Elkem to pilot world's first carbon capture for silicon smelters

Norwegian industrial materials producer Elkem is set to test the world’s first carbon capture pilot for silicon smelters in Rana, Norway, following the company's recent climate roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions.

Formed as part of a collaboration between Elkem and a number of key industry players and institutions, such as Mo Industripark, SINTEF and Alcoa, the test unit will be used to produce high purity ferrosilicon and microsilica.

Read more: World's largest carbon capture plant opens in Iceland

In addition, emissions from SMA Mineral will also gradually enter the treatment plant. Aker Carbon Capture delivers the test unit, which is the only one of its kind in Norway.

The project is supported through the CLIMIT-Demo program, by state enterprise Gassnova -  Norway’s national programme for research, development and demonstration of CO2 capture and storage technology.

The main goal of the project is to verify the technology on real industrial exhaust gases from smelters, in order to prepare a full-scale plant for industrial carbon capture. The program runs for over two years.

“Elkem aims to be part of the solution to combat climate change – and to be one of the winners in the green transition. Our mission is to provide advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future,” said Elkem’s CEO Helge Aasen.

Elkem recently launched a global climate roadmap detailing how the company plans to reduce its total CO2 emissions by 28% from 2020-31 while growing its supplies to the green transition, thereby delivering a 39% improvement of its product carbon footprint in the same period.

The company has also launched a feasibility study into the use of carbon capture technology in the hopes of scaling it up to its other plants in Norway.

“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,” said Trond Sæterstad, climate director in Elkem.

Read more: HeidelbergCement to pilot carbon capture project in Poland

The various partners on the project have reportedly identified 1.5 million tonnes of carbon capture potential in the Mo Industrial Park region alone, equating to roughly 3% of Norway's total emissions.

In all, the project has been allocated NOK 23.6 million (€24.1 million) in funding, with a little over half being supplied by Gassnova, with industry expected to generate the remaining funds.

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