Rusal Aughinish Alumina, located in Limerick, Ireland, is considering using hydrogen as an alternative clean energy source and deploying electric heat pumps at its refinery, aiming to decarbonise its high-heat refinement process.
According to a report on March 6, Aughinish Alumina, the largest refinery in Europe, has started working with the state to explore the viable sources of hydrogen and develop decarbonising solutions for its refinery.
Eamon Ryan, the environment minister, and Willie Walsh, the chief executive of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and Michael O’Toole, the community affairs manager with Aughinish Alumina, are at the forefront of this pioneering initiative.
Shifting to green energy
This initiative represents Aughinish Alumina's commitment to reducing carbon emissions in its operations. The company is already known for revolutionising the energy consumption pattern by using Ireland's lion's share of natural gas for refinement. The further shift to hydrogen energy and deploying electric heat pumps will be Aughinish's exemplary move towards sustainability, aligned with the world's environmental goals.
Represents public-private partnerships
Besides Aughinish Alumina's sustainability commitment, this endeavour also represents a cordial collaboration between a private company and government entities with a visionary motto like climate change. This initiative opens the door for more such innovative solutions to reduce carbon footprint in industrial processes, potentially setting a precedent for energy-intensive industries across the globe. This move also fosters a culture of sustainability within the industry.
