Aluminium and renewable energy company Hydro has launched a new initiative to decarbonize its aluminium plants in Germany by starting local, onsite solar energy production and implementing energy efficiency measures. The first solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Offenburg have been completed and are now in interim operation. In addition to Offenburg, Hydro’s facilities in Rackwitz...
READ MOREPlans to transform aluminium production in the UK received a significant boost with a £3.4 million grant awarded to EMR by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). The grant will support a collaborative research project aimed at creating a world-leading metals processing facility, focusing on producing aluminium extrusion billet with reduced carbon content. The proposed facility...
READ MOREPlans for the extraction of a key raw material used in electric vehicle production are under threat in Serbia as environmental protests grow. The Jadar Valley project, aimed at extracting 58,000 tons of lithium annually, has faced increasing opposition from local communities who fear environmental damage. Mining giant Rio Tinto is facing delays that could...
READ MOREA new lithium battery recycling plant in southern Israel aims to solve the environmental problem posed by electric vehicle batteries packed with toxic materials. The facility, known as Batte-Re, is Israel’s first electric vehicle battery recycling operation and has been established in Rotem Industrial Park near Dimona. Founded two years ago by four entrepreneurs, Batte-Re...
READ MOREDeep sea mining is anticipated to have a significant negative impact on terrestrial mining, potentially risking over $560 billion in annual export earnings, according to a new report from financial think tank Planet Tracker. The study, titled “Race to the Bottom,” argues that the financial benefits of seafloor mining are negligible and calls on governments...
READ MOREAustralia’s largest aluminium extruder, Capral, has successfully completed a trial using recycled-content billets supplied by Rio Tinto at Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), marking a significant stride towards sustainable manufacturing. The trial involved remelting 50 to 100 tonnes of post-production aluminium scrap sourced from Capral’s Bremer Park extrusion plant in Southeast Queensland, resulting in billets containing...
READ MOREAlumil India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Alumil Group, has launched Loop 80, a groundbreaking certified aluminium product containing 80% recycled material, setting a new global standard for sustainability. This follows the success of Loop 60, the company’s first certified recycled aluminium, introduced in 2023. Loop 80 represents a significant advancement, achieving an impressive 87%...
READ MOREConstellium SE has announced a major advancement in aluminium recycling for the automotive industry by implementing Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology at an industrial scale. Developed in collaboration with German recycling specialist OSR GmbH & Co. KG and a premium European automotive manufacturer, this initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions across the automotive supply chain...
READ MORENickel processing company PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (INCO) has officially signed a cooperation agreement with Chinese firm GEM, for the development of a net-zero nickel processing facility in Central Sulawesi. The signing took place in Beijing this week and was witnessed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during his visit to China. The $1.4 billion project...
READ MOREAluminium Bahrain (Alba) and Japan’s Daiki Aluminium Industry Company have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to establish a sustainable aluminium dross processing facility in Bahrain. The planned facility will have an annual production capacity exceeding 25,000 tonnes, aiming to support waste recycling and promote sustainable solutions within the country. Ali Al Baqali, CEO of...
READ MOREEmirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world’s largest producer of premium aluminium, has extended its CelestiAL-R supply agreement with the BMW Group for the coming years. CelestiAL-R is notable for being the world’s first aluminium blend made using solar power and recycled metal, aligning with the growing industry demand for sustainable materials. The BMW Group utilizes...
READ MOREYoung Poong, the world’s sixth-largest zinc smelter, has been ordered to suspend operations at its Seokpo refinery facility for two months due to the unauthorized discharge of polluted wastewater. The shutdown is expected to impact the company’s ongoing attempt to secure ownership control of Korea Zinc, its affiliate and the world’s largest zinc producer. Earlier...
READ MOREPoland-based aluminum producer Alumetal has finalized an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) that documents the environmental impact of its recycled foundry alloy aluminum products. The EPD, based on an independent third-party assessment, offers detailed transparency regarding the mix of scrap qualities used in production at Alumetal’s plants. Alumetal, acquired by Norway’s Norsk Hydro ASA last year,...
READ MOREFor every tonne of copper used in renewable energy systems, carbon emissions are reduced by between 100 and 7,500 tonnes over the system’s lifecycle, according to the International Copper Association (ICA). As India transitions to renewable energy, copper has emerged as a key material in the generation, transmission, and storage of clean energy, thanks to...
READ MOREAmerican chemists have developed a plasmonic photocatalyst based on rhodium and copper, enabling the extraction of hydrogen from methane at a relatively low temperature of 450 degrees Celsius. This innovation is expected to lower energy and fuel costs for hydrogen production, making the process more sustainable, as detailed in a paper published in Nature Catalysis....
READ MOREIn mid-July, metallurgist Constellium successfully cast its first aluminum plate using hydrogen combustion at its research center in Voreppe, Isère, France. This marks a significant milestone for the company as it explores sustainable production methods aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The multinational company plans to deploy the hydrogen combustion system, still in the development phase,...
READ MOREAlcoa is “very bullish” on the outlook for aluminium as the energy transition drives increased demand, including a shift away from copper, CEO William Oplinger said on Wednesday. Speaking at a conference in Sydney, Oplinger highlighted that demand growth will be largely driven by the energy transition, with aluminium increasingly substituting for copper in certain...
READ MORECopper products manufacturer Wieland Group has commissioned a solar park in Erbach, southern Germany, which will generate 29 GWh of renewable electricity annually. The company announced on Monday that it has invested nearly EUR 20 million ($21.7 million USD) in the project, which includes the installation of approximately 48,000 solar modules, 82 inverters, 14 transformer...
READ MOREResearchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have developed and patented a high-capacity cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, featuring enhanced stability and an efficient production method. The material, based on layered transition metal oxides with increased nickel content, is expected to extend battery life by about 10% compared to commercially available alternatives....
READ MOREResearchers have developed a solar-powered device capable of extracting lithium from brines while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, offering a potential alternative for more sustainable lithium production—an essential resource for rechargeable batteries. The floating device, created by a team led by Baoxia Mi from the University of California, Berkeley, and Jia Zhu from Nanjing University, takes...
READ MOREAurubis, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers, and Coficab, a major player in the automotive industry’s wires and cables sector, have renewed a multi-year contract for the supply of copper wire rod. This renewed contract aims to expand sustainable volume growth in the automotive wire and cable...
READ MOREPaulo Pires, a 50-year-old shepherd, enjoys spending his time in the meadows around Covas do Barroso in northern Portugal. Accompanied by his nine-year-old son Gonçalo, Pires tends to his flock of 190 sheep while enjoying the serene landscape of pastures, forests, and the sparsely populated hills. However, this tranquil way of life is under threat,...
READ MOREThe European Union’s shift towards clean energy and digital technologies is driving a rapid increase in the demand for critical raw materials, with forecasts showing exponential growth in the coming years. As the EU moves away from fossil fuels, materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel — essential for batteries, renewable energy technologies, and the...
READ MOREHydro has announced the expansion and relocation of its Hydro Aluminum Technology Center (HATC) to Cassopolis, Michigan, a move that enhances the company’s research and development capabilities in aluminium products. The new facility aims to support the growing demand for low-carbon aluminium in the U.S., with a focus on key sectors such as automotive, transportation,...
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