  The ALICE experiment at the LHC is equipped with an electromagnetic
calorimeter (EMCal) designed to enhance its capabilities for jet, photon and
electron measurement. In addition, the EMCal enables triggering on jets and
photons with a centrality dependent energy threshold. After its commissioning
in 2010, the EMCal Level 1 (L1) trigger was officially approved for physics
data taking in 2011. After describing the L1 hardware and trigger algorithms,
the commissioning and the first year of running experience, both in proton and
heavy ion beams, are reviewed. Additionally, the upgrades to the original L1
trigger design are detailed.
