¶ SOUTH32 will explore partial steam electrification at its Worsley Alumina refinery after securing $4.4 million in Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) funding.
The funding, delivered via the $400 million Industrial Transformation Stream program, will support a pre-feasibility study investigating how deployment of electric boilers and mechanical vapour recompression could reduce emissions.
The boilers generate steam using an electrode, while recompression involves capturing low-pressure waste vapour during refining to create pressurised steam for reuse.
Paired with renewable electricity, the techniques could potentially not only reduce emissions, but also reduce operating costs and improve efficiency.
The first phase of the study will include initial investigation of four investment options, and the second phase will delve deeper into the preferred option.
The alumina refining industry is Australia’s largest user of industrial process heat.
Approximately 70 percent of emissions produced arise from steam production, currently powered by coal and gas.
South32 chief operating officer Vanessa Torres said the company aims to achieve net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2050.
“Decarbonising our operations is key to achieving our goals and targets,” Ms Torres said.
The study will build on work already underway to reduce Worsley’s emissions, Ms Torres added.