Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases

Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: Aluminum Production

Key Points

View Sector Summaries: Industrial Processes

  • Perfluorocarbon (PFC) emissions from aluminum production represent the third largest source of fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector.
  • Primary abatement measures include installation of or upgrades to process computer control systems and the installation of systems to allow more precise alumina feeding.
  • Abatement measures in this sector have the potential to reduce over half of the projected baseline emissions.

Sector Description

The aluminum production industry produces PFC emissions during brief process upset conditions in the aluminum smelting process. Despite a decline in global emissions of PFCs from primary aluminum production between 2000 and 2010, baseline emissions are projected to grow by 42%, from 26 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2010 to 37 MtCO2e in 2030.

2030 emissions from primary aluminum production are projected to be 37 million MtCO2e, or 0.3% of total non-CO2 emissions. Projected 2030 top five emitting countries for primary aluminum production are China, the US, Russia, Canada, and Australia.View or download the full-size image here.(125 K, PNG)

Emissions Reduction Potential

Assuming full implementation of current technology, emissions in the aluminum production sector could be reduced by up to 22 MtCO2e in 2030. This accounts for 0.47% of the 4,615 MtCO2e in global reduction potential in 2030.

Potential for PFC reductions from primary aluminum production: Emissions with full implementation of current technology could be reduced by up to 22 MtCO2e in 2030, or 0.47% of the 4,615 MtCO2e in global reduction potential for non-CO2 GHGs in 2030.View or download the full-size image here.(97 K, PNG)

Abatement Potential

Global abatement potential in the primary aluminum sector is projected to be 21.6 MtCO2e, or nearly 58% of baseline emissions in 2030. In the absence of any policy incentive to reduce PFC emissions, cost-effective abatement of 2.5 MtCO2e is available. Additional mitigation is feasible with the adoption of more costly mitigation measures. In 2030, mitigation measures with costs less than or equal to $30/tCO2e have the potential to reduce emissions by 17 MtCO2e, or 80% of the total abatement potential.

2030 achievable reductions in primary aluminum production PFC emissions by technology: The solid bars show reductions achievable at a cost less than $0/tCO2e, and the fading bars show the reductions achievable at a higher prices.It would be cost-effective to reduce emissions by 7%, compared to the baseline, in 2030. An additional 51% reduction is available using technologies with increasingly higher costs.

View or download the full-size image here.(36 K, PNG)

Abatement Measures

Abatement options in the primary aluminum production sector are primarily associated with installing or upgrading process computer control systems and alumina point-feed systems. The options considered involve 1) a minor retrofit to upgrade the process computer control systems and 2) a major retrofit to the process computer control systems coupled with the installation of alumina point-feed systems.

2030 achievable reductions in primary aluminum production PFC emissions by technology: The solid bars show reductions achievable at a cost less than $0/tCO2e, and the fading bars show the reductions achievable at a higher prices.Emissions reductions by technology in 2030 at $0/tCO2e and at higher prices.

View or download the full-size image here.(33 K, PNG)

Top of Page

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.

Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 GHGs Report