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How much energy is one soda can’s worth of aluminum?



It's about 14.9 grams of aluminum:

https://recycleusainc.com/how-many-aluminum-cans-equal-1-pou...

Modern aluminum smelters consume 12,500 to 15,000 kilowatt hours per metric ton of metal produced:

https://agmetalminer.com/2015/11/24/power-costs-the-producti...

If we take the higher value of 15,000 kWh, that's

(14.9 / 1000000) * 15000 = 0.22 kWh for one can's worth of aluminum.


Thanks! Wow that’s a lot of energy.


Fortunately it's 100% recyclable.


Enough to drive a Model 3 about 1.5km.


But when you're done with it, you can just dump it in your Mr. Fusion and get it right back.




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