Five departments issued the "Special Action Plan for Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction in the Electrolytic Aluminum Industry"

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration recently jointly issued the "Special Action Plan for Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction in the Electrolytic Aluminum Industry"(hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The electrolytic aluminum industry is an important basic raw material industry in my country and a key area of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The release of the "Plan" aims to deeply explore the energy conservation and carbon reduction potential of the electrolytic aluminum industry, accelerate the energy conservation and carbon reduction transformation of the electrolytic aluminum industry and the renewal of energy-using equipment, and support the completion of the binding indicators for reducing energy consumption intensity during the "14th Five-Year Plan".

The "Plan" clarifies the main goals, namely,By the end of 2025, the proportion of production capacity above the energy efficiency benchmark level in the electrolytic aluminum industry will reach 30%Production capacity below the energy efficiency benchmark level has been technically transformed or phased out. The industry's renewable energy utilization proportion has reached more than 25%, and the output of recycled aluminum has reached 11.5 million tons. Through the implementation of energy-saving and carbon-reduction transformation, the electrolytic aluminum industry will save approximately 2.5 million tons of standard coal and reduce approximately 6.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from 2024 to 2025. By the end of 2030, the energy consumption and carbon emissions per unit of products in the electrolytic aluminum industry will have dropped significantly, the use of renewable energy will be further improved, and energy-saving and carbon-reduction technologies such as low-temperature aluminum electrolysis, new continuous anode electrolytic cells, inert anode aluminum electrolysis, and recycled aluminum will be achieved. Important breakthroughs have been made, the supply capacity of high-end aluminum products has been greatly improved, and the industry's green and low-carbon development has achieved remarkable results.

The Plan proposes five key tasks:

(1) Optimize industrial layout and production capacity control. Strictly implement the electrolytic aluminum production capacity replacement policy, and no new electrolytic aluminum production capacity will be added in key areas for air pollution prevention and control.New, renovated and expanded electrolytic aluminum projects must meet the energy efficiency benchmark level and environmental performance level A level, the main energy-using equipment must reach advanced levels of energy efficiency。Comprehensively use environmental protection, energy conservation, safety, technology, quality and other means to withdraw and dispose of backward and inefficient electrolytic aluminum production capacity in accordance with laws and regulations, and accelerate the elimination of prebaked anode aluminum reduction cells below 200kA. Production capacity withdrawal projects must meet the requirements of dismantling power units, sealing electrolytic cells, and dismantling within a time limit. Reasonably regulate the export of high-energy-consuming and low-value-added products such as aluminum ingots. (The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology take the lead, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, and the General Administration of Customs divide responsibilities according to their responsibilities)

(2) Vigorously promote energy-saving and carbon-reduction transformation. Promote the large-scale aluminum reduction cells and support the implementation of energy-saving transformation of new stabilized flow insulation aluminum reduction cells. Encourage the use of high-strength steel, low-friction bearings, and efficientmotorOptimize the structure of the electrolytic cell with other materials and equipment, and strengthen the optimization of energy flow and waste heat recovery of aluminum electrolytic cells. Promote and apply energy-saving technologies such as efficient and stable aluminum electrolysis, optimization of electrolytic cell operation, graphitized cathode and phosphorus pig iron pouring to reduce cathode pressure drop, and reduce electrolyte pressure drop. Encourage the application of high-quality anode materials, anode surface coating technology, etc. to reduce anode consumption. Promote the renewal and upgrading of energy-using equipment in the electrolytic aluminum industry, promote advanced equipment such as high-efficiency rectification equipment, intelligent tank control systems, online monitoring equipment, and multi-function intelligent cranes, and accelerate the elimination of inefficient and backward fans.motor, water pumps and other energy-using equipment. (The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology divide responsibilities according to their responsibilities)

(3) Implement non-fossil energy substitution.Actively support electrolytic aluminum companies to expand non-fossil energy applications such as wind power, photovoltaics, hydropower, and biomass energyIn principle, no new self-contained coal-fired units will be added, and existing self-contained coal-fired units will be supported to implement clean energy substitution. Encourage electrolytic aluminum companies to participate in the construction of microgrids that mainly consume renewable energy, and explore the application of aluminum electrolysis virtual.energy storageAnd flexible control technology to improve the matching ability of the project's power load adjustment. Support electrolytic aluminum companies to actively increase renewable energy consumption through green certificates and green power transactions and the construction of renewable energy power generation projects. Promote electrolytic aluminum enterprises to promote and apply closed belt corridors based on actual conditions,new energyClean and low-carbon transportation methods such as vehicles, boats, railways, and waterways. By 2025, the proportion of clean transportation will reach about 70%, and the proportion of key areas for air pollution prevention and control will reach about 80%. (The National Energy Administration takes the lead, and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment divide responsibilities according to their responsibilities)

(4) Promote the coordinated green development of the industrial chain. Guide electrolytic aluminum companies to optimize and upgrade raw material plans, and improve the quality of alumina, aluminum anodes and cathodes and other products by controlling the quality of raw materials such as alumina, reducing the impurity content of alumina, and purifying anode covering materials. Encourage electrolytic aluminum companies to extend the industrial chain and accelerate the development of high-end green products such as aluminum alloy materials, aluminum-based composite materials, and deep-processed aluminum materials. Support the development of the recycled aluminum industry, improve the aluminum product recycling system, formulate standards for slag, aluminum product blanking, aluminum product recycling and other links, and improve the comprehensive utilization level of aluminum waste, overhaul slag, aluminum ash, carbon slag, etc. By 2025, the proportion of direct alloying of aluminum with water will reach more than 90%. (The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology divide responsibilities according to their responsibilities)

(5) Promote digital and intelligent upgrades. Accelerate 5G,big data、artificial intelligence、cloud computing、Internet of ThingsThe innovative application of new generation information technology in the electrolytic aluminum industry will promote the digitalization and intelligent upgrading of the industry. Support enterprises to carry out intelligent upgrades and transformation of electrolytic aluminum production lines, and promote the application of digital intelligent electrolytic cells, intelligent testing, and roasting and stacking cranesdriverless, automatic online cleaning of roasting blocks and residual electrodes improves the adaptive control and optimization adjustment capabilities of the electrolytic cell. Support enterprises to build energy management systems and strengthen information collection, measurement monitoring, intelligent analysis and fine management throughout the process of electrolysis, aluminum production, finished products, measurement, quality inspection, and maintenance. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the State Administration for Market Regulation divide responsibilities according to their responsibilities)