Norway demo explores carbon capture in aluminium production

Norway’s GreenCap Solutions has launched a demonstration project to test its carbon capture technology in aluminium production, a sector that accounted for around 1.1bn tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023.

The direct emissions of CO2 from the electrolysis process used to make primary aluminium – which is produced by extracting new aluminum from alumina, or refined bauxite ore – is significant at around 1.5kg of CO2 per kilo of liquid aluminium.

However, the project will particularly target the capture of CO2 from low-concentration point sources, such as flue gases, which only contain around 1% of CO2.

GreenCap aims to achieve this through a technology based on physical adsorption using a solid sorbent, without the use of chemicals. The project will run at an aluminium production plant owned and operated by Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy firm Hydro.