The making

How alumina is turned into aluminium.

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 aluminium based on hydropower. Hydropower provides renewable energy and is a sustainable way to produce the electricity needed for making aluminium. About two-thirds of the energy used in our primary aluminium production comes from renewable sources.

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

co2 emissions bar graph

Three different raw materials are needed to produce aluminium 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 aluminium, which can now be tapped from the cells.

The greenest aluminium in the world

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

Hydropower - the source of Hydro

Updated: június 04, 2019

Becoming CO2 neutral from a life cycle perspective

Hydro aims to be carbon neutral in a lifecycle 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 aluminium 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," says Malgorzata Chojak Halseid.