Carbon emission analysis of primary aluminum production in China based on energy consumption

LI Qingpo; PENG Jianping; LIU Xingjian; WANG Yaowu; DI Yuezhong

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202501003

Volume 43 Issue 1

Mar. 2025

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2025 > 43(1): 21-30

LI Qingpo, PENG Jianping, LIU Xingjian, WANG Yaowu, DI Yuezhong. Carbon emission analysis of primary aluminum production in China based on energy consumption[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(1): 21-30. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202501003

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LI Qingpo, PENG Jianping, LIU Xingjian, WANG Yaowu, DI Yuezhong. Carbon emission analysis of primary aluminum production in China based on energy consumption[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(1): 21-30. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202501003

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Carbon emission analysis of primary aluminum production in China based on energy consumption

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202501003

School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China

Received Date: 2023-09-21
Accepted Date: 2024-03-27
Rev Recd Date: 2024-01-29

Available Online: 2025-03-21

Publish Date: 2025-03-21

Abstract

Abstract

China is the world’s largest producer of primary aluminum. The carbon emissions from the production of primary aluminum account for about 5% of the total carbon emissions in society, which is of great significance to China’s "dual carbon" goal. To explore the sources of carbon emissions from primary aluminum production, a new algorithm for calculating carbon emissions from primary aluminum production was designed from the perspective of energy consumption. Three different grid emission factors, namely regional, baseline, and national, were selected to account for carbon emissions from primary aluminum production in China from 2012 to 2021, and to identify key factors that constrain primary aluminum production. The results showed that from 2012 to 2021, the carbon emissions from China’s primary aluminum production showed an overall upward trend, but the growth rate was slowing down, and the emission reduction effect of primary aluminum production was significant. Taking the baseline grid emission factor calculation as an example, 1) in 2012, the carbon emissions per ton of primary aluminum produced in China were 18.14 t/t. In 2021, the carbon emissions per ton of primary aluminum production in China were 12.48 t/t, with a decrease of 31.21%. 2) in terms of proportion, carbon emissions from primary aluminum production in China have always been dominated by electricity consumption. In 2021, nearly 90% of carbon emissions from primary aluminum production came from self-owned electricity and grid power consumption. 3) the four key factors that constrain the carbon emissions of primary aluminum production are the production of primary aluminum, the proportion of self-owned electricity, the comprehensive AC power consumption of primary aluminum, and the carbon dioxide emissions per unit of thermal power generation in China. In 2012, the carbon emissions per ton of aluminum in various regions of China were 15.67 t/t to 16.82 t/t, which decreased to 10.09 t/t to 11.09 t/t in 2021. The southern China has the lowest carbon emissions per ton of aluminum, with 10.09 tons of carbon emissions per ton of aluminum. Transferring the electrolytic aluminum industry to low-carbon emission factor areas, such as southern China, has a significant driving effect on emission reduction. At the same time, it is necessary to update the emission factors of China’s regional power grid as soon as possible, to accurately reflect the energy consumption structure of each region, and provide a basis for formulating relevant policies to guide the emission reduction of primary aluminum production.
- carbon emissions,
- energy consumption,
- primary aluminum,
- emission factors,
- self-provided electricity

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References

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