New target: Alcoa aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050

Alcoa Corporation has set itself a new goal: namely, to be carbon-neutral across its global operations by 2050.

This goal to be carbon-neutral by 2050 (for direct and indirect emissions, scope 1 & 2) complements the company’s existing targets, which include reducing GHG emissions from aluminium smelting and alumina refining operations by 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030 from 2015 baselines.

Alcoa intends to grow its low-carbon portfolio, increase the use of renewable energy at its operations and bring breakthrough innovations to the market over time. The company plans to further reduce the emissions profile of its alumina refining system and its smelting portfolio, which is powered by over 75% renewable energy. Alcoa is also developing new technologies, which are important to unlocking decarbonization at scale, including the Elysis zero-carbon smelting process and mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) to reduce emissions in the alumina refining process.

Alcoa invented the inert anode technology for aluminium smelting that serves as the basis for the Elysis joint venture. This technology emits pure oxygen and eliminates GHG emissions associated with the traditional process to make molten aluminium. Batches of carbon-free aluminium produced by Elysis have been sold for use by such companies as Apple and Audi, as the Elysis joint venture continues working toward an industrial scale.