Hydro produced primary aluminum metal for the first time using its HalZero technology at the Herøya research facility in Porsgrunn, Norway.
Operating since January 2026, the test site evaluates process steps that convert alumina to aluminum chloride before electrolysis, targeting zero emissions by releasing oxygen instead of carbon dioxide through closed carbon and chlorine loops.
Development of this primary smelting process started in 2016 in partnership with Norwegian research institutions NTNU and SINTEF. Norwegian state enterprise Enova provided NOK 141 million in 2023 and granted an additional NOK 82 million for the project's next phase to build an industrial concept pilot.
Hydro will continue systematic testing over the coming years to refine process integration before scaling the technology toward commercial deployment.
Hydro produces first aluminum using HalZero primary production process
20 Oct 2026 17:09 reported by Joy Liu
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