Julien Pedneault, Guillaume Majeau-Bettez, Volker Krey and Manuele Margni
Article (2021)
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Accepted Version Terms of Use: Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives . Restricted to: Repository staff only until 13 July 2024. Request a copy |
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Supplemental Material Terms of Use: Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives . Restricted to: Repository staff only until 13 July 2024. Request a copy |
Cite this document: | Pedneault, J., Majeau-Bettez, G., Krey, V. & Margni, M. (2021). What future for primary aluminium production in a decarbonizing economy? Global Environmental Change, 69. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102316 |
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Abstract
Aluminium is an energy intensive material with an environmental footprint strongly dependent on the electricity mix consumed by the smelting process. This study models prospective environmental impacts of primary aluminium production according to different integrated assessment modeling scenarios building on Shared Socioeconomic Pathways and their climate change mitigation scenarios. Results project a global average carbon intensity ranging between 8.6 and 18.0 kg CO2 eq/kg in 2100, compared to 18.3 kg CO2 eq/kg at present, that could be further reduced under mitigation scenarios. Co-benefits with other environmental indicators are observed. Scaling aluminium production impacts to the global demand shows total emission between 1250 and 1590 Gt CO2 eq for baseline scenarios by 2050 while absolute decoupling is only achievable with stringent climate policy changing drastically the electricity mix. Achieving larger emission reductions will require circular strategies that go beyond primary material production itself and involve other stakeholders along the aluminium value chain.
Uncontrolled Keywords
Primary aluminium production; Carbon footprint; Scenario modelling; Shared socioeconomic pathways; Life cycle assessment
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Subjects: |
1800 Génie chimique > 1800 Génie chimique 2000 Science et technologie des matériaux > 2003 Métallurgie, métaux et alliages |
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Department: |
Département de génie chimique Département de mathématiques et de génie industriel |
Research Center: | CIRAIG - Centre international de référence sur le cycle de vie des produits, procédés et services |
Date Deposited: | 19 Jul 2021 17:44 |
Last Modified: | 20 Jul 2021 01:20 |
PolyPublie URL: | https://publications.polymtl.ca/6647/ |
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Journal Title: | Global Environmental Change (vol. 69) |
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Publisher: | Elsevier |
Official URL: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102316 |
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