CBAM Aluminium Calculator
Primary Production Inputs (per tonne of aluminium)
Emissions Breakdown (tCO2e per tonne aluminium):
These calculations are indicative. Official compliance reporting requires production-specific emissions data and detailed tracking methodologies.
EU CBAM: From January 2026, importers need CBAM certificates based on verified embedded emissions (Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2023/1773).
UK CBAM: Starting January 2027, similar requirements will apply for UK imports.
Decerna provides compliant emissions calculations, quarterly reporting support, and training for both EU and UK CBAM requirements.
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Understanding CBAM for Aluminium Products
The aluminium sector presents unique challenges for CBAM calculations due to its significant electricity consumption and the potential generation of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) during production. As one of the most electricity-intensive industrial processes, primary aluminium production’s carbon footprint varies dramatically based on the power source used.
Production Routes and Emissions Sources
Aluminium production emissions come from two main routes:
- Primary production (electrolysis): Converting alumina to aluminium through the Hall-Héroult process
- Secondary production: Recycling aluminium scrap through remelting
Key emission sources include:
- Direct CO2 from anode consumption
- PFC emissions from ‘anode effects’ during electrolysis
- Indirect emissions from electricity consumption
- Process emissions from auxiliary processes
Special Consideration: PFC Emissions
PFCs (CF4 and C2F6) are particularly potent greenhouse gases:
- CF4 has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 6,630
- C2F6 has a GWP of 11,100 These must be carefully accounted for in CBAM calculations.
Mathematical Basis
The total embedded emissions calculation follows this formula:
For Primary Aluminium:
Total Emissions = Direct CO2 + PFC Emissions + Indirect Emissions
Where:
Direct CO2 = (Anode Consumption × 3.00) + (Process Emissions × 1)
PFC Emissions = (AEM × (SEFCF4/1000) × PrAl × GWPCF4) +
(CF4 Emissions × FC2F6 × GWPC2F6)
Where:
- AEM = Anode Effect Minutes per cell-day
- SEFCF4 = Slope Emission Factor for CF4
- PrAl = Aluminium Production in tonnes
- FC2F6 = Weight fraction of C2F6 to CF4
- GWP values as per IPCC AR5
Indirect Emissions = Electricity Consumption × Grid Factor
Where:
- Electricity consumption ≈ 13-15 MWh/tonne aluminium
- Grid Factor varies by countryFor Secondary Aluminium:
Total Emissions = (Scrap × 0.02) + (Energy Consumption × Emission Factor) +
(Process Materials × Material Factors)
Where:
- Scrap factor (0.02) represents preprocessing emissions
- Energy consumption typically 0.5-1.5 MWh/tonne
- Process materials include salts and inert gasesData sources:
- PFC emission factors: 2019 Refinement to IPCC Guidelines
- Electricity consumption: International Aluminium Institute data
- Grid intensity: IEA country-specific data
- Process emissions: EU ETS benchmarking data
- GWP values: IPCC Fifth Assessment Report