Renewable electricity and recycling will be the primary driver of emissions reductions for aluminium, a study has revealed.
A study by Eunomia, commissioned by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), highlighted aluminium’s role in industrial decarbonisation, comparing its emissions reduction pathways to steel, copper, container glass and PVC.
The findings emphasise that combining renewable electricity and recycling will be the primary driver of emissions reductions for aluminium.
For copper, it will be renewable electricity, while steel and container glass require technological shifts and PVC’s decarbonisation route requires recycling as one of the main drivers
The study, Decarbonisation Pathways in Aluminium Vs. Competing Materials, analyses process emissions and energy consumption across material value chains, providing a comparative perspective on their respective net zero trajectories.
It underscores the urgent need for investments in green electricity, anode replacements and recycling infrastructure to maximise aluminium’s decarbonisation potential.
Among the findings:
. Aluminium and copper are the most reliant on electricity decarbonisation, with 65% and 60% of their emissions from electricity use in 2020.
. Steel decarbonisation requires full adoption of Direct Reduction Iron (DRI) processes, coupled with Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology.
The study also highlights the differences in regional decarbonisation challenges and opportunities. For example, North America faces infrastructure gaps in post-consumer recycling, while China’s heavy reliance on coal presents barriers to decarbonising aluminium and steel.
Aluminium emerges as one of the most promising materials for net zero pathways due to its mature recycling processes and established low-carbon technologies. However, achieving full decarbonisation will require:
. scaling of renewable electricity sources, particularly in coal-reliant regions
. investments in anode replacement technologies to further reduce process emissions
. expansion of global recycling infrastructure, capitalising on aluminium’s strong economic value in circular economies.
Marlen Bertram IAI’s Director of Forecasts and Scenarios, said:: “This study reinforces aluminium’s potential as a leading material in the low-carbon transition.
"By addressing electricity decarbonisation, collection and sorting of scrap and investing in new technologies, aluminium can set a benchmark for industrial sustainability.”