Hydro invests in Verdox

Hydro invests in carbon capture company Verdox to eliminate emissions from aluminium production.

Hydro is investing USD 20 million in U.S. company Verdox, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) spin-off, commercialising an all-electric carbon removal technology applicable both for capturing emissions from aluminium production and directly from air.

“A key part of our sustainability ambitions is to reduce emissions from our aluminium smelters. Hydro is well placed to be an active shareholder and contribute competence and experience that will add value to Verdox. The cooperation will speed up the decarbonisation of our smelters,” says Eivind Kallevik, Executive Vice President of Aluminium Metal in Hydro.

Hydro and Verdox entered into a collaboration in early 2021. The technology has been tested to assess its applicability to capturing the CO₂ in the off gas of Hydro’s primary aluminium smelter technology, and early results are very promising. The next phase of collaboration includes testing and piloting of the technology at Hydro’s aluminium smelters with the goal of reaching industrial scale by 2030. Following the USD 20 million investment, Hydro will have a minority ownership position.

Potential to capture both industrial off-gas emissions and removing CO2 directly from air
Verdox is commercialising an all-electric carbon capture technology that can capture carbon emissions both from industrial off-gas and directly from air. Where other carbon capture solutions rely on thermal, pressure or heating and cooling of liquid substances, Verdox’s technology is fully electric and expected to be highly energy efficient.

Illustration of how the technology will work. Verdox aluminium carbon capture technology will capture the CO₂ in industrial offgas from Hydro’s aluminium smelters via electro swing adsobtion and make the CO₂ available for storage. Where other carbon capture solutions rely on thermal, pressure or heating and cooling of liquid substances, Verdox’s technology is fully electric, enabling the system to run entirely on renewable energy and avoid further emissions.

Hydro’s studies have shown that capturing CO₂ directly from the off-gas can eliminate most of the direct emissions from the aluminium smelting process. The remaining emissions can be removed through a direct air capture system connected to the plant.

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