Technology’s Role in Advancing Aluminium Industry Sustainability

30 July 2024

Shaping a new aluminium industry

Bathco was founded 16 years ago on the idea of upcycling byproducts from the aluminium industry into valuable resources. We started with a focus on bath material, hence our name. Building on this foundation, as a company, we’re keen to drive change toward sustainability in the aluminium industry.

Demonstrating industry leadership through ASI membership

As a member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), Bathco actively supports its global aluminium sustainability standards. Our membership with ASI underscores our commitment to ethical, environmentally conscious, and socially responsible practices in aluminium production and sourcing. By collaborating with ASI, we stay at the forefront of industry developments, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of sustainability and stewardship. This affiliation not only reflects our dedication to improving the industry’s environmental footprint but also strengthens our resolve to drive meaningful change and promote sustainable practices throughout the industry.

Upcycling and technological advancements

Our sustainability journey has been multifaceted. Originating from the upcycling of bath material—a byproduct of aluminium smelting—our approach has set a foundation for broader strategic initiatives. This initial focus has naturally extended into providing smelters with sustainably sourced raw materials, including for example, promoting the use of low bulk density aluminium fluoride (ALF₃), which itself is derived from a byproduct. Furthering this commitment, we actively offtake various other products from smelters to recycle and upcycle, such as spent anodes, basement material, carbon dust and soon, spent pot liner, enhancing the sustainability of the entire material lifecycle.

Beyond raw material supply, Bathco actively engages in off-taking aluminium produced with renewable energy for distribution to end consumers and creates additional supply of low carbon aluminium by financing sustainable projects that align with our vision of a more sustainable aluminium industry. On the technology side, our subsidiary, Metsol, which is a technology developer and implementer focused on energy reduction, spearheads innovation in the aluminium industry with technologies like the smart pot control system APC+ and the Pre-Assembled Cathode system (HPCA). Simply put, our technology works to produce a double impact by reducing both energy consumption and CO₂ emissions at the same time.

In our latest collaboration with Alucam, an ASI Certified member located in Cameroon, we are financing the integration of our technology to increase production efficiency as well as stability and reduce CO₂ emissions. There is more information on this collaboration in our press release.

Entering this strategic partnership and financing the project in Cameroon shows our commitment to actively create additional supply of low carbon aluminium by combining our different services, in this case Technology Solutions and metal off-taking. Alucam, which uses hydroelectric power for its operations, is set to ramp up to its rated capacity of 100,000 metric tons per year.

Effective solutions to eliminate aluminium byproducts

One of our primary objectives in the byproducts sector is to ensure robust, continuous demand for all excess materials produced by the aluminium industry. We guarantee that any smelter partnering with us will have their excess byproducts responsibly handled. This assurance is the result of our sustained efforts over the past 16 years to elevate industry awareness and improve organizational practices regarding byproduct management. Initially, when we entered the market there was limited recognition of the importance of properly managing these materials. Today, we can confidently state that every smelter that partners with us is equipped to manage their bath material effectively, ensuring it is utilized properly and not sent to landfills.

Advancing the shift – We must act now

To effectively harness renewable energy for aluminium production, industries must adopt technologies like advanced pot control systems and energy buffering systems, crucial for managing power fluctuations. Adopting such technologies enables the exclusive use of intermittent renewable electricity for aluminium smelting and accelerates progress toward sustainable practices. Significant investments and changes in production locations will be necessary over the next two decades.

Collaborative efforts are essential. Organizations like the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) align industry efforts and set standards that facilitate this shift. As a proud General Supporter member, Bathco actively supports these standards, contributing to the industry’s transformation.

The challenges ahead are substantial, and only with decisive action from industry leaders like Bathco can we meet our shared goals. With the 2050 Net Zero target approaching, and the extensive investments required for new aluminium smelters and renewable energy sources, immediate action is essential. Bathco is committed to driving these crucial industry changes.

For more information, contact Andreas Schwarz of Bathco AG.

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