Novelis Commissions First Electric Pusher Furnace at Sierre Plant

On June 11, 2026, Novelis Inc. announced the commissioning of its first electric pusher furnace at its Sierre plant in Switzerland. This move marks a significant step towards Novelis's goal of achieving lower-carbon aluminium production. The electric furnace is expected to reduce energy consumption by about 25% compared to a traditional gas furnace.

This development aligns with Novelis's 3x30 decarbonization strategy, aiming for carbon-neutral operations. By shifting from natural gas to electricity, Novelis anticipates cutting emissions by 4,500 tonnes of CO2eq annually. The transition affects Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, with the local Swiss power mix contributing to a net reduction in total emissions.

The initiative is part of the Net Zero Lab Valais project, launched in collaboration with OIKEN and HES-SO Valais-Wallis. Furthermore, Novelis aims to expand the city's district heating system to supply up to 30% of Sierre's energy needs, utilizing waste heat from their aluminium casting process.