The aluminium industry has a ‘crucial role’ to play in industrial decarbonisation, with similar emissions reduction pathways to steel, copper, container glass and PVC, a new study has claimed.
The study, Decarbonisation Pathways in Aluminium Vs. Competing Materials, which was commissioned by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) and conducted by Eunomia, found that a combination of renewable energy and increased recycling will be the primary driver of emissions reductions for aluminium.
Decarbonising electricity
In 2020, 65% of aluminium’s emissions and 60% of copper’s emissions came from electricity consumption, highlighting the importance of decarbonising the electrical grid.
The study also underscores regional challenges and opportunities in decarbonisation, noting that North America faces infrastructure gaps in post-consumer recycling, while China’s continued reliance on coal poses a major obstacle to decarbonising aluminium and steel, despite ongoing efforts to transition towards cleaner energy sources.
In Latin America, meanwhile, copper mining emissions represent a ‘major opportunity’ for global impact through cleaner extraction methods.
According to the report, aluminium boasts one of the strongest potential pathways to net-zero emissions due to its mature recycling infrastructure and the availability of low-carbon technologies.
However, achieving full decarbonisation will require scaling up renewable electricity sources, particularly in coal-reliant regions; investments in anode replacement technologies to further reduce process emissions; and expansion of global recycling infrastructure, among other measures.
‘A leading material’
“This study reinforces aluminium’s potential as a leading material in the low-carbon transition,” commented Marlen Bertram, IAI’s director of forecasts and scenarios. “By addressing electricity decarbonisation, collection and sorting of scrap and investing in new technologies, aluminium can set a benchmark for industrial sustainability.”
According to IAI data, recent years have seen a decrease in primary aluminium emissions, from 16.8 tonnes per tonne of primary aluminium in 2019 to 14.8 tonnes in 2023.
“As industries work towards net zero, it’s evident that aluminium has a significant head start due to its strong recycling infrastructure and existing technological solutions,” Bertram added. “Scaling these efforts globally is the next crucial step.” Read more here.
