MONTRÉAL, June 28,
2024 /CNW/ - Progress towards the large-scale
implementation of the ELYSISTM disruptive technology has
achieved a new milestone with the granting to Rio Tinto of the
first smelter technology licence for a 100 kiloamperes (kA)
demonstration plant with 10 pots that will be built at its Arvida
site in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Québec. This major investment
highlights the scale-up potential of the inert anode smelter
technology. This technology eliminates all direct greenhouse gases
(GHGs) from the traditional smelting process, producing oxygen
instead.
The granting of a first smelter licence to an aluminium producer
builds on the successes of the tests conducted at the Industrial
Research and Development Centre in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.
Concurrently, ELYSIS has begun commissioning its industrial
prototype cells (450 kA) at the end of an existing potline at Rio
Tinto's Alma smelter, with the start-up sequence set to begin in
2024.
Ramping up towards full commercialization
This first
smelter technology licence will enable ELYSIS to advance the
technology demonstration on a larger scale, representing a first
milestone towards its commercialization. To achieve this, ELYSIS
has expanded its team, now reaching 200 employees. In 2022 and
2023, ELYSIS hired 80 talented new team members with 70 of the new
hires based in Québec.
This dynamic progress is also evident in the increased
investment in the ELYSIS joint venture, which has reached CAN$650
million. ELYSIS has now received approximately 65% private
funding and 35% public funding, reflecting investors' strong
confidence in the technology's success.
As part of the development of new key equipment for the
operation of the inert anode smelter technology, ELYSIS has entered
into a series of long-term partnerships with local suppliers in
Quebec. These partnerships are
essential to the deployment of the ELYSISTM
technology.
The technology at a glance
- The ELYSISTM technology meets the global
demand for products with a low carbon footprint,
ranging from mobile phones to cars, planes, and building
materials.
- The new process will reduce operating costs of aluminium
smelters while increasing production capacity. It could be
used in both new and existing aluminium smelters.
- In Canada alone, the
ELYSISTM technology has the potential to reduce GHG
emissions by 7 million tonnes per year, the equivalent of
removing 1.8 million cars from the roadway network.
- ELYSIS will also license next-generation electrode technology,
with inert anodes lasting more than 30 times longer than
traditional carbon-based anodes.
ELYSIS is an unprecedented world-class partnership of two major
aluminium industry pioneers, Alcoa and Rio Tinto, developing a new
breakthrough technology, known as inert anode.
The ELYSIS™ technology will enable the production of widely used
products with a reduced environmental impact, thereby transforming
the aluminum industry and significantly lowering its carbon
footprint.
ELYSIS is collaborating closely with Alcoa's Technical Center,
where the zero-carbon smelting technology was developed, as well as
with the Rio Tinto technology design team in France and in Quebec.
Alcoa's Technical Center supports ELYSIS in the manufacture of
proprietary materials for the new anodes and cathodes that are
essential to the ELYSISTM process. The Rio Tinto
technology team, based in France
and in Québec, is creating commercial scale designs for the
ELYSISTM technology.
Quotes
— "Developing such a revolutionary technology for the aluminium
industry is quite a journey. It takes time, and it means adapting
to the challenges of perfecting a whole new process and technology.
The achievement of this new milestone marks an important turning
point in the advancement of the ELYSISTM technology,
demonstrating continued progress from what was a dream to a
transformative force for the aluminum industry. By granting a first
inert anode technology licence to Rio Tinto, ELYSIS is one step
closer to its full technology scale-up."
- Vincent
Christ, ELYSIS CEO
— "This investment will further strengthen Rio Tinto's
industry-leading position in low-carbon, responsible aluminium in
North America with our
hydro-powered smelters and our recycling capacity. Becoming the
first to deploy the ELYSISTM carbon-free smelting
technology is the next step in our strategy to decarbonize and grow
our Canadian aluminium operations. In addition to delivering even
lower carbon primary aluminium to our customers, this investment
will allow Rio Tinto to build expertise in installing and operating
this new technology, while the ELYSISTM joint venture
pursues research and development work to scale it up to its full
potential."
- Jérôme Pécresse, Rio Tinto Aluminium
Chief Executive
— "Since inventing the aluminum smelting process in 1886, which
is still in use today, Alcoa has continued to create
transformational technologies to improve our industry. We are proud
to progress the technology initially developed at our technical
center to its next phase within the ELYSIS partnership. Aluminum
plays a critical role in the world's energy transition and
decarbonization efforts; with the
ELYSISTM technology, the smelting of this amazing
metal can also be done without direct carbon emissions."
- William F. (Bill)
Oplinger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alcoa
Corporation
About ELYSIS
ELYSIS is a technology company that emerged from a
ground-breaking partnership between two global industry leaders,
Alcoa and Rio Tinto. ELYSIS' goal is to revolutionize the way
aluminium is produced across the globe. Our process eliminates all
direct greenhouse gases from aluminium smelting, producing oxygen
instead. Learn more at www.elysis.com.
@Elysis_techno ELYSIS
SOURCE ELYSIS