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Basics |
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Energy
Use: Aluminum
DOE estimates
the aluminum industry is responsible for nearly 2% of all the energy consumed
in the U.S. industrial sector. The production of primary aluminum relies on an
electrolytic process and is very electricity-intensive. In fact, the aluminum
industry spends more than $2 billion annually on energy, the majority of which
is for electricity. One-third of the average cost of aluminum is for the energy
required to make it. Major energy reductions are achieved through the recycling
of scrap aluminum. Recycling aluminum by re-melting and casting requires only
5 to 8% of the original energy input of aluminum produced from bauxite ore. The
current U.S. average energy consumption for aluminum reduction in an electrolytic
cell is 15.2 kWh/kg (6.9 kWh/lb) of aluminum. However, the most efficient smelters
operate with an energy consumption of about 13 kWh/kg (5.9 kWh/lb). Natural gas
plays a role in primary aluminum manufacturing in the calcining step of alumina
production, in the production (pre-baking process) of the anodes used in the final
baking process, and for boilers.
The gas consumption
in the U.S.A. for equipment used in producing primary aluminum is in the range
of 40 BCF per year.
48 trillion
Btu of gas is used for aluminum melting; about 1 trillion Btu equivalent of electricity
is used for aluminum melting.
Approximately
6 trillion Btu of gas is used in aluminum holding.
NOTE: The data
is weighted averages of metal melted and furnaces available.
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