Eramet Norway Launches Pilot Plant Utilising Furnace Gas and Hydrogen

• Furnace gas power plant supported by Enova’s Industrial Pilot Program
• Recovery and utilisation of furnace gas from ferromanganese processing plant (previously flared)
• Supporting Eramet’s CSR strategy to reduce CO2 emissions of outgoing products by 25% per ton by 2023

In 2019, Eramet Norway launched a new project, NewERA ERU, to improve its climate footprint using furnace gas for an energy recovery and transformation system.

Eramet Norway Sauda signed a contract with Clarke Energy in France to install a gas engine, called an Energy Recovery Unit (ERU). This unit will use furnace gas to produce electric and thermal energy. The project has also received the support of the Norwegian authorities.

The project, supported by Enova’s industrial pilot programme Enova’s industrial pilot programme, aims to recover about 250 GWh/y in electrical and thermal energy, thereby reducing the energy loss of >30%.

 “The project, supported by Enova’s industrial pilot programme, aims to recover about 250 GWh in electrical and thermal energy, thereby increasing the plant’s energy efficiency by 40%. The recovered electrical energy alone corresponds to the consumption of approximately 5,000 households. This investment will safeguard our position as the world’s largest and most climate friendly producer of refined manganese alloys.”
Tor-Erik Tvedt, Sauda Plant Director.

The production of Ferromangese, results in a gas with a high H2 and CO content.

This project is part of Eramet Norway’s NewERA program, which aims to develop and implement more environmentally friendly technologies: furnace gas energy recovery and reduce the use of electricity.

This pilot project is fully in line with the Group’s CSR strategy and Eramet Norway’s target to capture >43% CO2 within 2030 and neutral within 2050.

ERU is a pilot project: if the tests confirm the expected results, it could lay the foundation for a plant built on a more eco-responsible and sustainable model.

After one year of operation the pilot plant has reached +8000 operating hours.

The site of Eramet, refine natural resources efficiently, create jobs locally and reduce emissions globally.