South32 is set to examine potential pathways to reduce emissions in alumina refining with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which has committed $4.4 million in funding for a pre-feasibility study at the company’s Worsley Alumina Refinery in Western Australia.
The study will focus on electrifying steam production, which accounts for roughly 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in alumina refining – Australia’s most energy-intensive industrial process.
The aim is to evaluate four partial steam electrification options that could lower emissions by replacing fossil-fuel-based heat sources with renewable electricity, ARENA said in a news release.
ARENA said the funding is being provided under its $400 million Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) program, which supports efforts to reduce industrial emissions through innovation and electrification.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the initiative could mark a turning point in the decarbonisation of one of the country’s highest-emitting industries.
“Meeting Australia’s emissions reduction targets will require businesses in the most energy intensive industries to incorporate renewables in their operations,” Miller said.
“Funding from ARENA will help South32 investigate innovative electrification options for steam generation that enable the use of renewable energy.”
The technologies being considered include electric boilers that generate steam using electrodes and mechanical vapour recompression systems that recover and reuse low-pressure waste vapour.
ARENA said these technologies have the potential to cut emissions, improve efficiency, and lower operating costs when paired with renewable electricity sources.
South32’s Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Torres said the project aligns with the company’s long-term sustainability goals.
“Decarbonising our operations is key to achieving our goals and targets,” Torres said. “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.”
“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,” she added. “We welcome the support from ARENA and look forward to the outcomes of the study.”
ARENA has been working with Australia’s aluminium and alumina sectors since 2021 to support emissions reduction initiatives. Previous projects have included funding to Alcoa to trial electric calcination and to Rio Tinto for testing hydrogen calcination technology at its Yarwun refinery in Queensland.
Miller said the South32 initiative would contribute valuable insights for the broader industry. “This study represents another investment in our growing low emissions alumina refining portfolio,” he said.
“Learnings will benefit not only South32 in its decarbonisation journey but also other alumina refining players by continuing the industry’s investigation and potential uptake of steam electrification technologies.”
Applications for the second round of the Industrial Transformation Stream are open, with $70 million currently available. ARENA expects the round to remain open until mid-June 2025.
