"This is the kind of development work that can bring together private industry, public authorities and others. Whatever achievements are made, it will be important to share the knowledge and technology with other players. This can help aluminium become more meaningful as a means to deal with today’s and tomorrow’s most pressing climate challenges.”
The example Håndlykken brings to light is the type of initiative that is right down ZERO’s alley. The not-for-profit environmental foundation was established to meet the need to assemble groups of experts who specialize in climate and zero-emission solutions and who can influence businesses and public officials to move in the direction of sustainable solutions, and not just small, but on a large scale.
More ambitious targets
Håndlykken says the world’s richest countries must be more ambitious in their environmental target-setting, to avoid the increasing temperatues that can result in dramatic consequences for the planet.
“It is not enough to reduce carbon emissions in Norway and other wealthy countries by 25 percent within 2020. We have to aim for 40 percent,” he says.
“While it is good to see what industry in Norway has accomplished, based on voluntary greenhouse-gas agreements, we need to understand that industry still has a long way to go. Quite simply, we have to develop better technology. National authorities also have a key role, ensuring that such forward-looking technology has competitive terms.”
He underlines that individual companies must continue to go actively after the opportunities in the fields in which they operate.
Wants energy revolution in buildings
In 2009, Håndlykken attended the formal opening of Hydro’s energy-neutral test center in Bellenberg, Germany. “This is a great illustration of the perspectives in the building sector,” he says. “Seeing future buildings and private households become energy-neutral, would be revolutionary.”
He adds that there are significant achievements available through intelligent design and the integration of photovoltaic cells.
“Buildings that are net producers of energy can be constructed with building structures that have the lowest possible energy needs,” he says. “Heating needs can be produced by solar collectors, ground heat and heat pumps. Electricity can be produced by solar panels and small wind turbines that are on the roof or in the yard.”
Heavy contribution from light metal
“We know that aluminium has properties that can help solve many of the challenges the world is facing,” says Håndlykken.
“This is the case in the building sector, in the development of solar cell constructions and in the transport industry, where aluminium reduces weight and thereby energy or fuel consumption. But it is also paramount that we move away from fossil fuels,” he says. “It’s positive that aluminium is so well suited for recycling, but not until it is produced with renewable energy – without greenhouse gas emissions – will the light metal really provide heavy contributions toward a sustainable future.”
Concentrate and capture the gases
“Despite the fact that Hydro is no longer working with hydrogen, the company still has a duty to help develop technological solutions for the future. The company’s research efforts toward capturing the climate gases from its aluminium production are important as well as exciting,” he says Håndlykken.
“This is the kind of development work that can bring together private industry, public authorities and others. We want to cooperate in such work. And whatever achievements are made, it will be important to share the knowledge and technology with other players.
“In a country like Norway – a major producer and exporter of crude oil and natural gas – there is considerable responsibility to contribute to better solutions. Norway has the resources and opportunities to develop and bring into use emission-free alternatives that we will have to utilize all over the world. ZERO will contribute to limiting the threat posed by climate change by promoting carbon-free energy solutions. In our view, emission-free alternatives exist for all energy use, and ZERO works continuously for their realization.”
