Rio Tinto, Sumitomo: Hydrogen Pilot to Cut Alumina Refining Emissions

• Sumitomo Corporation and Rio Tinto partner with Australian Government's ARENA to build 2.5 MW on-site electrolyzer in Yarwun plant, Gladstone, Australia. This project is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 3,000 tonnes per year and provide an opportunity for the use of hydrogen in calcination process at scale globally. Construction to begin in 2024 and complete by 2025.

Sumitomo Corporation and the Australian Government's ARENA are partnering with Rio Tinto in this project to build a 2.5 MW on-site electrolyzer to supply hydrogen to the alumina refining process at the Yarwun plant in Gladstone, Australia. The trial is expected to result in a reduction of up to 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year and pave the way to the use of hydrogen in the calcination process at scale globally. Construction of the hydrogen plant and retrofit of the processing equipment at the refinery is due to begin in 2024 and be completed by 2025.

What Benefits Will Sumitomo, ARENA, and Rio Tinto Reap?

• Sumitomo Corporation will benefit from being able to commercialize an innovative and low-carbon hydrogen-based technology with Rio Tinto's support.
• ARENA will benefit from helping to promote the further development of the hydrogen economy in Australia.
• Rio Tinto will benefit from being able to reduce CO2 emissions from its alumina production and potentially reduce costs associated with the production process. Additionally, Rio Tinto will gain knowledge and experience to facilitate the adoption of hydrogen-based technologies in its operations at other facilities.