Constellium Casts First Aluminum Plate Using Hydrogen Combustion

In 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, in its plants located near future low-carbon hydrogen production sites, particularly in the United States. To optimize hydrogen combustion, Constellium has opted for a 100% oxygen oxidizer instead of using air from outside, allowing the combustion to be more efficient.

Safety was a critical concern at the Voreppe site, given that hydrogen is odorless, colorless, and highly flammable. The plant had to install an extensive array of extraction and detection systems to make the hydrogen supply safer for use in the furnace. This deployment aims to make aluminum casting more sustainable by replacing conventional natural gas with hydrogen, which produces water vapor rather than carbon dioxide.

Constellium's initiative is part of a broader industry push toward using hydrogen as an alternative energy source in metal production. In June 2023, Norway's Norsk Hydro produced the world's first industrial-scale batch of aluminum using hydrogen, while the U.S.-based company Novelis began similar trials with backing from the UK government.