Aluminium supplier Novelis has announced that it has successfully completed a full-scale hydrogen fuel switching demonstration at its Latchford plant, said to be the UK’s first in the aluminium industry.
The two-week trial, funded by the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) under the Industrial Fuel Switching (IFS) Competition, involved converting a natural gas furnace to operate flexibly on hydrogen.
The demonstration confirmed that hydrogen can be safely delivered and combusted in aluminium recycling furnaces. Existing infrastructure was successfully adapted, product quality remained consistent, and dual-fuel burners allowed for operational flexibility. Novelis partnered with Progressive Energy to deliver the project over a two-year period.
“This trial has been a major achievement for our team,” said Allan Sweeny, Plant Manager at Novelis Latchford. “It demonstrated that we can adapt our existing infrastructure to run on hydrogen without compromising safety, quality, or performance. It’s a practical step forward in reducing our site’s carbon footprint and preparing for a low-carbon future.”
Novelis said the trial underscored the need for robust infrastructure to support bulk hydrogen supply and distribution. It said mechanisms like the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreement (LCHA) are a positive start, but widespread transport and storage networks will be essential for industrial decarbonisation in the North-West. It said future deployment depends on connection to the HyNet hydrogen network, expected from 2031, or on-site electrolytic production.