Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro announced today that it has started up two new electric boilers at its Alunorte alumina refinery in Para state, Brazil. It says these will help reduce the facility's CO2 emissions by up to 550,000 t/yr.
The boilers will be powered by renewable energy after Alunorte signed long-term power purchase contracts with the Mendubim solar park and Ventos de Sao Zacarias wind farm.
The boilers replace two coal-fired units and follow the installation of a first electric boiler in 2022. Hydro has invested NOK 580mn ($51mn) in the shift from coal to renewables at Alunorte, and has committed to reducing the refinery's carbon emissions by up to 70pc by 2030.
"Alunorte is already among the most energy-efficient refineries and this project is moving us even further in our decarbonisation efforts," Hydro's vice-president for bauxite and alumina operations, Carlos Neves, said.
Hydro started using natural gas at Alunorte in August, following a $240mn investment to replace fuel oil. It plans eventually to have all the facility's calciners running on natural gas.
