(IN BRIEF) Hydro’s Alumetal recycling plant in Kety, Poland, will enhance its sustainability by installing solar panels to generate 1,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually, set to be operational by mid-2025. The EUR 870,000 investment is part of Hydro’s broader efforts to decarbonize its operations and reduce the carbon footprint of its recycled aluminium products. The solar energy will cover 15% of the plant’s electricity needs and any excess will be fed into the local grid. This move aligns with Hydro’s goal to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Additional investments include a NOK 200 million modernization project to expand the plant’s capacity by 30,000 tonnes, expected to be completed by 2025. The company is committed to driving sustainability through both energy efficiency and enhanced circularity in aluminium production.
(PRESS RELEASE) OSLO, 27-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Hydro’s Alumetal recycling plant in Kety, Poland, is set to increase its use of renewable energy, furthering its commitment to producing low-carbon recycled aluminium products that will support the green transition across Europe. As part of the plant’s ongoing decarbonization efforts, Hydro has announced the installation of a new solar panel system that will generate 1,000 MWh of electricity annually. The system is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2025.
“Energy is a crucial component in the aluminium industry, and transitioning to renewable energy is a key step in decarbonizing our value chain,” says Hanne Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal. “Although aluminium recycling requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce primary metal in a smelter, every action we take is important in reaching net-zero. The solar panels at our Kety plant represent another meaningful move in that direction.”
The EUR 870,000 investment will enable Alumetal’s Kety plant to shift part of its energy supply to locally generated renewable energy, reducing its reliance on external power sources. This initiative is aligned with Hydro’s decarbonization strategy, which includes a target of reducing its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions in scope 1 and 2 by 2050.
The plant’s new solar power system will contribute significantly to its energy needs, providing 15% of the plant’s total annual electricity requirements—enough to power approximately 100 average European homes for a year. Any excess energy generated will be fed back into the local power grid, supplying nearby homes, businesses, and facilities with clean, renewable energy.
“This solar project at Kety is another important milestone for Alumetal as we continue our journey towards decarbonization,” says Agnieszka Drzyżdżyk, CEO of Alumetal. “By harnessing local, onsite energy production, we will not only improve the energy efficiency of the plant but also enhance circularity and reduce the carbon footprint of the recycled aluminium products we deliver to our customers.”
Hydro’s investment in the Kety plant follows a series of recent sustainability efforts. In 2023, Hydro acquired Alumetal and has since committed to modernizing the plant. A NOK 200 million project, set to be completed by mid-2025, will increase the plant’s capacity by approximately 30,000 tonnes and further improve safety and operational efficiency. Additionally, in November 2024, Alumetal completed an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to assess the environmental footprint of its recycled foundry alloy aluminium products.
This combination of renewable energy initiatives and ongoing modernization projects demonstrates Hydro’s commitment to leading the way in sustainable aluminium production and supporting Europe’s green transition.
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First published in this link of EuropaWIRE.
