EnPot - Aluminium's Flexible Future

How can EnPot technology benefit you?

Smelters

Aluminium smelters fitted with EnPot technology are better positioned to secure cheaper power, maximise operating performance, and reduce their CO₂ emissions profile by operating like a virtual power plant.

Energy Sector

An EnPot enabled aluminium smelter provides power companies with a low-cost, large-scale 'virtual battery' that can provide large volumes of instant power back to the grid.

Government

EnPot enables Governments to reach their clean energy targets faster by providing a reliable energy source to support intermittent renewable energy.

Just 200 aluminium smelters consume the same amount of power as 1.2 billion people use domestically

EnPot technology helps to reinvent smelters into virtual batteries capable of providing valuable storage and back-up power to the world’s electricity grids in times of high energy demand or lower than normal generation. This is achieved at a lower cost than other storage options. EnPot supports the world's electricity grids to adopt variable renewable energy faster by providing a reliable backstop.

EnPot has been operating on a commercial scale at TRIMET’S Essen smelter in Germany since May 2019.

How EnPot Works

EnPot enables aluminium smelters to modulate their energy consumption

With EnPot, smelters can use 30% more or less energy without disturbing the delicate heat balance required to make aluminium. This new-found flexibility makes smelters more compatible with the variable electricity supply provided by renewable generation. The technology acts as a giant climate control system capable of maintaining a precise heat balance, even with a fluctuating electricity supply.

Benefits of EnPot

Reduce CO₂ Footprint

If EnPot was incorporated into the world's smelters today, enabling 100% renewable energy usage, the cumulative savings over the next 30 years could be as much as 52 billion tonnes of CO₂^1,2 - the equivalent to removing 90% of passenger vehicles on the road today.

Electricity Grid Security

As power generation becomes more dependent on variable renewable sources, more consistent back-up energy is needed. Smelters enabled with EnPot can be integrated into the grid and used as Virtual Power Plants that can rapidly dial consumption up or down on demand.

Reduced Costs

Fitting EnPot to smelters provides commercial benefits to both the smelter and the electricity supplier. A mid-sized ~600MW smelter could save up to $40 million each year. For energy suppliers, an EnPot enabled smelter is the lowest cost energy storage solution available today.

Increased Control Over Production

Smelters can vary their energy consumption up and down by up to 30%, giving them more control over how much aluminium they produce and when. EnPot technology also enables them to respond to market signals including metal and power prices.

Latest News

03 November 2021

A Word From EnPot's New CEO

Here's the thing. Just 200 aluminium smelters use the same amount of power as 1.2 billion people use at home. This is my story about why I believe in this technology and how it can make a difference.

17 October 2021

EnPot presents at the International Congress of Aluminum Industrial Technology and Development

EnPot's Dr. Nick Depree, on how the aluminium industry can be decarbonised, now, using existing technology.

04 December 2020

IEA Highlights Role for EnPot Technology in China Power System Transformation

EnPot technology is highlighted by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as playing a key role in the required transformation of China's aluminium smelting industry.

Testimonials

TRIMET's trials of the EnPot technology
indicate that by being able to dynamically increase or decrease our energy use by 25%, TRIMET could become the energy bridge buffering supply and demand in Germany"

Dr. Martin Iffert

Former CEO of TRIMET Aluminium SE

The pots with EnPot installed have outperformed the rest of the pots in the line with 0.25 DCkWh/kg lower energy consumption and 0.4% higher current efficiency. "These results underpin our confidence in the EnPot technology," he says. Full results of the 12-pot trial were published in Light Metals (2016)

Roman Düssel

TRIMET Production Manager

Find out more about EnPot Technology

Aluminium's Flexible Future

How can EnPot technology benefit you?

Smelters

Energy Sector

Government

Just 200 aluminium smelters consume the same amount of power as 1.2 billion people use domestically

How EnPot Works

EnPot enables aluminium smelters to modulate their energy consumption

Benefits of EnPot

Reduce CO2 Footprint

Electricity Grid Security

Reduced Costs

Increased Control Over Production

Latest News

Testimonials

Dr. Martin Iffert

Roman Düssel

Find out more about EnPot Technology

Reduce CO₂ Footprint