The funding will enable South32 to conduct a pre-feasibility study on four investment options for partial steam electrification.
The alumina refining industry is the country’s largest consumer of industrial process heat, with approximately 70% of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from steam generation powered by fossil fuels. The study at Worsley aims to explore cleaner alternatives that can integrate renewable electricity into operations.
South32 will assess four potential investment options for partial steam electrification. These include the use of electric boilers and mechanical vapour recompression systems. Both technologies are expected to improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and cut emissions by replacing fossil fuel-based steam production with renewable energy sources.
Vanessa Torres, Chief Operating Officer at South32, commented: “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.”
This effort is part of ARENA’s wider strategy to promote low-emissions technology across the alumina refining sector. The findings from South32’s study are expected to contribute to industry-wide knowledge and help accelerate the transition to more sustainable practices.
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.”
The ITS programme continues to receive applications, with A$70 million still available in the second funding round to support industrial emissions-reduction initiatives.
In addition to this electrification study, South32 confirmed in February that its Worsley Alumina operations received federal environmental approval for the Worsley Mine Development Project. This follows the state-level environmental approval granted in December 2023.
Worsley Alumina’s operations include the Boddington bauxite mine, a refinery near Collie, and export facilities at Bunbury. These facilities are integral to South32’s broader strategy of sustainability and environmental responsibility, reinforcing its commitment to developing low-emission technologies and practices in the resources sector.
