Calculate the energy, time and cost of an electrolysis process.
Aluminium smelting needs about 13 to 15 kWh per kilogram, which the defaults reproduce closely. That energy intensity is why smelters are sited next to cheap hydroelectric power. Electrolysis cost is dominated by electricity, so a fraction of a cent per kWh determines the competitiveness of an entire plant.
Electrolysis
Charge = (m ÷ M) z F; energy = charge × voltage ÷ 3.6 × 10⁶ kWh
Charge = (m ÷ M) z F; energy = charge × voltage ÷ 3.6 × 10⁶ kWh Aluminium smelting needs about 13 to 15 kWh per kilogram, which the defaults reproduce closely. That energy intensity is why smelters are sited next to cheap hydroelectric power.
Electrolysis cost is dominated by electricity, so a fraction of a cent per kWh determines the competitiveness of an entire plant.
This calculator takes 6 inputs: Mass to produce, Molar mass, Electrons per ion, Cell voltage, Current, Energy price per kWh. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.