Energy — Programs and Actions
Our smelting operations are the largest users of electric power within the company. As new technology replaces the existing smelting technology, the power requirements will decrease. Our newest smelters are up to 20% more efficient than our oldest smelters. Accordingly, the modernization of the Baie-Comeau Smelter announced in March 2008 will result in significant gains.
We will continue to develop and deploy improved energy monitoring and management systems and utilize more efficient equipment and processes when capital equipment changes are needed.
In Québec, an Energy Efficiency Committee has been set up at each smelter, and a regional committee gathers representatives from each plant to promote the exchange of best practices. The committees’ work focuses on both electric energy and fuel consumption. Alcoa Canada Primary Metals has also adopted a policy on energy efficiency.
In 2005, the Aluminum Association of Canada, of which Alcoa is a member, signed a five-year agreement with Hydro-Québec to collaborate on energy efficiency issues. The goal of this agreement is to establish mechanisms to foster the efficient management of electricity. In 2008, Alcoa signed a voluntary agreement with Hydro-Québec to improve its energy efficiency.
In addition, the Bécancour and Deschambault smelters were both recently admitted to the Hydro-Québec Écolectrique network, which gathers energy efficiency leaders among Québec corporations. This distinction recognizes the improvements in energy consumption per tonne of aluminum produced that were achieved through the optimization of the electrolysis process and the decrease in energy usage by auxiliary equipment, most notably the compressed air network.
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Energy
Read Alcoa Canada Primary Metal’s policy on energy efficiency
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Learn more about Alcoa's energy programs around the world.
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