Novelis Accelerates Decarbonization Process
Novelis Inc., one of the leading sustainable aluminium solutions providers and world leaders in aluminium rolling and recycling, and its partners at the research and development laboratory Net Zero Lab Valais, successfully completed the first year of operations, launching key energy projects aimed at enabling scope 1 and 2 carbon neutral production at Novelis’ Sierre plant in Switzerland.
In the first year of the plant’s decarbonization journey with the Net Zero Lab Valais, the company has approved an investment in a new electrical pusher furnace, which will enable the plant to pre-heat sheet ingots with renewable electricity instead of natural gas. By realizing this, it will be possible to save around 4,500t CO2eq per year and up to 180,000 CO2eq over the furnace’s lifetime.
In addition, the lab partners completed a project to transfer waste heat from the casting process in Novelis’ plant to the Technopôle – a nearby building complex. The energy supply, corresponding to a power of around 200 KW, covers approximately one-third of Technopôle’s total energy demand. Novelis and OIKEN, a local energy provider and lab partner, intend to further expand this energy ecosystem to supply a substantial part of the Sierre region’s energy demand before 2030.
“This lighthouse project brings to life our holistic decarbonization approach toward a net zero production,” commented Emilio Braghi, Executive Vice President, Novelis Inc., and President, Novelis Europe. “Additionally, it makes us very proud to see that beyond this important mission, we are also adding value to our surrounding communities and further expanding our position as a sustainability frontrunner and attractive employer.”
Modelling an optimized system for the plant’s energy sourcing, conversion, and reuse is the goal of an ongoing systemic study that began with the launch of Net Zero Lab Valais in 2022. The focus is to replace fossil-based energy sources with carbon neutral ones rather than offsetting carbon emissions through credits. First models and results will be released in May 2023.
Serge Gaudin, Plant Manager at Novelis Sierre, and Director, Automotive Operations at Novelis Europe, said, “Three decarbonization projects by the Net Zero Lab Valais were rewarded with funds by the Swiss government, which allowed us to expand the size of the team. It’s amazing to see the extraordinary results of this interdisciplinary, talented team and to know that this is just the beginning of our journey.”
The ultimate goal of research and projects coming out of the Net Zero Lab Valais is to help Novelis reach carbon neutrality for scope 1 and 2 emissions at our Sierre plant by 2030, and then extend them to our other plants around the world. The multitude of decarbonization projects underlines Novelis’ ambitious sustainability goals.
The company intends to reduce its carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2026, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner. Beyond its focus on energy efficiency initiatives and recycling, Novelis aims to continue to seek opportunities to decarbonize its operations by converting to renewable energy sources.
