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

15 November 2025

EnPot demonstrates power flexibility in China smelter trials

Aluminium International Today article on EnPot technology demonstrating its power flexibility during recent trials in high amperage aluminium cells at the Beihai smelter in China.

28 October 2025

Flexing Power: a new chapter for China's Aluminium Smelters

Aluminium Circle article about the aluminium industry's period of transformation, with smelters seeking new ways to operate as flexible energy consumers. To support this shift, many are turning to tec

27 October 2025

EnPot release results of first 440kA demonstration at Binzhou Beihai Smelter in China

Today, EnPot Chief Technology Officer, Dr Nick Depree released initial results from EnPot's first installation on large amperage 440kA pots at ICSOBA in Nanning, China.

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

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

Find out more about EnPot Technology

Reduce CO₂ Footprint