June 1, 2024 – In collaboration with Boundless Impact Research and Analytics, with sponsorship from EnergyWerx and the US Department of Energy, Big Blue Technologies is pleased to announce the completion of an ISO-compliant lifecycle analysis on its magnesium metal production technology.
When using system expansion methodology to include both magnesium metal and calcium aluminate co-production, the base-case greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint is 3.26 kgCO2eq/kg Mg. With renewable power integrations, the GHG footprint is 0.37 kg CO2eq/ kg Mg.
The Chinese Pidgeon process, responsible for nearly 90% of world magnesium metal production, was previously analyzed for GHG footprint in an ISO-compliant LCA commissioned by the International Magnesium Association. This process route generates, on average, 21.8 kg CO2eq/kg Mg, one of the highest impacts for across all critical metals and materials.
Big Blue Technologies’ process innovations represent GHG reductions between 85 – 98% compared to the dominant Chinese Pidgeon process. SImilarly, BBT’s process generates no waste products and uses no process water.
“The co-production of aluminates is a major advance to create substantial improvements for cost-competitive and sustainable products. We have demonstrated the technical viability at our pilot facility and working diligently to design and construct our commercial entry plant. Realizing the environmental and economic benefits at scale is game changing for the industry and all downstream manufacturers,” said Aaron Palumbo, CEO of BBT.