Towards Green Aluminum

Abstract

Aluminum is an important metal to facilitate the energy transition. Its high strength to weight ratio and easy recyclability make it a useful material in many industries from automobiles to food packaging. However, the aluminum smelting process accounts for 2% of all global greenhouse gas emissions due to both the high amount of power needed to facilitate the electrolysis reaction and to the consumption of carbon anodes in the process. As regulatory changes in Europe raise the monetary cost of emitting carbon, smelters are investigating new technologies to integrate into their operations to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Two such technologies are carbon capture systems to abate process emissions and small modular nuclear reactors to reduce emissions incurred during electric power generation. This work explores the technical and economic feasibility of leveraging these systems at Aluminum of Europe, a primary aluminum smelter subject to these changing European regulations. Results suggest that while these technologies have not been specifically adapted for aluminum production yet, they can play an important role in reducing the overall emissions from the smelting process under specific economic conditions. However, the analysis indicates that, at present, significant subsidies are required for such projects to be financially viable.