Most of Rio’s emissions come from metal processing such as aluminium refining, while mining accounts for only 20% of total emissions. Credit: Rio Tinto.

Rio Tinto and Japan’s Sumitomo are planning a A$111m ($74.10m) hydrogen demonstration project to reduce CO₂ emissions at the Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.

Supported by A$32.1m in co-funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the Yarwun hydrogen calcination pilot demonstration programme will involve demonstrating the viability of hydrogen usage in the calcination process, where hydrated alumina is heated to up to 1,000°C.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

As part of the project, the companies will build a 2.5MW on-site electrolyser to supply hydrogen to the Yarwun refinery. The partners will also retrofit one of four calciners at the refinery so that it can operate at times with a hydrogen burner.

Rio Tinto expects the trial to produce the equivalent of 6,000tpa of alumina while cutting CO₂ emissions by 3,000tpa.

Rio Tinto aluminium pacific operations managing director Armando Torres said: “This pilot plant is an important step in testing whether hydrogen can replace natural gas in Queensland alumina refineries.”

In a press statement, Rio Tinto stated: “Converting the entire plant to green hydrogen could reduce emissions by 500,000tpa, which is the equivalent of taking about 109,000 internal combustion engine cars off the road.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Sumitomo will be responsible for the operation of the electrolyser, which will have a production capacity of more than 250tpa of hydrogen at the Yarwun site. The Japanese company will also supply the hydrogen to Rio Tinto directly.

The partners plan to commence construction of the project in 2024. The hydrogen plant and calciner are scheduled to be commissioned by 2025.

Sumitomo Corporation Energy Innovation Initiative director Seiji Kitajima said “Through this demonstration, Sumitomo Corporation aims to venture into the commercialisation project to contribute to Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation.”