Hydro achieves significant progress in zero-emission aluminum production technology
October 20, 2026
According to the Hydro official website, Hydro has for the first time produced aluminum using its new HalZero electrolysis technology. This milestone marks an important step for Hydro in developing a new primary aluminum production process and achieving the goal of net-zero emissions.
Since 2016, Hydro's technical team has been working on developing the HalZero technology, which is a completely new primary aluminum production process that is expected to replace the currently widely used technology, which was first patented in 1886. The core of this new technology lies in converting alumina into aluminum chloride before electrolysis, with the entire process aimed at maintaining a closed loop of chlorine and carbon. Its long-term goal is to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from the electrolysis and anode production processes and replace carbon dioxide with oxygen.
Hydro's research and testing center in Herøya, Norway, on the Bospengerug, was the first to successfully produce metal using the chlorinated aluminum. This testing center was funded by the state-owned enterprise Enova under the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment. Enova allocated 141 million Norwegian kroner for the construction and operation of the center in 2023. The testing center began operation in January 2026 to test various process steps in the HalZero technology.
The main process flow of HalZero is currently being tested at the Bospengerug factory. At this stage, the production process still generates carbon dioxide.
Enova has now added an additional 82 million Norwegian kroner for the next phase of development of this project.
