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| May 15, 2007
Alcoa Launches Innovative 'Carbon Capture' Technology for Alumina Refineries
System Set to Revolutionize Greenhouse Emissions in Aluminum Industry
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today that it has launched a new technology at
its Kwinana alumina refinery in Western Australia that has the potential
to deliver significant global greenhouse benefits and will contribute to
a reduction in the aluminum industry’s
environmental footprint. Alcoa announced the new technology in
conjunction with its sponsorship of the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit
taking place this week in New York City. During the four-day summit,
leaders of municipal governments and international businesses will share
best practices, identify collaborative projects and chart future actions
related to reversing climate change and realizing economic development
benefits.
Alcoa’s ‘Carbon
Capture’ system is an innovative residue
treatment process that involves mixing bauxite residue, a by-product of
the aluminum-making process, with carbon dioxide (CO2).
This delivers greenhouse benefits by locking up large volumes of CO2
that would otherwise be released to the atmosphere. The Kwinana
carbonation plant will lock up 70,000 tons of CO2
a year, the equivalent of eliminating the emissions of 17,500
automobiles.
As part of its on-going commitment to reduce its global emissions, Alcoa
plans to deploy the technology to its nine alumina refineries worldwide.
Deployment across Alcoa’s operations in
Australia alone could potentially save 300,000 tons of CO2
each year.
The ‘Carbon Capture’
system was developed by Alcoa’s Technology
Delivery Group, the company’s global refining
research and development unit, which is based in Australia. Bauxite
residue is a mixture of minerals that are left behind when alumina is
removed from bauxite. Although it is thoroughly washed, the residue
retains some alkaline liquor and requires long-term storage. By mixing CO2
into the bauxite residue, its pH level is reduced to levels found
naturally in alkaline soils. A second sustainability benefit is that the
improved environmental properties of the residue mean it also can be
beneficially used as road base, building materials or to improve soil.
Alcoa plans to share the technology within the aluminum industry which
is also vital to its long term sustainability.
Alcoa has taken a leadership position on climate change by reducing its
global greenhouse emissions by 25% compared to 1990 levels seven years
before the 2010 deadline. Alcoa is also a founding member of the U.S.
Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) an alliance of nine major U.S.-based
companies and four leading environmental organizations that has taken
the public lead in calling on the U.S. government to quickly enact
strong national legislation to achieve significant reductions of
greenhouse gas emissions.
Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum,
fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major
aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive,
packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and
industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other
capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum
products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy
extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa®
wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures
and building systems. The company has 122,000 employees in 44 countries
and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the
world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More
information can be found at www.alcoa.com
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