MONTREAL, June 28, 2024 /CNW/ – Progress towards large-scale implementation of ELYSISMT disruptive technology has reached a new milestone with the granting to Rio Tinto of the first smelter technology license for a 100-kiloampere (kA) 10-pot demonstration plant that will be built at its Arvida site in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. This major investment highlights the expansion potential of inert anode casting technology. This technology eliminates all direct greenhouse gases (GHG) from the traditional smelting process, producing oxygen instead.
The granting of a first smelter license to an aluminum producer builds on the successes of tests conducted at the Industrial Research and Development Center in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. At the same time, ELYSIS has begun commissioning its industrial prototype cells (450 kA) at the end of an existing potline at Rio Tinto’s Alma foundry, with the startup sequence set to begin in 2024.
Scaling up to full commercialization
This first foundry technology license will enable ELYSIS to advance the demonstration of the technology 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 will hire 80 new talented 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 reached CAN$650 million. ELYSIS has now received approximately 65% private funding and 35% public funding, reflecting investors’ strong confidence in the success of the technology.
As part of the development of new equipment essential to the operation of inert anode casting technology, ELYSIS has entered into a series of long-term partnerships with local suppliers in Quebec. These partnerships are essential for the implementation of ELYSISTM technology.
Technology in brief
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THE ELÍSEMT technology meets global demand for products with a low carbon footprintranging from cell phones to cars, planes and building materials.
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The new process will reduce operating costs of aluminum foundries while increasing production capacity. Could be used in new and existing aluminum foundries.
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In Canada alone, the ELYSISTM technology has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 7 million tonnes per yearthe equivalent of removing 1.8 million cars from the road network.
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ELYSIS will also license next-generation electrode technology, with inert anodes that last more than 30 times more than traditional carbon-based anodes.
ELYSIS is an unprecedented, world-class partnership between two major pioneers in the aluminum industry, Alcoa and Rio Tinto, to develop a groundbreaking new technology known as an inert anode.
ELYSIS™ technology will enable the production of widely used products with reduced environmental impact, thus transforming the aluminum industry and significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
ELYSIS is collaborating closely with the Alcoa Technical Center, where the zero-carbon casting technology was developed, as well as Rio Tinto’s technology design team in France is at Quebec.
Alcoa Technical Center supports ELYSIS in manufacturing proprietary materials for new anodes and cathodes essential for ELYSISMT process. Rio Tinto’s technology team, based in France and in Quebec, is creating commercial-scale projects for ELYSISMT technology.
Quotes
— “Developing such a revolutionary technology for the aluminium industry is a huge journey. It takes time and means adapting to the challenges of perfecting a completely new process and technology. Achieving this new milestone marks an important turning point in ELÍSIA’s progressMT technology, demonstrating continued progress from what was a dream to a transformative force for the aluminum industry. By granting the first inert anode technology license to Rio Tinto, ELYSIS is one step closer to fully expanding its technology.”
– Vincent ChristCEO of ELYSIS
— “This investment will further strengthen Rio Tinto’s leadership position in the responsible and low-carbon aluminium industry in North America with our hydropower smelters and recycling capabilities. Becoming the first to deploy ELYSISMT The carbon-free smelting technology is the next step in our strategy to decarbonize and expand our aluminum operations in Canada. In addition to providing even lower-carbon primary aluminum to our customers, this investment will enable Rio Tinto to gain experience in installing and operating this new technology, while ELYSISMT The joint venture seeks research and development work to expand its full potential.”
– Jérôme Pécresse, Executive Director of Rio Tinto Aluminum
— “Since inventing the aluminum smelting process in 1886, which is still in use today, Alcoa has continued to create transformational technologies to advance our industry. We are proud to advance the technology initially developed at our technical center to its next phase under the ELYSIS partnership. Aluminum plays a critical role in the world’s energy transition and decarbonization efforts with ELYSIS;TM technology, the smelting of this incredible metal can also be done without direct carbon emissions.”
– William F. (Bill) OplingerChairman and CEO of Alcoa Corporation
About ELYSIS
ELYSIS is a technology company that emerged from an innovative partnership between two global industry leaders, Alcoa and Rio Tinto. The goal of ELYSIS is to revolutionize the way aluminum is produced around the world. Our process eliminates all direct greenhouse gases from aluminum smelting, producing oxygen instead. Learn more at www.elysis.com.
@Elysis_techno ELISIS
ELYSIS FOUNTAIN
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