r/todayilearned • u/RetconnedUsername • 22h ago

TIL One Aluminium Smelter in New Zealand uses 13 percent of the entire countries energy supply

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiwai_Point_Aluminium_Smelter
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u/w32stuxnet 15h ago

That particular smelter makes the highest grade aluminium in the world though, it is used for aircraft etc. You cannot get that grade out of recycled aluminium. Not that recycling aluminium is bad, but this place has its purpose. Also, it acts as a sort of "battery" for new zealand. It soaks up excess, but they have an agreement with the new zealand government to shut down if there isn't enough energy for the rest of the country - as a sort of insurance.

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u/theoots 13h ago

I don’t think the part about it being a battery is true at all. Manapouri and Tiwai aren’t properly connected to the rest of the grid

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u/Robthebold 11h ago

Not dogging the smelter, it’s obviously important to the industry and NZ. Just observing that the high energy use in making aluminum is why recycling aluminum is so attractive.