UK’s First Hydrogen Fuel Switching Trial
Warrington, UK – Novelis Inc., the global leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, has successfully completed a full-scale hydrogen fuel switching trial at its Latchford site. The two-week programme, backed by the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), converted a natural gas furnace to operate flexibly on hydrogen.
Safe and Effective Transition to Hydrogen
“All existing infrastructure was successfully adapted, with no compromise on safety, quality, or performance,” said Allan Sweeny, Plant Manager at Novelis Latchford. The trial confirmed that hydrogen can be safely delivered and combusted in aluminium recycling furnaces, supported by dual-fuel burners to maintain operational flexibility.
Global Recognition at IEA Hydrogen Awards
The project earned international acclaim, winning the IEA Hydrogen TCP Award of Excellence 2025 in South Korea. Novelis was selected as the top project among 13 global entries, cementing its reputation as an innovator in hard-to-decarbonise industries.
Decarbonisation Potential and Infrastructure Needs
The successful trial gives Novelis confidence that up to 45,000 tonnes of direct CO₂ emissions could be eliminated annually at Latchford, pending hydrogen availability. Long-term deployment will depend on connection to the HyNet hydrogen network (expected 2031) or on-site electrolysis.
Investment in Recycling and Circularity
Alongside the hydrogen initiative, Novelis is investing $90 million to double its used beverage can (UBC) recycling capacity at Latchford. This expansion will add 85 kilotonnes per year and reduce CO₂e emissions across Europe by more than 350,000 tonnes annually.
Novelis’ 3×30 Vision and Long-Term Goals
As part of its sustainability strategy, Novelis aims to:
- Increase recycled content to 75% by 2030
- Reduce carbon emissions to less than 3 tonnes CO₂e per tonne of aluminium shipped
- Achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner
