Alunorf signs wind energy supply contract with ENGIE

Neuss/Berlin - Aluminium Norf GmbH (Alunorf) will purchase wind energy from five wind farms in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2022. To this end, the Neuss-based industrial company has concluded an energy supply contract, a so-called Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), with the energy company ENGIE. Around 28 million kilowatt hours will be called up depending on wind levels and the output of the turbines. Among other things, this amount can be used to fully operate four induction furnaces for melting aluminum chips, which are mainly used for can material. For the world's largest aluminum smelter and rolling mill, the move into wind energy is a further step toward continuously reducing its carbon footprint.

Producing aluminum in the most resource-efficient way possible

Alunorf aims to emit up to 30 percent less CO2 than in 2015 by 2026 - and has also anchored this as a core target in its corporate strategy. "Aluminum is an indispensable basic material for the energy and mobility revolution. Starting material cast in Norf is used to make lightweight car body parts and battery foils or components for wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, among other things. We see it as our responsibility to produce the aluminum we need in the most resource-conserving way possible," says Oliver Hommel, commercial director.

The decisive lever for this is recycling. Here, Alunorf has recently set important milestones with investments in an intelligent logistics and charging system ("Batch Intelligence System - BIS") and a third recycling furnace. "As an energy-intensive industrial company, we are also looking at alternatives to electricity supply and gas as an energy source for furnaces," says Oliver Hommel. 

Maintaining existing capacities for sustainable energy in the region

It was obvious for Alunorf to enter the wind energy supply business now: The wind farms in Krefeld, Viersen, Düren and Baesweiler ran until recently under the EEG subsidy. Since this has expired, the capacities were available. "It was important to us to focus on plants in the surrounding area in order to maintain the resources for green energy in the region," says Oliver Hommel.

"The targeted delivery volume over the one-year period is very well suited for adding wind power to our existing portfolio in the short term. In 2022, we will test how the product fits our needs and how fluctuations in supply will be affected. We will use this experience to build a strategy on how to continuously and sustainably increase the share of renewables in our power portfolio," says Oliver Hommel.

"We are pleased to be able to accompany Alunorf on the way to achieving their CO2 targets with a green power supply agreement. Power Purchase Agreements are an excellent way to save CO2 with a view to the environment and profitability. As an energy-intensive and locally rooted manufacturing company, Alunorf has special needs that we, as energy managers, took into full consideration when designing the PPA to find the best solution," says Julia Schlafmann, Senior Originator at ENGIE.