ARENA funds industrial heat electrification at Rio Tinto refinery

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced funding for a major industrial heat electrification demonstration at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery near Gladstone, Queensland. The project aims to validate the use of thermal energy storage to reduce fossil fuel reliance in energy-intensive industries.

Heavy industries like alumina refining typically require continuous, high-temperature steam produced by fossil fuels. This project will test whether low-cost electricity can be stored as heat to provide a steady steam output. ARENA will provide an initial $3.6 million for front-end engineering and design work. Pending successful results, the agency will provide up to $38 million for deployment, along with up to $33.3 million in conditional contingency support to manage risks such as electricity costs and cost overruns.