Rio Tinto to Utilize Innovative Hydrogen Technology to Cut Emissions in Refining

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Metals and mining giant Rio Tinto announced that it has decided to collaborate with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to explore the possibilities of replacing natural gas with hydrogen in alumina refining in refineries, in order to cut emissions.

The partnership will carry out a feasibility study at its Yarwun aumina refinery in Gladstone. ARENA will fund the $1.2 million study through a $580,000 grant. The feasibility study will look at replacing natural gas with clean hydrogen in the calcinations process. The necessary work towards the project will be done at Rio Tinto’s Bundoora Technical Development Centre in Melbourne.

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The move is considered as an important step towards reducing refinery emissions. Furthermore, it will play a key role in the company’s commitment to decarbonisation, which in turn will benefit the entire worldwide aluminum industry. Incidentally, the company aims to achieve net zero emissions across its operations by 2050.

The replacement of fossil fuels with clean hydrogen in the alumina refining process will reduce emissions of aluminum supply chain. By exploring new clean energy technologies and methods, Rio Tinto and ARENA has embarked on a crucial step towards producing green aluminum.