Aluminium production is one of the most carbon-intensive industries, due to the high levels of electricity required for aluminium smelting. The aluminium industry must reduce its emissions by 77% by 2050 to meet global climate targets. This will largely be achieved through shifting to green electricity and assisted by increasing recycling capacity and efficiency (recycled aluminium uses c 5% of the electricity required for primary aluminium production). Graham Hay says “Demand for lower-carbon aluminium will have a profound effect on the supply side too, and autos are a great example. The average car today uses around 180kg of aluminium per vehicle. Larger EVs [electric vehicles], in a bid to offset battery weight, are increasingly replacing steel with aluminium. For example, the Tesla Model S and the Audi 8 Tron use 700800kg of aluminium per vehicle.”
