ABSTRACT

Aluminium is the 3rd most abundant element of the Earth’s crust. Novel technologies which appeared recently decreasing the carbon consumption of the aluminium life cycle. Aluminium is widely used as structural material and an energy carrier. In this paper, an infinite double life cycle is described demonstrating, that the economy circle of aluminium as a permanent material or as an energy carrier can be combined into one infinite loop. Several recent innovations played a role in closing the loop as novel structural materials like hybrid aluminium and novel energy conversion devices as aluminium batteries. The material circle: aluminium production, fabrication, manufacturing and waste handling can be made green by the invention of novel technology of carbon free melting of the scrap. The energy cycle for aluminium production, assembly, discharging, charging can be made green by the novel carbon free smelting process thus combining the two cycles into one infinite green loop. In this context, the suggested aluminium production, utilization and recycling processes can provide important global solutions for general utilization of aluminium for future applications.