Patent ID: 8377599

Claim:
An aluminum plant comprising: a smelter comprising a power input (P S ) and an alumina mixture input flow rate and wherein the smelter is configured to converts the alumina mixture to an aluminum alloy at a flow rate (A s ); wherein the smelter is connected to an external energy source that provides a power (P L ) a reactor unit comprising a reactor connected to a water supply and the smelter, and configured to react the aluminum alloy with water at a flow rate (A R ) to generate H 2 and heat; and a turbine connected to the reactor unit so that it produces power (P T ) from the heat, by combustion of the H 2 , by use of the H 2 in a fuel cell, or a combination of any two or more thereof; wherein: a portion of P T is electrically connected to an external load, P L ; the smelter (P S ) and external load (P L ) are electrically connected to receive power from both the external energy source that provides P L and to the turbine that provides power P T , wherein said electrical connection is at least one energy node that distributes power; said energy node is located within the aluminum plant; the aluminum alloy comprises Al and the aluminum alloy further comprises one or more of Ga, In, or Sn; and the alumina mixture comprises Al 2 O 3 , and the alumina mixture further comprises one or more of Ga, In, or Sn.