Project MetZero (Metallurgy Net Zero) is an industrial pilot plant initiative located at the Øra industrial cluster in Fredrikstad, Norway. The project is designed to advance the decarbonization of the European metallurgical industry by producing a high-quality, agglomerated biocarbon made from recycled wood waste. The facility is also integrated into a circular industrial ecosystem, with neighboring companies set to utilize excess heat from the plant.

MetZero exemplifies how industrial innovation, circular resource use, and strategic partnerships can come together to meet Europe’s climate goals and create a resilient, low-carbon supply chain for critical raw materials.

The plant will produce approximately 10 000 tonnes of agglomerated biocarbon annually, replacing fossil-based reductants traditionally used in the production of critical materials such as silicon and manganese. These materials are vital for technologies like solar panels, electric vehicle batteries, and wind turbines. With its high carbon content, Cruda offers a cleaner, more efficient alternative to metallurgical coal.

The project is the result of a value chain collaboration between NG Nordic, a leading Nordic waste management and circular solutions provider, and Standard Bio, a Norwegian company specializing in biocarbon technology and equipment. This collaboration resulted in Cruda, who is developing the agglomerated product, will operate the plant and oversee the entire production process—from feedstock preparation and pyrolysis to agglomeration and quality assurance.