On 29 August 2025, the aluminium processing industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace was successfully launched at Foshan Xianhu Laboratory. Using ammonia as fuel, the equipment achieves zero-carbon operation in the heating stage of aluminium processing and can replace conventional natural-gas-fired multi-billet furnaces.
To showcase this major breakthrough, the “Launch of the Aluminium Processing Industry’s First Zero-Carbon Ammonia-Fuelled Aluminium Billet Heating Furnace” was held at Foshan Xianhu Laboratory under the guidance of the China Nonferrous Metals Fabrication Industry Association and co-hosted by Foshan Xianhu Laboratory and Guangdong Yilike Energy-Saving Technology Co., Ltd. The team of Academician Cheng Yibing of the laboratory officially launched the equipment and technology at the event, which was chaired by Xue Bofei, Deputy Director of the laboratory.
The aluminium processing industry is an important basic industry of the national economy and a pillar industry of Foshan and Nanhai, as well as a key area of energy consumption and carbon emissions. In aluminium profile production, billet heating accounts for a high share of energy consumption, and conventional natural-gas heating is carbon-intensive; achieving zero-carbon conversion of this stage is of great significance to the green development of the whole industry. To this end, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory joined Guangdong Yilike Energy-Saving Technology Co., Ltd. and other organizations in a joint R&D project. Drawing on its research in zero-carbon combustion and high-temperature industry, it successfully developed the industry’s first zero-carbon combustion thermal equipment for aluminium billet heating, the “zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace”, truly achieving zero-carbon operation in the heating stage of aluminium processing.
At the event, guests first visited the pilot platform of the Zero-Carbon Combustion Center to see the zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace in operation. The furnace uses ammonia as fuel, and its high-power pure-ammonia burner delivers a stable zero-carbon flame. The equipment offers excellent heating performance and temperature uniformity, operates with zero carbon emissions and no sulphur oxides or soot, and its nitrogen oxide emissions are far below the national ultra-low standard. Many enterprise representatives considered it to have potential for large-scale deployment.
During the launch, Academician Cheng Yibing, chief scientist of the joint R&D project, officially released the zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace and related technologies. He noted that ammonia is an ideal zero-carbon fuel to replace fossil energy, with advantages such as convenient storage and transport and strong compatibility with existing infrastructure. The team had previously built the world’s first demonstration mass-production line for ammonia–hydrogen zero-carbon combustion technology in the ceramics industry; this breakthrough in aluminium processing means that both of Foshan’s two major high-temperature manufacturing industries now have zero-carbon industrialization technologies and a viable path to green development.
Zhou Houhong, Chairman of Guangdong Yilike, shared the history of the industry–university–research collaboration on behalf of the enterprise. He said that the success of the zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace came from Foshan Xianhu Laboratory’s deep theoretical foundation and strong R&D capability combined with Yilike’s deep understanding and pursuit of production processes. This fully demonstrates that combining scientific research with engineering practice, and deeply integrating fundamental innovation with industrial application, is the most effective way to overcome key core technologies and accelerate the translation of research results. The billet heating furnace is now ready for small-batch production; in line with open cooperation and mutual benefit, the partners will work with more enterprises to build zero-carbon combustion demonstration production lines, continually improve the technology in practice, jointly develop industry standards, and together drive a revolutionary optimization of the energy structure of the entire aluminium processing industry.
Wang Zhifang, Deputy Party Secretary of Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, delivered remarks on behalf of the laboratory. He said that, as an important force in national scientific and technological innovation, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory has always been guided by national strategic needs and focused on zero-carbon combustion technology, providing technical support for the green and low-carbon transition of industry. The successful development of the industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace with Guangdong Yilike Energy-Saving Technology Co., Ltd. is a milestone beginning; the laboratory will continue to improve its technology system, advance standardization, build an ammonia–hydrogen energy industry ecosystem and expand into more high-temperature industrial sectors.
Xu Tong, Vice Mayor of Foshan, congratulated the organizers on the successful launch and affirmed the project’s demonstration value for the green development of local industry. She stressed that, as an important national manufacturing base, Foshan faces a demanding transition in its energy-intensive industries. The zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace is the first successful application of ammonia–hydrogen zero-carbon combustion technology in metal processing, offering a Foshan solution and Foshan wisdom for exploring carbon peaking and carbon neutrality pathways in high-temperature industry. The government will continue to support the deployment of green innovative technologies through policy guidance, project support and standard setting, and encourage more enterprises to take part in the development and application of zero-carbon technologies, helping traditional manufacturing gain green momentum.
After the launch, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory held a technical exchange symposium with aluminium processing enterprises. Dr Zhou Jiwei of Foshan Xianhu Laboratory introduced the equipment, explaining that it uses the integrated “multi-stage preheating + staged combustion + intelligent temperature control” system independently developed by Foshan Xianhu Laboratory and already meets the requirements of demonstration production for the billet heating process. The project team also answered enterprises’ questions on ammonia fuel safety, operation and maintenance, and the supply chain, explaining that ammonia fuel can operate with high safety under strict safety procedures, that the existing equipment supports automated control and remote monitoring, and that Foshan and Guangzhou have already established ammonia–hydrogen energy supply chains, providing a basis for wider use of the equipment.
All parties agreed that the launch of the zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace is not only a technological breakthrough but also shows that the aluminium processing industry can fully achieve deep decarbonization through zero-carbon energy.
Going forward, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory will continue to focus on zero-carbon technology R&D, step up the development and improvement of its zero-carbon combustion technology system, strengthen collaboration among government, industry, academia, research and users, advance zero-carbon combustion standards, demonstration line construction and commercialization, build a technology innovation platform with global influence, and contribute to China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
References:
[Science and Technology Daily] Successfully developed! Multiple technical challenges overcome
[Science and Technology Daily] Industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace successfully developed
[Southern Daily] Two industry firsts, right here in Nanhai, Foshan!
[Foshan Media Center] Key breakthrough in the green transition of aluminium processing! Industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace launched in Nanhai, Foshan
[Foshan Media Center] Industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace born in Nanhai
[New Express] Industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace launched in Nanhai, Foshan
[Guangzhou Daily] Major breakthrough for the aluminium processing industry! First zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace launched in Nanhai, Foshan
[Information Times] Industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace launched in Nanhai, Foshan
[Nanhai Media] Major breakthrough! Industry’s first zero-carbon ammonia-fuelled aluminium billet heating furnace born in Nanhai
Foshan Xianhu Laboratory news link
Source: Foshan Xianhu Laboratory website