Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Aluminum production is among the most energy-intensive industries and accounts for one percent of total global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The ongoing increase in world aluminum demand means that this industry’s energy use and CO2 emissions will continue to grow. There is significant incentive to develop, commercialize and adopt emerging energy efficiency and CO2 emissions-reduction technologies for aluminium production. Although studies from around the world have identified a wide range of energy efficiency technologies applicable to the aluminum industry that have already been commercialized, information is limited and/or scattered regarding emerging or advanced energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies that are not yet commercialized. This report consolidates available information on 10 emerging aluminum industry technologies, with the intent of providing a well-structured database of information on these technologies for engineers, researchers, investors, aluminum companies, policy makers, university students, and other interested parties. For each technology included, we provide information on energy savings and environmental and other benefits, costs, and commercialization status; we also identify references for more information.