Alcoa Exploring Technology to Further Reduce Carbon Emissions in Alumina Refining on May 20 2021 11:00 PM PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA) today announced a development project with the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the alumina refining process, which would further enhance the Company’s strong sustainability performance across the aluminum value chain. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has granted to Alcoa of Australia $8.8 million (A$11.3 million) to test the potential use of renewable energy in a process known as Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR). Alcoa of Australia is currently conducting technical and commercial studies to adapt MVR technology to refining. Electricity sourced from renewable energy would power compressors to turn waste vapor into steam, which would then be used to provide refinery process heat.