In collaboration with the EPFL, OIKEN and HES-SO Valais-Wallis will establish a collaborative R&D laboratory at Novelis’ plant in Sierre, with the objective of reaching carbon-neutral production at the facility by 2030.
Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, has signed a long-term collaboration agreement with HES-SO Valais-Wallis in collaboration with the EPFL at the Energypolis Campus, as well as energy distributor OIKEN, to start the Net Zero Lab, a joint research and development laboratory to advance carbon neutral solutions for aluminium manufacturing.
The laboratory will be located at Novelis’ plant in Sierre (canton of Valais). The Sierre site, the broader Valais region and Western Switzerland as a whole, were deemed an ideal fit for the planned initiatives due to the availability of renewable energy and strong research institutions, as well as a firm commitment to sustainability.
Throughout the first months of collaboration, the Net Zero Lab Valais will conduct a research study to identify decarbonization solutions and will launch an ecosystem by which Novelis, in collaboration with OIKEN, will share the energy from its Sierre plant with the surrounding area. This will help lower the area’s carbon footprint, as well as the carbon footprint of the manufacturing site.
A commitment to reaching complete carbon neutrality
The work of the lab will focus on identifying and implementing innovative solutions to neutralize the carbon footprint of Novelis’ manufacturing operations and neighboring communities, starting in Sierre. The aim is to reach carbon neutrality for scope 1 and 2 emissions at the plant by 2030.
“As the industry leader and the world’s largest aluminium recycler, Novelis is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 or sooner,” said Pierre Labat, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer of Novelis. “
"This partnership underscores that commitment and we expect the research to allow for greater innovation in advancing our efforts to create a sustainable world together."
Source and credit photo : Press release of Novelis