Norway's Elkem to invest in emissions-efficient infrastructure
Elkem has announced NOK 140 million (€138.5 million) in investments in new infrastructure at its production site in Rana, Norway, enabling usage of wood chips as biocarbon.
Elkem aims to increase its share of emissions based on renewable biogenic sources to 40% by 2030. The company has already reached 20% of direct CO2 emissions based on renewable biogenic sources in Norway in 2020. The nature of the sources makes these emissions carbon neutral.
“This investment in infrastructure for wood chips at Elkem Rana constitutes an attractive opportunity to both improve furnace operating yield and reduce CO2 and NOx emissions through increased use of biocarbon. The investment will increase Elkem Rana’s biogenic share and reduce NOx emissions. The reduction in NOx is similar to removing close to 20,000 diesel cars from the road. Our long-term goal is to grow the biocarbon share towards 40%,” says Inge A. Grubben-Strømnes, SVP for Silicon Products in Elkem.
“The Elkem Rana plant is already based on renewable hydropower and the energy recovery represents approximately 15% of the electricity input. With today’s new investment, we secure another important upgrade of our production facility in Rana, that contribute to the modernisation of production in terms of improved safety, increased capacity and lower emissions,” says Frode Johan Berg, plant manager at Elkem Rana.
Elkem Rana provides speciality and standard ferrosilicon products to the global steel market, as well as Elkem Microsilica, a key ingredient in many advanced construction materials.
Gold by EcoVadis
Elkem, employing over 6,800 people worldwide, is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw materials, renewable energy and human ingenuity.
Elkem has a broad approach to environmentally friendly material and metal production, including through several biocarbon initiatives around the world.
In 2020, Elkem decided to invest in a new biocarbon pilot plant in Canada. Elkem is also involved in work to develop competitive and sustainable sources of biocarbon as well as longer-term R&D projects. In 2019, Elkem’s plant in Paraguay achieved 100% sustainable biocarbon in its production of ferrosilicon as a pioneer plant in Elkem and the metals industry.
In 2020, Elkem was awarded a Gold level rating by EcoVadis for the company’s sustainability performance and corporate social responsibility and an A-rating from CDP, ranking Elkem among the world’s leading companies on climate transparency and action.
Back to Homepage
Back to Chemicals & Biochemicals
Back to Construction & Engineering