Commercialising Alumina Refining Using Solar Heat

Approximately 27% of Australia’s industrial carbon emissions come from alumina refineries, which burn fossil fuels to heat the process. However, concentrated solar thermal energy could provide up to half of the heat required.

An Australian research team led by Professor Gus Nathan, Director of the Centre for Energy Technology, at the University of Adelaide have demonstrated for the first time, a novel solar reactor for calcining alumina, a process which typically takes place at around 950C.

In addition, the use of solar energy may have the potential to improve the quality of the alumina.

For full details read “Australian Researchers Assess the Commercial Viability of Solar Alumina Calcining” by Susan Kraemer, Solar Power & Chemical Energy Systems (SolarPACES), August 3, 2020.