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$4 Million Grant Received To Help
Aluminum Industry Reduce Energy Use
09/30/2004
September 30, 2004 - A $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy was recently awarded to Secat, Inc., a Kentucky aluminum research and testing firm to improve energy efficiency in the aluminum industry.
Secat, located in UK's Coldstream Park, is leading the study, which involves nine aluminum companies, two national research laboratories and UK. Over a three-year period, these partners will be developing processes that reduce the amount of energy needed to melt aluminum. This not only helps companies reduce energy costs, but also benefits the environment by producing less waste.
Kentucky has the highest concentration and diversity of aluminum industry in the world, with 142 facilities and more than $5 billion in shipments. Two cans in every six-pack sold in the U.S. are made from Kentucky aluminum.
With the explosive growth of the Kentucky automotive industry—a 35-percent job increase since 1995—the need for aluminum continues to grow. This relationship between the automotive and aluminum industries provides a powerful driving force for Kentucky's economy and job growth.
Aluminum processing consumes large amounts of energy, and the industry is always searching for ways to reduce that demand. The U.S. Department of Energy's Industrial Technology Program, which seeks to improve the energy efficiency of industries in the U.S., provided the grant for this research.
Secat, Inc. was established to facilitate research and development of innovative technology and products for the aluminum industry, and provides expertise in energy usage and reduction. Secat partners with aluminum companies across the U.S., UK's Center for Aluminum Technology, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky Division of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Energy-National Laboratories.
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