The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has granted South32 A$4.4m to explore steam electrification at the Worsley Alumina Refinery in Western Australia (WA).
The industry, Australia’s largest user of industrial process heat, is responsible for substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with around 70% arising from steam production reliant on fossil fuels.
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The funding, part of the A$400m Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) programme, will enable South32 to conduct a pre-feasibility study on four investment options for partial steam electrification.
These options include the implementation of electric boilers and mechanical vapour recompression, both aimed at improving efficiency and reducing operating costs and GHG emissions by harnessing renewable electricity.
South32 chief operating officer Vanessa Torres said: “Decarbonising our operations is key to achieving our goals and targets. The pre-feasibility study that we will undertake at Worsley Alumina, with funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, builds on the work already under way to reduce Worsley Alumina’s GHG emissions.
“Electrification of the steam generation process at Worsley Alumina’s refinery has the potential to further reduce the operation’s GHG emissions and we look forward to starting work on the project. We welcome the support from ARENA and look forward to the outcomes of the study.”
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By GlobalDataThe study is part of ARENA’s investment in low-emissions alumina refining, which is expected to benefit South32 and other industry players by advancing the adoption of steam electrification technologies.
The learnings from this study will contribute to broader decarbonisation efforts within the sector.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said: “Meeting Australia’s emissions reduction targets will require businesses in the most energy-intensive industries to incorporate renewables in their operations.
“Funding from ARENA will help South32 investigate innovative electrification options for steam generation that enable the use of renewable energy.”
With applications for the ITS still open, an additional A$70m in funding is available under the second round, encouraging industries to further their GHG emission-reduction initiatives.
Furthermore, South32 announced in February that its Worsley Alumina operations received federal environmental approval for the Worsley Mine Development Project, complementing the WA state environmental approval secured on 20 December 2023.
Worsley Alumina’s operations encompass the Boddington bauxite mine, a refinery near Collie and port facilities at Bunbury, all integral to the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
