| Abstract Scope |
High renewable power integration creates new challenges for aluminum smelters that require continuous, stable, and high-quality electricity supply. This paper proposes a reliability-oriented power supply assessment framework for greenfield smelters under high renewable penetration, covering load adequacy, transmission redundancy, N-1 contingency, power quality, emergency restoration, and grid backup. A proposed 300 ktpa smelter is used as a case study. The project adopts 400 kA prebake cells, with one potline consisting of 288 cells. The stable potline load is approximately 457 MW, while the maximum plant load reaches 515–520 MW. First-class load accounts for about 95% of total plant load. The study shows that renewable direct supply can reduce power cost and carbon intensity, but it cannot replace firm grid support. Dual independent sources, N-1 capability, and emergency response procedures are essential for reliable aluminum reduction operation. |