Abstract New legislation and emissions trading increase pressures for the industry to find new environmentally sound solutions. This research analyses the utilisation of carbon monoxide (CO), formed in steel mills from the emissions reduction viewpoint. The research studies possibilities of combining steel and chemical productions from economic and environmental perspectives. The analysis includes considering emissions costs and electricity price, when CO is converted into chemical products. The results prove the economic profitability of a steel mill selling CO gas to a chemical producer instead of using it for energy production, while CO₂ emissions are simultaneously reduced.
Abstract Environmental awareness has been raised globally, and as a consequence, sustainability is increasingly under focus. Due to increased demand from end-users and tightened legislation, companies must seriously take sustainability into account. Typically, sustainability is attempted to address only after product realisation. However, best sustainability results can be obtained through earlier consideration, guiding relevant requirements directly to product development (PD). This paper analyses how a significant ICT company combines sustainability and PD with design for excellence practices. The results include a description of practical realisation of design for sustainability together with its main challenges.
Abstract This article discusses the market potential estimation results at different stages of second-generation oxy-fuel technology for carbon capture and storage, where oxygen content is increased in order to increase efficiency and product life cycle. The article highlights the challenges to commercializing an energy technology with long development lead times. Challenges related to external market environment, regulations and market price for carbon dioxide (CO₂) also need to be resolved. The study is based on a second-generation oxy-CFB technology evaluation, SWOT analysis and product life-cycle estimation. The commercialization of second-generation oxy-fuel technology, estimated as a basis of oxy-CFB technology, is largely found to be dependent on technical, sociological and economical aspects related to the energy market environment. The CO₂ price in European Union (EU) emissions trading is currently below 10 €/ton, which does not favour investment in CCS. CO₂ storage also faces public opposition and EU directive limitations. The CO₂ price needs to be in the range of 30 €/ton by 2030, the estimated time of commercialization. Technological development or subsidies would also be required for the second-generation oxy-CFB power production concept to become viable. This is one of the critical factors in market deployment as the price development is influenced by several external factors, including the EU's environmental policy, politics and public acceptance.
Abstract Geomembranes are used worldwide as basin liners in tailings ponds to decrease the permeability of the foundation and prevent further transportation of harmful contaminants and contaminated water. However, leakage into the environment and damage to the geomembrane have been reported. This paper reviews available literature and recommendations on geomembrane structures for use as a basal liner in tailings ponds, and presents a framework to achieve early involvement and an integrated approach to geomembrane structure design. Cohesive planning guidelines or legislative directions for such structures are currently lacking in many countries, which often means that the structure guidelines for groundwater protection or landfill are applied when designing tailings storage facilities (TSF). Basin structure is generally unique to each mine but, based on the literature, in the majority of cases the structure has a single-composite liner. The type of liner system used depends mainly on the material to be used on top of the structure, local hydraulic pressure gradient, and climate conditions. More practical information and scientific knowledge on the use of base liners in various cases are needed. A sustainable approach could be risk-based design, where the life cycle of the basin is taken into consideration. To this end, this paper proposes geomembrane-lined tailings pond to be assessed as a stakeholder. Emphasis on this, early enough, can ensure critical factors for tailings ponds to be considered from the outset in the design of mines and reduces the environmental footprint of the mining industry. More holistic project management and early involvement and integration are recommended to improve construction quality during the entire life cycle of the pond. In the long term, use of dry stacking or other alternative methods should be encouraged, despite the higher costs for operators.
