Initiative
awarded by Power Ministry for demonstrating energy-efficient innovation; The
company has also launched its 2nd Climate Action Report, aligned with the TCFD
framework
On National Energy
Conservation Day, Vedanta Aluminium, the largest aluminium producer in India,
announces a significant new breakthrough in the lining design of the ‘pots’ at
its aluminium smelters. These smelters house several potlines, which are long
buildings within the smelter that contain a series of ‘pots’, or large
electrolytic cells, within which aluminium production via smelting is carried
out. The ‘Vedanta Lining Design’ is a patented, energy-efficient technique that
provides the dual advantages of increased energy efficiency and enhanced
lifespan of the smelting pots, reducing energy
consumption by 200 to 250 KWh per tonne of aluminium produced.
The innovation has also
been recognised by the Ministry of Power’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE),
as part of its National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards (NEEIA) 2023, in
the presence of the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. On the
occasion of National Energy Conservation Day, this prestigious recognition
comes as a strong reaffirmation of the company’s commitment to championing
energy efficiency and conservation through transformative innovations within
the global aluminium industry. Its initiatives in this regard also closely
align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Industry, Innovation &
Infrastructure (SDG9), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12) and
Climate Action (SDG13).
The new lining technique
was designed using numerical computational modelling techniques that simulate
electrical and thermal behaviour within the smelting pots. After a successful
year-long trial, the design is now ready to be deployed across its smelters,
including Vedanta Jharsuguda in Odisha, one of the largest aluminium smelters
in the world, and at BALCO, India’s iconic aluminium smelter based in Korba,
Chhattisgarh. It is projected to reduce GHG emissions by up to 3.86 lakh tCO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) generated per
annum on complete deployment at its largest smelter in Jharsuguda alone.
Vedanta Aluminium has also
launched its second annual Climate Action Report, aligned with the Task Force
on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The TCFD framework comprises a
set of guidelines to help companies disclose climate-related financial risks
and opportunities to their stakeholders. The detailed report transparently
outlines the comprehensive approach undertaken by Vedanta Aluminium to
achieving its sustainability targets in the short, medium, and long term.
The
complete report is available on the company’s website and can be accessed via
the following link:
https://vedantaaluminium.com/sustainability/sustainability-report/
Commenting on the company’s
energy conservation efforts, Mr. John
Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, climate action
is a key strategic pillar and business imperative, executed through a
two-pronged strategy of mitigation and offsetting of our carbon footprint.
Energy management and conservation is an integral aspect of this entire effort,
and we are therefore focused on leading the charge in this aspect within the
aluminium industry. These include optimizing energy consumption and
transitioning to sustainable energy alternatives, thereby setting new
benchmarks in responsible production across the industry value chain.”
As part of its innovation,
the company has also successfully integrated graphitization into its pot lining
design, a process that makes the properties of the cathodes used in aluminium
production more akin to graphite - an excellent conductor of electricity known
for its stability at high temperatures. The process enables the cathodes,
crucial to the smelting process, display enhanced electrical conductivity,
contributing to more energy efficiency and sustainable operations. The
deployment is nearing completion in both smelter locations.
Vedanta Aluminium has
committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, implementing a series of
impactful energy conservation measures in FY23 and achieved a total amount of
1.4 million gigajoules (GJ) energy savings. By 2025, the company plans to
derive 7% of its total power consumption from renewables, utilising 1.37 billion
units of renewable energy in FY23 alone which is equivalent to power generation
of approximately 150 MW from a thermal power plant.
Vedanta Aluminium, a
business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium,
manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in
FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical
applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a
reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class
aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company
fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the
‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com
