STAS unequivocally supports the development of ELYSIS technology. 

STAS unequivocally supports the development of ELYSIS technology. 

The announcement made, April 20, 2021, is a big step towards green, eco-responsible aluminum produced without greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). We are grateful that the first industrial-sized cell demonstration will be built here in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. It will be a great opportunity for STAS – and indeed all Quebec-based equipment manufacturers – to play an important role in the development of this new disruptive technology.

We invite you to read the following article on Elysis’ announcement from a local newspaper. 

In french : https://informeaffaires.com/regional/aluminium/technologie-elysis-le-sneaa-annonce-ses-couleurs

Traduction

ALUMINUM

QUEBEC INVESTS $20M | ELYSIS ARRIVES IN ALMA

APril 20, 2021  

ELYSIS TO BUILD COMMERCIAL-SIZE FACILITIES AT THE END OF ONE OF THE POTLINES AT THE RIO TINTO PLANT IN ALMA. APRIL 2021

AUTHOR

Guy Bouchard

SAGUENAY – This morning, the Quebec government announced financial support to ELYSIS in the order of $20 million to accelerate the development of aluminum electrolysis technology without greenhouse gas emissions. Commercial-sized facilities will be built at the end of one of Rio Tinto’s Alma Plant potlines. The choice of the Alma site was based on the plant’s 450,000-ampere capacity cells, one of the most commonly used in aluminum smelters.

The joint venture – created by Alcoa and Rio Tinto – will benefit from the assistance of the Government of Quebec to advance in the industrial scale demonstration of this technology. According to the ELYSIS press release, the financial aid granted will be used to finance the development of new equipment needed for the project, and to speed up work after temporary shutdowns due to COVID-19. The initiative will also allow Quebec equipment manufacturers to play an even more important role in the development, manufacture, and marketing of key equipment required by ELYSIS technology. The first ingots are expected to be cast in 2024.

A question of green aluminum

The announcement was made at the Théâtre Palace, in the presence of the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon, accompanied by the Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Benoit Charette, and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister Responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Region, Andrée Laforest. “Quebec is renowned globally for its green aluminum. We want to develop a technology here in the Saguenay to produce aluminum without greenhouse gas emissions. ELYSIS occupies the world’s leading position in the race for the development of this technology. Our contribution will accelerate its development, while maximizing economic spinoffs in Quebec,” said Pierre Fitzgibbon.

“The goal of ELYSIS’s technology is to completely eliminate greenhouse gas emissions during aluminum production. This kind of innovative research project helps build a green and resilient economy and is part of our response to the challenges of fighting climate change. If all Quebec aluminum smelters adopted this technology, it is estimated that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could amount to nearly 5 million metric tonnes in Quebec alone. Imagine if that happened all around the world,” added Benoit Charrette.

“Ultimately, the success of the ELYSIS project will enable Quebec – and in particular, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean – to strengthen its leadership position in relation to global competition. ELYSIS’s business model will consist of selling the technology to global primary aluminum producers and generating recurring revenue from royalties on the sale of electrodes required by the producers,” said Andrée Laforest.