International Benchmark for Power Consumption in Aluminium Smelters

Hi Friends,

In earlier post, we have derived and presented the  Electrical power requirement in Smelters for primary aluminium based on certain realistic assumptions.
In present post, we will discuss the trend of electrical power consumption in existing Aluminium Smelters for production of primary aluminium along with the International benchmark there on for existing as well as new aluminium smelters in the World. We are well aware that aluminium smelting is a power intensive process attributing about 50 to 55% of production cost of primary aluminium. As per the data available in published literature on public domain, Region wise specific electricity consumption  figures recorded in 2007 for various Aluminium Smelters in the World are tabulated below-

Data Source : International Aluminium Institute

The above tabulated data signifies the variation in electrical power consumption ranging from 14.7 to 15.7 MWh per tonne of aluminium. The weighted average electrical consumption across the globe is estimated at 15.560 MWh per tonne of primary aluminium metal. All out efforts are being made by technologists, designers and plant operating personnel of existing Aluminium Smelters by way of modifications and process improvements to achieve the average electrical energy consumption of 14.50 MWh per tonne of aluminium. This would result in achieving the overall reduction in energy consumption by about 7%.

Based on the detailed analysis of present aluminium smelting technology,process efficiency parameters and adoption of advanced technology in future, an International Expert Committee  has set the benchmark figures of specific electrical power consumption for operative and new Aluminium Smelters as 14.215 MWh and 13.500 MWh per tonne of aluminium respectively.


We will welcome your feedback / views / suggestions / remarks / comments, if any.
Regards.


Kunwar Rajendra