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NEWS ABOUT DECARBONIZATION, ALUMINIUM & ENERGY

BETD CONFERENCE IN BERLIN GERMANY 2024

with over 2,000 Officials and Executives from the Energy Sector of the World

Video of the Presentation

TMS CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO FEBRUARY 2024

with many Experts and Executives from the Aluminium Industry of the World

Invited Keynote Presentation from Dr. Martin Iffert:

Aluminium Smelters as Catalysts for the Energy Transition - Empowering Renewable Energy Transport and Advancing Grid Decarbonization

For over a century, aluminum smelters have been utilized as a means to unlock hidden energy potentials by harnessing abundant resources such as hydro power, lignite, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy. Aluminum, an energy carrier, has facilitated the transportation of otherwise stranded energy to various locations. In the present era, with the pressing need to address climate change, aluminum is poised to play a pivotal role in the energy transition and the attainment of net-zero targets. Beyond its applications in numerous clean tech solutions, aluminum holds the potential to revolutionize the transport of renewable energies across continents, while flexible aluminum smelters can aid in the transformation of power grids. This abstract explores the historical significance of aluminum smelters as energy enablers, highlights their renewed relevance in the context of climate change, and emphasizes the role of aluminum in facilitating the energy transition..

Presentation as pdf

ICSOBA CONFERENCE IN DUBAI NOVEMBER 2023

with more than 500 Experts and Executives from the Aluminium Industry of the World

Invited Keynote Presentation from Dr. Martin Iffert:

The Decarbonisation Journey of the Aluminium Industry – Opportunities and Challenges to Achieve Net-Zero

The aluminium industry plays a critical role in the decarbonisation of many sectors of society, but it is also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. The challenge for the industry is to continue enabling positive developments while minimising negative environmental impacts. The production process for aluminium generates three primary sources of GHG emissions: CO₂ emissions from electricity production for the electrolysis process (65 %), direct emissions from the smelting process (12 %), and fuel consumption for calcination, melting, and heating purposes (23 %). However, decarbonisation of the entire supply chain through renewable energies, biomaterials, inert anodes, carbon capture and storage (CCS) etc., is possible. The paper provides a high-level overview of the steps, costs, and necessary policies to transform the aluminium industry to become carbon-neutral and achieve Net-Zero solutions. Furthermore, aluminium has the potential as an energy carrier due to its energy density, transport safety and economics, and storage capacity. The industry can contribute to the fight against climate change and help decarbonize society by providing massive amounts of aluminium required for Net-Zero emissions in transport, energy generation/storage/distribution, building, and packaging. Aluminium is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust, and its exploration is less abrasive to the environment than the extraction of alternative metals (e.g., copper). Aluminium smelters can help to transport renewable energy via aluminium instead of hydrogen, making it relevant for new greenfield smelters or regions with potential surplus renewable energies. The paper also highlights the low-carbon aluminium trends and industry targets, such as establishing a green premium for low-carbon aluminium products. However, accounting loopholes and relabelling of renewable electricity may hinder the creation of a substantial low-carbon aluminium premium early in the cycle.

Video of the Presentation

Presentation as pdf

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