Novelis demonstrates UK’s first hydrogen fuel switch in aluminium plant

Aluminium processing firm Novelis has completed the UK’s first full-scale hydrogen fuel switching demonstration in the aluminium industry at its Latchford plant, marking a major step toward industrial decarbonisation.

The two-week trial, funded by the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) under the Industrial Fuel Switching (IFS) Competition, involved converting a natural gas furnace to operate flexibly on hydrogen.

Allan Sweeny, Plant Manager at Novelis Latchford, said, “It demonstrated that we can adapt our existing infrastructure to run on hydrogen without compromising safety, quality, or performance. It’s a practical step forward in reducing our site’s carbon footprint and preparing for a low-carbon future.”

And the demonstration confirmed that hydrogen can be safely delivered and combusted in aluminium recycling furnaces.