South32 will explore four pathways to partially electrify steam production at its Worsley Alumina Refinery in Western Australia, backed by $4.4 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Alumina refining is Australia’s most emissions-intensive industrial process, with steam generation responsible for around 70 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Currently reliant on fossil fuels, the sector is under pressure to decarbonise in line with national climate targets.
The pre-feasibility study, funded under ARENA’s $400 million Industrial Transformation Stream program, will assess the viability of electric boilers and mechanical vapour recompression.
Both options aim to replace fossil-fuelled heat with renewable electricity.
“Funding from ARENA will help South32 investigate innovative electrification options for steam generation that enable the use of renewable energy,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller.
“Meeting Australia’s emissions reduction targets will require businesses in the most energy intensive industries to incorporate renewables in their operations.”
Electric boilers directly generate steam using electrodes, while mechanical vapour recompression reuses waste vapour from the refining process to produce pressurised steam – potentially lifting efficiency and lowering emissions.
South32 Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Torres said the study builds on decarbonisation work already underway at the refinery.
“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,” Ms Torres said.
Applications for the next round of the Industrial Transformation Stream – offering $70 million in funding – remain open until mid-June 2025.