Primary aluminium has two carbon stories: the smelter's direct ≈1.6 t/t (carbon anodes + PFC events) and the electricity behind it — 13–15 MWh/t, which on a fossil grid adds ~10 t CO2/t indirect. That's why identical smelters differ 8× in footprint depending on the grid, and why Gulf producers with gas power face CBAM scrutiny on indirect emissions.
| Year | Free allocation (EU) | Payable carbon cost | Annual bill (per 100,000 t Al) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 97.5% | €3.10 / t Al | €309,600 |
| 2030 | 51.5% | €60.06 / t Al | €6,006,240 |
| 2034 | 0.0% | €123.84 / t Al | €12,384,000 |
At EUA €77.4 (11 Jun 2026) and ≈1.5–1.7 t CO2/t Al direct from smelting (anodes + process; IAI). EU ETS industry schedule; exporters under CBAM follow the mirrored phase-in. Power sectors pay 100% from day one.
Indicative reduction potential of each measure against the relevant emissions share (sources: IEA industry roadmaps, sector associations — see each measure page). Measures stack but don't simply add.
The fuel-burning corners of a smelter — anode bake furnaces, casthouse holding furnaces, boiler plant — are classic removable-insulation territory: high temperatures, frequent maintenance access, hundreds of fittings. Alba, EGA and other Gulf smelters carry exactly this profile, and every avoided tonne lowers the embedded-emissions number their EU customers now ask for.
Method: ASTM C680 / ISO 12241 surface energy balance — the same engine as our public calculators. Typical removable-insulation effect across hot-process plants: 2–5% of fuel-related CO2, payback up to 2 years.
Direct-emission intensities, typical published values per industry page — units differ by product; see each page for sources.
