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The Australian Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced funding of AU$ 32.1 million for an Anglo-Australian multinational mining company and a global electric services company to undertake a groundbreaking project at the Yarwun Alumina Refinery in Gladstone, Queensland.
This initiative, which costs AU$111.1 million, will pioneer the deployment of hydrogen calcination technology globally. The primary goal of this project is to significantly reduce emissions in the alumina refining process, which currently contributes approximately three percent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve this, the project will include the installation of a 2.5 MW on-site electrolyser to produce hydrogen and the modification of one of the refinery’s calciners to operate using a hydrogen burner.
The electric services company will be responsible for owning and operating the electrolyser at the mining company’s Yarwun site, ensuring a supply of hydrogen directly to the mining company. The anticipated annual hydrogen production capacity of the electrolyser will exceed 250 tonnes. The mining company will conduct rigorous testing of the hydrogen calciner under various operating conditions to verify its suitability and performance.
Traditionally, calciners use fossil fuels for process heat, contributing around 30% of emissions from alumina refining. The introduction of hydrogen calcination technology aims to address this environmental challenge effectively.
In addition to its emissions reduction benefits, hydrogen calcination offers the advantage of producing high-purity steam. This clean steam can be recycled for use in other stages of the alumina refining process, unlike the contaminated steam generated from fossil fuel calcination.
The success of the initiative could prove the viability of hydrogen calcination and set the stage for its widespread adoption in other alumina refineries. Before this announcement, a successful feasibility study was carried out by the mining company with support from ARENA through an AU$ 580,000 grant in 2021.
The CEO of ARENA highlighted the significance of this project in the advancement of hydrogen calcination and the decarbonisation of the alumina production process. He expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the two companies to build on the positive outcomes of the feasibility study and put hydrogen calcination to the test in real-world conditions.
The potential impact of this pilot project was emphasised with it being described as a potential game changer for Australian alumina production and a key factor in decarbonising one of the country’s most emissions-intensive industries.
If the pilot proves successful, it could pave the way for widespread adoption across the alumina refining industry, underscoring the crucial role of low-cost green hydrogen in decarbonising major industrial emitters. ARENA’s commitment to supporting projects at this scale aligns with its broader efforts in developing larger programs, such as Hydrogen Headstart.
Australia holds the distinction of being the world’s largest exporter of alumina, a crucial mineral feedstock for aluminium production. This thriving industry significantly contributes to the nation’s GDP, contributing around AU$ 7.5 billion.
To address environmental concerns and reduce emissions associated with alumina refining, ARENA has undertaken the Alumina Decarbonisation Roadmap (Alumina Roadmap) published in 2022. This comprehensive roadmap identified four key technologies that have the potential to cut emissions from Australia’s alumina refineries by up to 98%.
One of these groundbreaking technologies is hydrogen calcination, which has garnered considerable attention and investment from ARENA. The agency recognises its promise to significantly reduce carbon emissions from the alumina production process.
Since 2021, ARENA has actively invested in projects aimed at decarbonising the entire aluminium value chain. Among these initiatives is the funding provided to Alcoa for the exploration of electric calcination and the trial of mechanical vapour recompression—two additional technologies identified in the Alumina Roadmap.
By focusing on cutting-edge technologies like hydrogen calcination, electric calcination, and mechanical vapour recompression, ARENA is making strides towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alumina production industry in Australia. These initiatives align with the nation’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting a greener, low-emission future.
