Hydro has entered a three-year agreement with Shell Energy, aimed at advancing its sustainability initiatives and decarbonising its operations in the UK. The comprehensive contract encompasses an annual supply of 56 GWh of electricity and 144 GWh of gas to Hydro’s facilities located in the United Kingdom. As a result of this collaboration, Hydro is poised to significantly reduce its Scope 2 emissions in the UK, amounting to a noteworthy reduction of 11,000 tons of CO2 annually.
Notably, this partnership also entails the provision of renewable electricity sourced from the Rhyl Flats windfarm in Wales. Situated approximately 8 kilometres off the coast of Llandudno, this windfarm boasts 25 turbines and ranks as the second largest windfarm in Wales, boasting an impressive installed capacity of 90 MWh.
Hydro has been diligently working towards enhancing its sustainability profile and currently offers some of the most eco-friendly aluminium products available under the Hydro Recycled Aluminium and Hydro Low-Carbon Aluminium brands. Through the recycling of aluminium components derived from sources such as old windows and car parts, Hydro has managed to maintain an impressively low carbon footprint for Hydro Recycled Aluminium, registering at just 2.3 kilos of CO2 per kilo of aluminium. This figure represents less than one-third of the average carbon footprint associated with aluminium consumption across Europe.
“We are always looking for new and innovative solutions to decarbonise our own operations. This is considered a board level priority, so when it came to finding the perfect energy partner for our UK operations, we were looking for a long-term partner that could support our transition to net-zero. Shell Energy demonstrated extensive understanding of our business, our sector and our ambitious decarbonisation roadmap,” says Lars Lysbakken, Energy Portfolio Manager at Hydro.
With a commitment to environmental best practise, Hydro is working hard to accelerate its green transition, with the ultimate target to become net-zero by 2050. Hydro’s Operational Sustainability Roadmap sets stringent targets when it comes to reducing carbon, energy, waste and water, with zero waste to landfill. The adoption of electric forklifts, automated cooling towers, energy harvesting and a pioneering air leak programme are all planned for implementation by 2025.
The Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin from the Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm was an important part of the agreement. Hydro is committed to using less energy and it is important that the operations will now be powered entirely by renewable electricity.
“Rather than a transactional agreement, we see our contracts as long-term strategic collaborations, an opportunity to accelerate our customers’ journeys to net-zero. In the case of Hydro, we were able to offer a solution that is perfectly aligned to its Operational Sustainability Roadmap. We are looking forward to working in close partnership with the team in the long-term to offer our knowledge, guidance and support,” says Greg Kavanagh, Head of Industrial & Commercial Sales at Shell Energy.
