Hydro and Rio Tinto Collaborate on Carbon Capture for Aluminum Smelters

Hydro and Rio Tinto have announced a partnership to develop carbon capture technology aimed at reducing emissions from aluminum smelters. The companies plan to invest approximately $45 million over five years, with research and development efforts taking place at Hydro’s facilities in Norway and Rio Tinto’s locations in Europe. Both companies will continue their independent decarbonization initiatives alongside this collaboration.

Anode consumption during the electrolysis process accounts for around three-quarters of an aluminum smelter’s direct CO2 emissions. Researchers from Hydro and Rio Tinto have been investigating various carbon capture technologies to support their climate goals. This work complements other carbon-free technology developments, including Hydro’s HalZero initiative and Rio Tinto’s involvement in the ELYSIS collaboration.

Hydro President and CEO Eivind Kallevik emphasized the importance of carbon capture technology in achieving net-zero emissions in aluminum production by 2050 or earlier. He stated that the partnership with Rio Tinto will accelerate the development of customized solutions for existing smelters. Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm reinforced the need for a diverse portfolio of solutions to meet climate targets, highlighting the potential of this collaboration to leverage research networks and technological expertise.

Capturing carbon from aluminum smelter off-gases, which have CO2 concentrations of approximately 1 percent, requires adapting direct air capture or point source technologies. These technologies are still in early development stages and will require significant investment to scale from laboratory research to commercial applications. The Hydro-Rio Tinto partnership aims to expedite this process, contributing to the aluminum industry’s transition toward lower emissions.