Alcoa follows Century in turning aluminum smelters into data centres

Source: AL Circle Feb 26, 2026 17:35

Aluminum smelters are increasingly being repurposed as data centres. Following an update from Century Aluminum about transforming its Hawesville smelter into a digital infrastructure campus, news has surfaced from Alcoa Corp that it is turning its ten aluminum facilities into data centres. These smelters are currently either fully idled or operating at reduced capacity. According to its chief executive, Bill Oplinger, the first transaction is expected to be concluded before the end of June, with two additional deals likely to follow shortly thereafter.

The move reflects a notable shift in the energy landscape. Aluminum smelting is an electricity-intensive process, and producers have traditionally competed fiercely for access to affordable power. In recent years, however, large-scale data centres, driven by rapid expansion in artificial intelligence and cloud computing, have emerged as formidable new rivals

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