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Energy—Programs & Actions
Energy Use
We continue to seek ways to reduce energy costs and usage. We have partnered with a utility in Western Australia and are using the waste heat from a natural gas power generating station to supplement our energy needs at the Pinjarra alumina refinery. This partnership will allow us to reduce the use of our boilers and will eventually result in the shutdown of some of our older systems. The first of four of these gas-fired cogeneration power plants was formally commissioned in 2006, setting the scene for improved energy efficiency and substantial savings in greenhouse emissions. Similar partnerships are being pursued at other locations.
We are committed to reducing the energy requirements for all of our operations and 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.
Performance data
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Alcoa Energy Efficiency Network
In 2002, we established the Alcoa Energy Efficiency Network based on an excellent partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy. The network conducts energy efficiency surveys at operating locations, identifying areas of possible improvement. The locations then agree to address certain projects and are free to disregard others. To date, this program has identified more than US$80 million in potential savings opportunities.
Renewable Energy Initiatives
We have selected solar energy as a potential renewable energy source for several of our facilities. We completed three installations in 2007 and are currently monitoring data to determine the cost implications of future installations.
As a charter member of the U.S.-based Green Power Market Development Group, we purchased enough renewable energy certificates (RECs) to effectively power four of our administrative offices in the United States. These facilities are now effectively operating on electricity generated by projects that produce electricity from landfill gas, avoiding the emissions of more than 6.3 million kilograms (13.9 million pounds) of carbon dioxide annually.
We also continue to follow wind energy developments, and in some cases, we cooperate with the developers by providing land and access to the local grids through our large grid connections at operating plants.
We continue to evaluate and use biodiesel fuel to power mobile equipment. Our Brazilian facilities are also using various grades of biodiesel in baking furnaces and to power industrial vehicles. These fuels are sourced from social fuel seal holders—companies recognized by the government as producing fuels using sustainable practices.
We continue to develop hydroelectric resources where possible. We believe that the environmental and social impacts of well-designed hydroelectric systems can be minimal if the projects are properly planned and constructed. For each project, we work with the government to ensure that proper environmental and social impact studies are conducted. The systems will be designed to minimize the impacts on habitat and landowners near the reservoirs, on downstream users of the water resources, and on marine life.
In 2007, we started up our newest smelter, which is powered from a hydroelectric facility developed in partnership with the Icelandic government and Landsvirkjun, the national energy producer. We've also invested in two dams that have been completed in Brazil (Machadinho and Barra Grande), and we started construction on the 210-megawatt Serra do Facão facility in 2007. We are also investing significant funds to upgrade our U.S.-based hydroelectric generation facilities over the next 10 years.
Case Studies
Fun, Interaction Spark Interest in Energy
Boiler Technology Increases Energy Efficiency
Alcoa's Hydropower Strategy Goes with the Flow
Dross Processing System Provides Safety, Cost, Environmental Benefits
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