135980 20260219090930.0 doi 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.102456 sideral 139017 ART-2024-139017 eng Sáez-Guinoa, Javier Techno-economic assessment of solar photovoltaic electrification and calcium looping technology as decarbonisation pathways of alumina industry 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Aluminium industry stands out as a significant source of CO2 emissions, due partially to the high energy demand of the alumina extraction stage. Accordingly, this study explores the implementation of direct resistive heating of mid-temperature processes in alumina production as an alternative to decrease CO2 emissions. Additionally, two different strategies are evaluated to decarbonize alumina industry: the generation of renewable electricity through solar photovoltaic panels and the integration of a CO2 capture plant based on calcium looping technology. This work comprehends the modelling and sizing of these plants and the assessment of their economic performance through the calculation of their Net Present Value and their respective payback periods. The integration of both strategies into an alumina refinery model reveals that electrification of low and mid-temperature processes yields a 15 % reduction in CO2 direct emissions, whereas calcium looping demonstrates the potential to capture 97 % of emissions with a 7 % energy penalty. Also, economic assessments indicate substantial potential for improvement through in-site electricity generation via solar photovoltaic panels, exhibiting a payback time of 4.5 years. Conversely, the feasibility of a calcium-looping plant is hindered by high capital expenses, necessitating a longer payback period of 19–24 years. Sensitivity analyses underscore the suitability of in-site renewable electricity generation, whereas carbon emission taxes emerge as crucial in incentivizing carbon-neutral processes, with thresholds around 95–125 €/tonne of CO2. Despite potential deviations from real industrial settings, this study provides evidence for environmentally friendly strategies in alumina production that demonstrate limited adverse effects on economic performance. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/T46-23R info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/820911/EU/AlSiCal/Towards sustainable mineral and metal industry: ZERO Bauxite Residue and ZERO CO2 from co-production of Alumina, Silica and precipitated Calcium carbonate by the Aranda-Mastin technology This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No H2020 820911-AlSiCal info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by-nc-nd https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es 7.9 2024 1.171 2024 Engineering (miscellaneous) 2024 Q1 7.3 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Senante, Inés Llera-Sastresa, Eva Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-6103-7136 Romeo, Luis M. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-7379-6159 5004 590 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. 23 (2024), 102456 [10 pp.] Results in Engineering 2590-1230 2307894 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/135980/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2145710 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/135980/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:135980 articulos driver 2026-02-19-09:00:10 ARTICLE