A significant international award for our anodising plant

Mäkelä Alu’s energy renewal project at its anodising plant has been recognised as the national winner in the Outstanding Projects category at the international Net-Zero Industries Award! The award ceremony was held on 18 November, at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Net-Zero Industries Award is an international competition that recognises and honours significant innovations in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in industry. The competition highlights individuals and projects that are revolutionising energy-intensive industries and making substantial contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Outstanding Projects category sought initiatives that transform industry, challenge prevailing practices, and set new standards for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

We are extremely proud that our work towards carbon neutrality is being recognised internationally in this way.

Details about the award-winning project

Over a four-year period, we completely renewed the energy system of our anodising plant. The results have exceeded our expectations: exceptional energy efficiency and 100% carbon neutrality just one small step away! We provided more detailed information about the project in an article published last autumn, which you can find here: Our anodising plant takes a big step towards carbon neutrality.

“We’ve managed to reduce the plant’s annual liquefied gas consumption of approximately 300 tonnes to less than a tenth of that. At the same time, the plant’s CO2 emissions have decreased dramatically – by about 700 tonnes per year – and the plant’s operational reliability has improved,” says Tomi Pilbacka, Development Director at Mäkelä Alu.

Gas consumption has been reduced to such a low level that switching to biogas will be possible within a few years. Once this transition is made, the energy system of the anodising plant will become completely carbon neutral.

The project was implemented in collaboration with Finnish technology companies, with local partners and our own staff playing a major role in its execution. The expertise gained from this project has already enabled us to identify numerous new opportunities to reduce emissions in our production. Since then, other energy efficiency projects have also been carried out, including at the Voikkaa paint shop and the Luoma-aho foundry.

In the main photo: personnel from our anodising plant.