Trends: Energy Consumption by Fuel

“Industrial Energy Efficiency”, Office of Technology Assessment, August 1993

Environmental Issues
International Competition
Major Products and Markets
Regulations and NOx Control
Summary
Trends / Major Products
Trends / Employment and Productivity
Trends / Energy Consumption by Fuel
Trends / Primary Aluminum Production
Trends / Total Supply of Aluminum
Trends / World Aluminum Output
Trends / Distribution of Power Plants
Trends / Distribution of Processing Plants

The production of primary aluminum is a very electric intensive process. Over 87% of the energy used to produce primary aluminum is electricity. Recycling and secondary smelting of aluminum requires only about 5% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminum from bauxite. Secondary aluminum refining utilizes natural gas as the primary fuel for melting and holding the aluminum.