The Greener Aluminium Online Summit, a one-day online event, took place on 24th May, marking its second year of action. The event aims to bring together aluminium manufacturers and environmental solutions providers to discuss how the industry must continue to adapt, minimising the impacts associated with production of the metal today, while also developing technological pathways for the future.
There were more than 200 delegates registered, from across the globe. Attendees included representatives from Alba, Panda Aluminyum, European Aluminium, Shanghai Huafon Aluminium, as well as many more.
Opening the event was Nadine Bloxsome, Editor and Content Director of Aluminium International Today. Setting the scene for the event, she stated, “[the event will] showcase ongoing projects, new technology, investments, and challenges we face together as a sector”, emphasising the need for a united front.
Keynote speaker, Joachim Von Scheele, Global Director of Commercialisation, Linde Technology presented on ‘Flameless Oxyfuel and Hydrogen for Greener Aluminium Production’. Mr Von Scheele discussed the dilemmas that arise when converting to 100% renewable Hydrogen/Oxyfuel. He proposed that companies slowly integrate renewable fuel by implementing a step-by-step strategy, which slowly phases out the use of non-renewable fuel. He presented an example of the first 100% renewable energy fuelled steel plant – OVAKO, where 25 tonnes of ball bearing steel was heated by 100% flameless Oxyfuel with Hydrogen Fuel. This is now being phased to full scale, at the steel company. Linde is now conducting its first large scale test with aluminium following a number of successful small-scale tests.
Presenting next was Dr Fiona Solomon, CEO of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. Dr Solomon discussed the future of the ASI in the next five years. “Climate actions and risks are front and centre for the industry”; the ASI aims to address all aspects to ensure an accurate assessment of environmental sustainability is made against a company. As well as environmental sustainability, the initiative assesses other sustainability factors to “maximise each other’s [companies] successes”. She announced the ASI’s new Indigenous Peoples Advisory Forum (IPAF), which uses qualitative data to assess and ensure social sustainability. Ms Solomons also discussed the new standards that the ASI announced following their five-year review, she disclosed that the ASI will be reviewing their standards more frequently to keep up-to-date with the changes in the industry.
Next, Vice President of Alcoa, Rosa M. García Piñeiro presented on ‘The Technology Roadmap to Achieve the Aluminium Industry’s Net Zero Ambitions’. She stated, “[Alcoa is] on a journey to reinvent the aluminium industry for a sustainable future”. Ms García Piñeiro outlined Alcoa’s investments where the company strives towards better sustainability. She disclosed that Alcoa have been investing in an R&D project – Refractory of the Future, decarbonisation of aluminium smelting and refining with ELYSIS, and developed recycled scrap aluminium through its project ASTRAEA.
Following the theme of sustainable projects and products, Hans Erik Vatne, Chief Technology Officer at Hydro added: “sustainability is becoming imperative to running a business”. He discussed Hydro’s new green aluminium product: CIRCAL, which contains 75% scrap material (for more information on this topic, take a look at the March/April issue of Aluminium International Today). Mr Vatne also listed Hydro’s research projects: Carbon Capture and Storage- 55 technologies have been implemented and Hydro work with selected companies, Inert anodes experiments - these were investigated as a huge internal project; however, the concept was discarded as it was too high risk and high in cost, support for the development of ELYSIS alongside their peers and more.
Closing the first section of the event, Paramita Das, Global Marketing and Development for Rio Tinto, spoke on ‘Responsible Aluminium: Enabling Modern Life’. Stating, “Green materials need to be more than carbon free”, she discussed the importance of transparency in the industry. Ms Das went on to discuss the 10 point criteria of the START Responsible program that Rio Tinto are involved in, R&D projects like ELYSIS™ and the companies plans to invest $7.5 billion by 2030. “Green aluminium is responsible aluminium… Sustainability is a team sport”.
Following a networking break, Quantillion CEO, Hilbrand Kuiken delivered his presentation on the ‘Role of AI on the Road to Sustainable Aluminium Production’. He discussed he benefits of using “fast and powerful decision-making algorithms” in the industry and delved into the question; “how do we transform from doing one thing, to doing another that we are not used to?” He continued, “None of the goals [or changes] can be reached alone”. Mr Kuiken proposed the use of technology to assist with the industry; a Cluster Optimisation model provided evidence that AI is 20 times faster than an “individual decision”. Allowing AI to make the decisions in the Cluster Optimisation model resulted in a 6% decrease in emissions. This proved how AI technology can be used to not only improve efficiency, but also reduce CO2 emissions.
“Knowing that the climate is ours and not yours; we need to be aware that we need to deal with issues together and rely on each other.” Hilbrand Kuiken, CEO, Quantillion.
Speaking next was Gunther Schober, Sales Manager, PSI Metals. Reiterating the importance of Technology and AI in the industry, he stated: “Software will not change the process, but it can optimise energy use and thus help reduce CO2 emissions.” He provided another example of where intelligent software can be implemented to reduce costs; using technology to predict when peaks of energy will arise and estimate demand to reduce sharp fluctuations, and therefore improve efficiency, sustainability, and cost of energy usage.
“700 million tonnes of emissions are from electricity,” said Pernelle Nunez, Deputy Secretary General – Sustainability, International Aluminium Institute.
Energy, an issue at the forefront of sustainability challenges. Ms Nunez outlined three possible scenarios regarding predictions of future aluminium production moving into 2050. She stated, “unless energy CO2
emissions are zero, or close to zero” we will not reach the goals we have set for 2050. Ms Nunez ended her presentation by highlighting: “Aluminium is the material of the Future”, so despite the challenges, the industry is succeeding.
Alumobility, a non-profit organisation, presented on its white paper ‘Closing the Loop on Automotive Aluminium Scrap to Minimise Carbon Emissions’. Speakers Alison Conroy, Director, Sustainability, Novelis and Mickaël Faliu, Sustainability Engineer, Constellium, discussed the importance of sustainable aluminium in the automotive industry. Looking at the circularity of the material, and its potential to be a closed loop within the automotive industry, the pair elaborated on the concept of recycling aluminium in automotives; taking out the metal for the vehicles, recycling it, put into a new vehicle and repeat. To close the loop further, they suggested that automotives start to design vehicles to be recycled. To conclude, “the end of life us also the rebirth.”
Paul Adkins, Managing Director of AZ Global Consulting delivered a provocative presentation challenging the usual narrative of the aluminium industry. “There is a lot of work to do… there is a lot of hype regarding the inert anode, but its introduction will not take us to where we need to be,” he continued “why would anyone spend money [on the anodes] … the impact is not sufficient enough to implement the change”.
For more details on the event and the presentations, check out the full review on the event in the July/August issue of Aluminium International Today. Articles following up on speaker presentations will also be available.