Mining and Primary Processing: Energy Consumption





Return To Heat Treat Home		Mining and Primary Processing: Energy Consumption
Home About Metals Advisor Help IRON AND STEEL Overview PROCESSES Agglomeration Coking Blast Furnace Direct Reduction Basic Oxygen Furnace Electric Arc Furnace Heat Treating Ladle Metallurgy Continuous Casting Ingot Casting Ladle Preheating Secondary Finishing Surface Coating ALUMINUM Overview PROCESSES Mining/Primary Processing Recycle/Scrap Melting Aluminum Casting Aluminum Smelting Anode Baking Bauxite Mining Bauxite Refining Extrusion Forging Heat Treating Molten Handling Rolling		Energy Consumption Process Description Primary aluminum smelting is an energy intensive process. The primary form of energy used in this process is electricity. As a result, primary aluminum smelters are located in regions of the world where electricity is inexpensive. In the United States, primary aluminum plants are found near cheap sources of hydroelectric power (i.e., in the service territories of BPA, TVA, and Upstate New York). Approximately 85% of the energy utilized to produce primary aluminum is in the form of electricity. Energy Use by Process "Industrial Energy Efficiency", Office of Technology Assessment, August, 1993