing emissions from aluminium smelters. Current technologies require significant development, as capturing CO2 from flue gas with low concentrations (around 1%) remains a challenge. By pooling resources and expertise, Rio Tinto and Hydro aim to accelerate the maturity of these technologies and bring them to commercial scale.

Related Article: Rio Tinto To Invest $1.1 Billion in Low-carbon Aluminium Smelter in Quebec

Leadership Perspective:

Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm emphasized the need for multiple solutions to achieve net-zero: “By working in partnership with Hydro to assess certain carbon capture technologies for aluminium smelters, we are finding better ways to leverage our complementary networks and R&D capabilities to address the climate change challenge.”

Hydro President and CEO Eivind Kallevik highlighted the importance of carbon capture in their net-zero strategy: “Carbon capture technologies are critical to decarbonising existing smelters, and our partnership with Rio Tinto will amplify efforts to develop fit-for-purpose solutions that can accelerate the aluminium industry’s transition towards net-zero production.”

Looking Ahead:

The partnership aligns with broader efforts in the aluminium sector, including the development of carbon-free smelting technologies like Hydro’s HalZero and Rio Tinto’s involvement in the ELYSIS joint venture. By combining their R&D capabilities, Rio Tinto and Hydro are positioning themselves at the forefront of industrial decarbonisation.

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