The making

How alumina is turned into aluminum.

Liquid aluminium being poured into a mold

Transforming alumina powder into a versatile and malleable metal is a complex and energy-intensive process. That is why we make most of our aluminum based on hydropower. Hydropower provides renewable energy and is a sustainable way to produce the electricity needed for making aluminum. About two-thirds of the energy used in our primary aluminum production comes from renewable sources.

What are the CO2 emissions of aluminum based on the energy source used to create the metal?

co2 emissions bar graph

Three different raw materials are needed to produce aluminum from alumina: electricity, carbon and an electrolyte (cryolite). Electricity runs between a cathode and a anode, both made of carbon. The anode reacts with the oxygen in the alumina and forms CO2. The result is liquid aluminum, which can now be tapped from the cells.

The greenest aluminum in the world

At one of our sites on the Norwegian west coast we are working on a new technology that will make aluminum production greener. Hydro’s technology pilot at Karmøy is producing aluminum with the lowest energy consumption and emissions in the world.

Hydropower - the source of Hydro

Updated: June 04, 2019

Becoming CO2 neutral from a life-cycle perspective

Hydro aims to be carbon neutral in a life-cycle perspective by 2020, meaning we will save at least as much carbon emissions as we generate.

We will achieve this by focusing on increasing our recycling capacity, lowering emissions in our own production and increasing the use of aluminum in cars to reduce emissions.

Expert insight

“Designers and producers are showing increasing interest in this versatile and beautiful material because it is one of the most sustainable metals out there,” says Senior Research Scientist at Hydro, Malgorzata Chojak Halseid.