en.Wedoany.com Reported - Novelis Inc. has commissioned its first electric pusher furnace at its plant in Sierre, Switzerland.
The pusher furnace is used to heat aluminum ingots before rolling. Novelis stated that by switching from natural gas to electricity based on the local Swiss power mix, it expects to reduce emissions by approximately 4,500 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually, with a 25% reduction in total energy consumption compared to the previous gas system. The company noted that while this shift changes the allocation between Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, the significantly lower carbon intensity of the electricity used results in a net reduction in total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. This case demonstrates how technological upgrades can achieve measurable emission and energy reductions at the operational level.
The concept of the electric pusher furnace originated from the Net Zero Lab Valais initiative, which Novelis launched in February 2022 in collaboration with energy distributor Oiken, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, and EPFL, aiming to develop carbon-neutral solutions for aluminum manufacturing. At the time, the company stated that the Sierre plant, the entire Valais region, and Switzerland itself, with their renewable energy availability, strong research institutions, and firm commitment to sustainable development, were ideal locations for the initiative. The lab focuses on identifying and implementing solutions to neutralize the carbon footprint of Novelis's manufacturing operations and neighboring communities, with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions at the plant by 2030.
"With the launch of the electric pusher furnace, Novelis continues to lead the way in sustainable aluminum manufacturing," said Serge Gaudin, Plant Manager of the Sierre facility and Director of Novelis's European Recycling Plants. "This development brings the plant closer to achieving carbon-neutral operations, a core component of our long-term 3x30 decarbonization strategy."
In addition to installing the electric pusher furnace, Novelis has also initiated a joint study with Oiken to expand the district heating system in the city of Sierre, aiming to provide approximately 20-30% of the city's total energy demand. The company stated that this step follows a lighthouse project that supplies waste heat from Novelis's aluminum casting process to nearby building complexes.
As part of the Net Zero Lab Valais roadmap, Novelis plans to continue expanding electrification and low-carbon energy integration at the Sierre plant, while exploring broader application of decarbonization solutions across the company's global production network.
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