In pursuing a more sustainable future, the global aluminium value chain stands at a critical crossroads, with technology emerging as a beacon of hope and catalyst for positive change. The aluminium industry, a cornerstone of modern manufacturing, faces a pressing need for innovation to mitigate its environmental impact and contribute to a greener world.
Digitalisation plays a pivotal role in optimising the entire value chain. Smart manufacturing processes enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) allow for real-time monitoring and control, enhancing efficiency while minimising waste. Predictive analytics can anticipate equipment failures, reducing downtime and resource wastage. This improves operational efficiency and contributes to resource conservation, a critical aspect of sustainable production.
Technology continues to drive progress in the transportation sector, where aluminium is a key component in lightweight vehicles for fuel efficiency.
Circular economy principles, crucial for sustainability, are also bolstered by technology. Advanced sorting and recycling technologies enable the recovery of aluminium from end-of-life products with greater efficiency. Robotics and automation enhance the sorting process, ensuring a higher purity of recycled aluminium and reducing the need for energy-intensive primary production.
Furthermore, innovations in renewable energy sources contribute to greening the energy-intensive processes within the aluminium value chain. Integrating solar, wind, and hydropower technologies into aluminium production facilities reduces dependence on fossil fuels, mitigating environmental impact and aligning with global efforts to transition to clean energy.
Several groundbreaking sustainable initiatives have profoundly impacted the worldwide aluminium industry. Here, we highlight some of the most notable ones:
Chinese high-strength aluminium alloys producer Binzhou Regal joins ASI
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced the joining of Binzhou Beihai Regal Advanced Material Co., Ltd. as a new Production and Transformation member. Established in 2017, Binzhou Beihai Regal Advanced Material Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanxi Regal Metal New Materials Co., Ltd. The company producer high-strength aluminium alloys, rare earth aluminium alloys, high thermal conductivity aluminium alloys, and high-temperature-resistant aluminium alloys. Binzhou Beihai Regal Advanced Material is located strategically close to the Bohai Bay, Beihai New District, 20 kilometres away from Binzhou Port and 6 kilometres from Dongfeng Port. Thus, it has convenient transportation and good connectivity with East China, South China, and Northeast China. Binzhou Regal sources high-quality electrolytic aluminium water from Weiqiao Group and uses transfer packages to direct electrolytic aluminium water, saving melting time, energy consumption, and reducing costs.
Hitachi takes a pledge to use only “green aluminium” for its Japan-made products
Hitachi has pledged to make all its products in Japan from “green aluminium” produced through less carbon-intensive processes than conventional methods. To achieve this goal, the company has set a deadline of March 2024. Hitachi, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company specialises in a diverse range of products, including digital systems, power and renewable energy solutions, railway systems, healthcare products, and financial systems. The Japanese industrial giant uses approximately 10,000 tonnes of aluminium domestically to make refrigerators, washing machines, railroad cars, and so on. To achieve the net-zero carbon emissions goal across the entire supply chain by 2050, Hitachi has aimed to reduce carbon footprint by using low-carbon aluminium. Secondary aluminium production is prominent in Japan, recording a growing trend over the years. According to the Japan Aluminium Association, the East Asian country produced 471.4 thousand tonnes of secondary aluminium from January to August 2023, up by 1.5 per cent from the corresponding period of the previous year.
Calix takes a major leap in advancing direct carbon capture technology
Calix, a developer of low-carbon industrial technology, has expanded its commitment to Direct Air Capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide by entering a global licensing agreement for its technology. In this partnership, Calix's subsidiary, Leilac, will exclusively collaborate with Heirloom Carbon Technologies on DAC applications. Leilac's innovative technology, which employs externally heated calcination, effectively isolates CO2 from limestone to create decarbonised lime. The exact process is utilised to produce low-carbon cement and the processing of lithium ores. Nevertheless, this technology also holds significant potential for the aluminium industry, which grapples with carbon emissions as a pressing issue and seeks to transition towards a more environmentally sustainable production process. Furthermore, Heirloom's DAC technology leverages lime in an inventive carbonation process to capture CO2 from the atmosphere directly and transform it into limestone.
Global push for net-zero: Nations embrace technology to combat climate change
The recently held 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP28, in Dubai from November 30 until December 12, featured the 'Global Stocktake,' a comprehensive assessment of the world's progress on climate change in alignment with the Paris Agreement. As countries evaluated their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, there has been a notable shift towards the prominence of digital software. Decision-makers in various sectors, like aluminium, oil and gas, etc., and governments are increasingly relying on digital solutions to aid both developed and emerging markets in achieving their net-zero objectives. GE Vernova, the organisation with a mission to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonise it, joined forces with Reuters to produce a report titled 'Digital Energy Report 2023: Without Software, the Energy Transition Stalls.' The report emphasises the current availability of software that significantly expedites the energy transition. This software incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning (ML) to provide actionable insights into emissions data. Moreover, it can orchestrate entire power generation fleets, ensuring a balance between demand and emissions. The report's findings underscore the consensus that the energy transition is a crucial corporate priority and assert that it is practically attainable by integrating sophisticated software solutions.
Alspec upholds sustainability by choosing GoodWe’s aluminium-composed solar panels
Alspec, a leading aluminium processing firm in New South Wales, has selected GoodWe's lightweight solar solution to fulfil their expanding energy demands while working within the limits of their new roof's low-bearing capacity. GoodWe, a global producer of solar energy solutions, has partnered with its authorised distributor, Umax Energy, to deliver the GoodWe BIPV smart solution to Alspec. The collaborative endeavour will use sustainable solar photovoltaic (PV) technology composed of aluminium to fulfil Alspec's expanding energy demands. The project entails delivering and installing a 100kW solar power system on the roof of Alspec's headquarters and production plant, which will use GoodWe's 315W Galaxy Ultra panels and HT100kW string inverters. Umax Power suggested GoodWe's Galaxy Series 315W, so Alspec installed it without a hitch. This would prevent water from leaking out and keep operations running smoothly. These lightweight panels also put Alspec's worries about roof damage to rest. When paired with GoodWe's efficient HT string inverters, the Galaxy Series may optimise energy production and self-consumption.
Alro invests $15.9 million to reduce ecological impact
Alro Group, a Romanian aluminium producer, announced plans to invest 15 million euros ($15.9 million) in three projects to curb its ecological impact and increase competitiveness. Among these projects is installing a 1,500 KW photovoltaic (PV) power station in Alro's parking areas to generate renewable energy. This investment will also be used to expand the fume treatment plant to meet new emission targets and acquire new machinery to enhance the company's prowess by expanding its product range. With its amplified virtue for sustainability, the company might reduce emissions along its molten metal treatment line, smelting and castings units. Alro is also plotting to acquire specific machinery.
COP28: IAI declares launching new aluminium-industry specific initiative to track greenhouse gases
the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), a global body that represents the world's leading producers of aluminium, announced a new initiative aimed at tracking and reporting on its member companies' progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This move is being launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. The initiative has already garnered support from major players in the aluminium industry, including Hindalco Industries Ltd, Aluminerie Alouette, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Alcoa Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and Rio Tinto Aluminium. The IAI's new initiative is an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability in the aluminium production industry. Under this initiative, the IAI has committed to publicly reporting on its member companies' progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as tracking and reporting on the total global greenhouse gas emissions of the aluminium industry on an annual basis. By tracking and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions, the IAI aims to increase transparency and accountability in the industry and encourage companies to take action to reduce their carbon footprint. This is essential if we are to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Yunnan Aluminium and Volvo Cars (Asia-Pacific) come together to curb carbon footprint in automobile industry
Yunnan Aluminium Co., Ltd., and Volvo Cars (Asia-Pacific) Investment Holding Co., Ltd. have reportedly inked a memorandum of cooperation on the sustainable aluminium value chain. the companies signed the contract at the first China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo in the presence of Chen Debin, Deputy General Manager of Yunan Aluminium Co., Ltd., and Hans Linn, vice president of R&D of Volvo Car Asia Pacific. As per the signed cooperation contract, Yunnan Aluminium and Volvo Cars (Asia-Pacific) will support each other’s efforts towards carbon neutrality in peak carbon dioxide emissions. The high-end aluminium alloy ingot producer will supply green aluminium to Volvo Cars (Asia-Pacific), advocating the application of sustainable aluminium in automobile production and ensuring a responsible supply chain for Swedish luxury vehicle manufacturers. As a key aluminium enterprise in China’s green aluminium development, Yunnan Aluminium actively implements the national green and low-carbon development strategy, leveraging hydropower/clean energy in Yunnan Province. Thus, the company’s products maintain an exceptionally low level of carbon footprint in the industry. Yunnan Aluminium is the first aluminium enterprise in China to have achieved the ASI standard dual certificate for sustainable operation throughout the value chain, from upstream bauxite to downstream aluminium processing.
Norsk Hydro joins First Movers Coalition to nurture a fully ‘green aluminium’ producing line by 2050
Hydro's CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim, in a recent announcement, has declared that the Norwegian aluminium and energy giant is finally joining the First Movers Coalition. Hydro is joining the First Movers Coalition (FMC), signalling a determination to take responsibility and lead the way for the world to reach its climate targets. The challenge of climate change transcends borders and industries, and it can only maintain the critical climate pathway of 1.5ºC if it works together to create new markets for a sustainable future. The First Movers Coalition is a collaborative effort of prominent global companies working together to leverage their purchasing power in promoting the use of low-carbon technologies to reduce global emissions. Spearheaded by the World Economic Forum and the US Government, the FMC focuses on addressing challenging sectors such as aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel, and trucking, which are responsible for 30% of worldwide emissions. In order for these sectors to decarbonize at the necessary pace to keep the planet on a 1.5-degree pathway, they require low-carbon technologies that are currently not competitive with carbon-intensive solutions.
Novelis to scale up sustainable aluminium product deliveries with 3 more ASI-certified rolling plants
Novelis announced its achievement of securing Performance Standard Certifications by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (AS) for three North American aluminium rolled product manufacturing facilities. The plants, located in Guthrie, Kentucky; Oswego, New York; and Ontario, Canada, remelt and recycle through to cold mill processing to produce a range of rolled aluminium products, primarily for the automotive market. The ASI certifications attest Novelis' responsible manufacturing practices and its strong commitment towards the circular economy and sustainability. Novelis aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner and to reduce its carbon footprint by 30 per cent by 2026. The company also targets reducing waste to landfills by 20 per cent, energy intensity by 10 per cent, and water intensity by 10 per cent by 2026.
Conclusion
The global aluminium value chain stands to benefit significantly from technological advancements in its journey towards sustainability. Technology offers many solutions, from reimagining extraction processes to optimising manufacturing through digitalisation and embracing circular economy practices. As industry players increasingly invest in and adopt these innovations, the future of aluminium production holds promises as a more environmentally responsible and sustainable contributor to the global economy. that might help expand its product range to meet certain customer needs from the aerospace to automotive industries, igniting healthy competition.
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