South32 to explore emission reductions in alumina refining

South32 has secured $4.4 million in government funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support the development of steam electrification pathways at the Worsley Alumina Refinery in Western Australia.

The alumina refining industry is Australia’s largest user of industrial process heat. Approximately 70% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced in alumina refining arises from steam production, currently powered by fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas.

The study, funded under the $400 million Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) program, will allow South32 to undertake a pre-feasibility study of four investment options for partial steam electrification.

The options include electric boilers, which generate steam directly using an electrode, and mechanical vapour recompression, which involves capturing low-pressure waste vapour from the refining process for recompression to create pressurised steam for reuse. These technologies have the potential to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and GHG emissions, through the use of renewable electricity.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the study was a significant step towards making low emissions alumina, and decarbonising Australian metals production.

“Meeting Australia’s emissions reduction targets will require businesses in the most energy intensive industries to incorporate renewables in their operations,” he said. “Funding from ARENA will help South32 investigate innovative electrification options for steam generation that enable the use of renewable energy.”

South32 Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Torres said South32 has a long-term goal to achieve net zero GHG emissions across all scopes by 2050, and a target to halve operational GHG emissions by 2035 from FY21 baseline.

“Decarbonising our operations is key to achieving our goals and targets. The pre-feasibility study that we will undertake at Worsley Alumina, with funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, builds on the work already underway to reduce Worsley Alumina’s GHG emissions,” she said. “Electrification of the steam generation process at Worsley Alumina’s refinery has the potential to further reduce the operation’s GHG emissions and we look forward to starting work on the project.”

Applications for the Industrial Transformation Stream remain open, with $70 million in funding now available under the recently announced second round, providing further opportunities for industry to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions related to industrial activity.

Image credit: South32