Novelis Accelerates Decarbonization Process

Novelis Accelerates Decarbonization Process Novelis Inc., a leading provider of sustainable aluminum solutions and a global leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, together with its research and development laboratory partner Net Zero Lab Valais, has successfully completed the first year of operations by implementing major energy projects aimed at enabling Scope 1 and 2 carbon-neutral production at Novelis' Sierre plant in Switzerland. During the first year of its decarbonization journey with Net Zero Lab Valais, the company approved investment in a new pusher-type electric furnace that will preheat the facility's ingots using renewable electricity instead of natural gas. This will enable Novelis to save approximately 4,500 tonnes of CO2 annually and 180,000 tonnes of CO2eq over the furnace's operational lifetime. Laboratory partners also completed a project that will enable waste heat from the casting process at Novelis' facility to be transferred to Technopôle, a nearby building complex. The energy supply equivalent to 200 KW covers approximately one-third of Technopôle's total energy requirements. Novelis and OIKEN, a local energy provider and laboratory partner, plan to further expand this energy ecosystem to meet a significant portion of the Sierre region's energy demand before 2030. Emilio Braghi, Vice President of Novelis Inc. and President of Novelis Europe, said: "This well-defined project brings our holistic decarbonization approach to net-zero production to life. Beyond this important mission, we are proud to see that we are also adding value to the communities around us and further expanding our position as a leading employer in sustainability." Modeling an optimized system for the facility's energy supply, conversion and reuse is the objective of systematic work that began with Net Zero Lab Valais becoming operational in 2022 and continues today. The focus is on replacing fossil-based energy sources with carbon-neutral alternatives rather than offsetting carbon emissions through credits. The system's first models and results will be released in May 2023. Serge Gaudin, Sierre Plant Manager and Director of Novelis Europe Automotive Operations, said: "The three decarbonization projects from Net Zero Lab Valais were awarded through various funds by the Swiss government, which enabled us to expand our team size. It is great 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 emerging from Net Zero Lab Valais is to help Novelis achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions at the Sierre plant by 2030 and subsequently scale these to other plants worldwide. The diversity of decarbonization projects underscores Novelis' ambitious sustainability targets. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2026 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier. Beyond focusing on energy efficiency initiatives and recycling, Novelis intends to continue decarbonizing its operations by transitioning to renewable energy sources. Source