Aker Carbon Capture and Elkem to test the world's first carbon capture pilot for smelters

Aker Carbon Capture and Elkem will test the world's first carbon capture plants for emissions from smelters in the process industry, and the first in the production of ferrosilicon. This week, the project received support from the CLIMIT-Demo program run by the Research Council of Norway and Gassnova, and will start up with Elkem Rana and SMA Mineral in Mo Industrial Park.

Aker Carbon Capture will use its mobile test unit service, a unique offering with a fully functioning mobile carbon capture plant. The project is a collaboration between Mo Industripark AS, SINTEF, Elkem, Alcoa, Celsa, Ferroglobe, SMA Mineral, Norcem, Norfrakalk, Arctic Cluster Team and Aker Carbon Capture. In addition to Elkem Rana.

“The mobile test unit is for all practical purposes a large facility in miniature. It is very exciting that we can now follow up the feasibility study and test that the technology is also suitable for large-scale smelters,” says Jon Christopher Knudsen, Chief Commercial Officer in Aker Carbon Capture.

“It is necessary to cut carbon emissions. In addition, this project will create new jobs and ensure the competitiveness of the industry. This is also aligned with Mo Industrial Park’s sustainability strategy and the initiative will add important cutting-edge expertise to the region,” says Jan Gabor, Executive Vice President Property Development in Mo Industrial Park.

Elkem recently launched a global climate roadmap detailing how the company plans to reduce its total CO2 emissions while growing its supplies to the green transition.

“The test unit installation at Elkem Rana means that we are now moving one step forward. The work to be done in Rana will also be of great relevance to other plants both in Elkem and for other players in the industry,” says Trond Sæterstad, climate director in Elkem.
 

The third major test project in Norway

The two previous large test projects have been at Norcem in Brevik and Fortum Oslo Varme at Klemetsrud. Aker Carbon Capture's mobile test unit is a complete capture facility that can be transported by truck to locations around the world. In addition to Brevik and Klemetsrud, the facility has been in Risavika and Mongstad in Norway as well as Sweden, Scotland, USA and Poland, before the trip goes to Mo in the very north of Norway.

“Elkem and SMA Mineral are examples of a growing group of industrial players looking at carbon capture to cut emissions that cannot be replaced by renewable energy or energy efficiency. Aker Carbon Capture is already in the process of delivering the world's first carbon capture plant in the cement industry, and we look forward to start testing our market leading capture technology on emissions from smelters in the process industry, together with partners in Elkem and SMA Mineral,” says Jon Christopher Knudsen at Aker Carbon Capture.
 

Captures emissions from two different plants

The other company that will connect its flue gases to the treatment plant is SMA Mineral, which produces lime and dolomite. They see great opportunities to strengthen their position with carbon capture. “It is very exciting to be part of this project from the very beginning. We believe that results and experience from the test facility contribute to opportunities to reduce the climate footprint from the company's other factories,” says site manager at SMA Mineral in Mo i Rana Johnny Vangen

Mo Industrial Park will be the project owner and SINTEF will have a leading role in the project management of the program.

SINTEF has a leading role in the project. Research director Jack Ødegård points out that there are great opportunities for emission cuts related to world metal production. “In total the partners have identified 1.5 million tonnes of potential CO2 capture in the region. This corresponds to three percent of Norway's total emissions, and almost one third of the emissions from the metal industry,” says Jack Ødegård, Vice President Research in SINTEF.

The project has a total budget of NOK 23.6 million, of which Gassnova CLIMIT will contribute 13.8 million and the industry will contribute with the remaining amount.

Media contact:
Ivar Simensen, mob: +47 464 02 317, email: ivar.simensen@akerhorizons.com

Investor contacts:
David Phillips, mob: +44 7710 568279, email: david.phillips@akercarboncapture.com
Christian Yggeseth, mob: +47 915 10 000, email: christian.yggeseth@akerhorizons.com

Aker Carbon Capture is a pure-play carbon capture company with solutions, services and technologies serving a range of industries with carbon emissions, including the cement, bio and waste-to-energy, gas-to-power and blue hydrogen segments. Aker Carbon Capture’s proprietary, carbon-capture technology offers a unique, environmentally friendly solution for removing CO₂ emissions. 

Visit akercarboncapture.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see akercarboncapture.com.