What role does aluminum play in the production of ferrovanadium?

In the production of ferrovanadium, aluminum serves as a critical reducing agent. During the process, which takes place in an electric-arc furnace, a mixture of vanadium pentoxide ($V_2{O}_5$), aluminum, and a flux is added to molten scrap iron.

The aluminum facilitates an oxidation-reduction reaction where it is converted into alumina (forming a slag), while the $V_2{O}_5$ is reduced to vanadium metal, which then dissolves into the molten iron. Because this reaction is exothermic, it generates the necessary heat to sustain the process once the kindling temperature of 950° C (1,750° F) is reached. This method is a specific application of the aluminothermic process, which can also be performed in a refractory-lined steel pot or a water-cooled copper crucible using a chemical ignition source.1