Norsk Hydro: Hydro to explore hydrogen opportunities
Hydro is exploring the development of hydrogen facilities to meet both internal and external demand, leveraging its expertise in renewable power.
The company aims to reduce industrial CO2 emissions and establish a sustainable hydrogen business. By 2025, Hydro plans to strengthen its position in low-carbon aluminum while exploring growth in recycling and new energy.
Hydro's strategy includes a shift from gas to hydrogen in various aluminum plants, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.
Further details will be revealed during the first-quarter results presentation on April 27.
- Hydro aims to reduce industrial CO2 emissions and develop a sustainable hydrogen business.
- Plans to strengthen its position in low-carbon aluminum and explore new energy opportunities.
- Potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 through a shift to hydrogen.
- None.
Hydro is exploring the potential for developing and operating hydrogen facilities to meet large internal demand as well as serving an external market, leveraging the company’s industrial and renewable power expertise.
“We see a substantial potential for industrial hydrogen consumption. Taking a developer and operator role in the hydrogen sector represents an opportunity for Hydro to reduce industrial CO2 emissions and develop a profitable and sustainable business based on hydrogen,” says Hilde Merete Aasheim, President and CEO in Hydro.
Hydro has set out a clear strategic direction toward 2025 and aims to strengthen its position in low-carbon aluminium, while exploring new growth opportunities in recycling and new energy.
“Hydro has unique capabilities that set us apart from other industrial players due to our own renewable power positions and competence, and large internal demand for gas that can be replaced by green hydrogen solutions. We can therefore build and develop a complete value chain for green hydrogen in Norway,” Aasheim says.
A developer and operator role for Hydro is in line with the company’s internal pipeline of possible hydrogen projects and would likely entail a full or partial switch from gas to hydrogen in plants in several locations. A probable start to this process would be to switch from gas to hydrogen at some of Hydro’s aluminum plants in Norway.
“We have large internal demand for gas used for heating in our casthouses and anode production, and a hydrogen production facility could be placed near the consumption. For Hydro it would contribute to our target of reducing our own CO2 emissions by
Hydrogen technologies and their applications have been on Hydro’s agenda multiple times for several decades. Several elements have changed over the last years, lifting the profitability in switching from gas to hydrogen at Hydro’s plants. EU and Norway’s ambitions to decarbonize the economy by 2050 require hydrogen as an important energy carrier, and support schemes are being put in place. Additionally, technology cost is coming down and Norway is well-suited for hydrogen development and use due to its attractive, renewable power.
Hydro will revert with more information about the options under evaluation and the way forward at the company’s first-quarter strategic update and results presentation on April 27.
Investor contact:
Line Haugetraa
+47 41406376
Line.Haugetraa@hydro.com
Media contact:
Halvor Molland
+47 92979797
Halvor.Molland@hydro.com
FAQ
What is Hydro's plan for hydrogen facilities?
How does Hydro plan to reduce CO2 emissions?
When will Hydro provide more information about their hydrogen strategy?
What is Hydro’s focus for 2025?
Why is Norway suitable for hydrogen development?
