Coal Ash Matters July 2019

19 June

THIS ISSUE - JUNE 2019

www.adaa.asn.au

CCPs - a valuable resource

2 Editorial 3 2017 Membership Survey 5 Geopolymer Handbook Update 6 Paving the Way to Sustainable Construction Materials 7 Awards for Excellence in Concrete 8 Acrete: The Lighter, Stronger Concrete Alternative made from Fly Ash 9 City of Sydney Embrace Low Carbon Geopolymer Concrete 10 ADAA at CAMS 2018 Symposium 10 World of Concrete 2019 10 ACAA 2019 Winter Meeting 11 2019 Event Calendar 12 2018 Membership Survey Reminder

Phone: 02 4228 1389 Fax: 02 4258 0169 Email: info@adaa.asn.au

Website: www.adaa.asn.au Twitter: @adaa_info

WORLD FIRST GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE ROAD

Views expressed in Coal Ash Matters newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Ash Development Association of Australia. All contributions are welcomed, though the publisher reserves the right to decline or edit for style grammar, length and legal reasons. Š2005-19.

COAL ASH EDITORIAL TEAM

Editor: Aiden Chilcott

Chief Executive Officer: Craig Heidrich

Design: 101 Design

Contributors: Aiden Chilcott, Craig Heidrich, David French, David Paterson, Latrobe

Circulation: 2000

Magnesium, Stephen Foster Coal Ash Matters is a bi-annual publication ADAA | JUNE 2019

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Membership COMPANY MEMBERS A primary role of the ADAA is to bring together producers and marketers of coal combustion products (CCPs).

Our activities cover research and development into CCP usage, advocacy and technical assistance to CCP producers and users, as well as a forum for the exchange and publication of CCP information.

For more information visit us at www.adaa.asn.au CURRENT MEMBERS • BG&E Materials Technology • Boral Quarries & Recycling • Brickworks Ltd • CS Energy • Delta Electricity • Dr. Jane T Aiken Consulting & Environmental Services • Energy Australia (NSW) • Golden Bay Cement (New Zealand) • Heeleys Consulting • Hyrock (NSW) • Intergen (Millmerran) • Latrobe Magnesium • NRG Gladstone Power Station • Origin Energy Eraring Power Station • Roads and Maritime Services • Sphere One • Stanwell Corporation • Synergy • Tremline Pty Ltd • Ultimate Housing • Vecor Australia RECIPROCAL MEMBERSHIPS • CSIRO www.cmit.csiro.au • Association of Canadian Industries Recycling Coal Ash (CIRCA) www.circainfo.ca • European Coal Combustion Products Association (ECOBA) www.ecoba.org • UK Quality Ash Association www.ukqaa.org.uk • American Coal Ash Association www.acaa-usa.org • World Wide Coal Combustion Products Network (WWCCPN) www.wwccpn.org

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ADAA | JUNE 2019

Editorial The Ash Development Association of Australia (ADAA) are delighted to showcase the latest coal combustion product (CCP) news in another edition of Coal Ash Matters. This edition focuses on the latest research and upcoming events in the industry across Australia and the rest of the World.

Each year, the ADAA conduct a membership survey for information regarding CCP production and sales by members and non-members for each calendar year to determine the annual utilisation of CCPs. The information is collated and aggregated into a national set of results, including CCP production levels and nominated uses for all CCPs. The results of the 2017 survey have been included in this edition of Coal Ash Matters for your consideration.

Our featured article in this edition of Coal Ash Matters comes from a research partnership between The University of Sydney’s Waste Transformation Hub and Delta Electricity. The University team’s research will see fly ash from Delta Electricity’s Vales Point Power Station upcycled into low-carbon engineered eco-pavements.

The research aims to explore the use of ash and expand its use in a variety of marketable products. The University research team are ultimately designing ash circular economy for Australia, focusing on how utilisation of by-products such as ash will serve to lower carbon footprints and assist the shift towards a circular economy.

Finally, in this edition we highlight a number of conferences across the globe to look forward to in 2019. World of Coal Ash (WOCA) in Missouri, USA; Clean Coal Technologies Conference in Texas, USA; EurOCoalAsh2019 in Scotland, ASCP 5th Concrete Pavements Conference in Hunter Valley; Concrete 2019 in Sydney; International Conference of Coal Science and Technology (ICCS&T) in Poland, and the very first International Conference on Innovation in Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete Technology (ILCCC) to be held in London . Each of these events offer valuable networking forums and opportunities for the exchange of technical knowledge in the areas of CCP utilisation and future innovation. More information is provided later in this edition.

The ADAA would like to wish members all the best with their pursuits throughout 2019 and we look forward to bringing you a summary of the year in review for the November edition.

Happy Reading!

JANUARY DECEMBER

2017 MEMBERSHIP SURVEY RESULTS

Summary

The beneficial use of coal combustion products (CCPs) during 2017 resulted in 6.78 million tonnes or 56% being beneficially used through the conservation of energy, finite natural resources, the reduction of carbon emissions and the recovery of mineral by-product resources were all major benefits identified in this report.

The survey results for CCP production and end uses for the period January to December 2017 discussed in this report are shown in Table 1. From the more than 80 million tonnes of thermal coal consumed to produced vital energy, some 12.1 million tonnes of all CCPs were produced with 56% being effectively utilised1 within various civil and construction applications throughout Australia. Total CCPs produced reduced slightly over the reporting period. This decline is consistent with reduced demand for coal as an energy source and ongoing energy reforms, renewable energy target and state government privatisation agenda over the past several years.

Key Results of Survey

The survey results include all generators5, marketers6 and users for the total production and resulting sales by each end use. Where required, data was supplemented with importation data and other secondary data7 sources for accuracy purposes.

In summary, the use and recovery of CCPs provide positive and significant environmental impacts, including resource conservation, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the conservation of energy and processing emission from conversation of virgin resources through displacement or substitution by CCPs. The following table provides more detail for individual category sales of CCPs for the 2017 calendar year.

Approximately 12.1 Million Tonnes of CCPs produced within Australasia, or approximately 500kg per person

Methodology

Approximately 6.78 Million Tonnes or 56% of CCPs have been effectively utilised in various value-added products

Annual members and non-members were surveyed for CCPs generated, stored and sold during the reported period, which provides results for the calendar year, January to December 2017. Information provided by members2 and non-members3 was collated, compared with other data sources for verification purposes and then aggregated into national data set. The import and export of CCPs were included, however sources and destinations are not identified.

Approximately 1.86 Million Tonnes of fine grade fly ash were used in high value-added applications e.g. binders, fillers, etc.

Approximately 0.7 Million Tonnes of CCPs were used in noncementitious applications e.g. structural fills, road bases, etc.

Discussion of Results

Total CCPs generation for the period decreased slightly from 12.4 (2016) million tonnes to 12.1 (2017) million tonnes. The 6.78 million tonnes utilised during 2017 is largely from large scale projects offering some beneficial use and partly from continued demand within the supply chains for construction materials.

High value utilisation end uses continue to be attributable to ‘graded’ (See AS 3582.1 and AS 2758) materials used in cement and concrete manufacture, structural/civil applications and mining applications such as mine site remediation, with continued growth in Category 2 and 3 sales for ‘ungraded’ materials. Interestingly, the ‘Harvesting’ of CCPs have become an international growing trend in well established markets such as the USA. Ongoing regulatory reform advocated by the ADAA continues to focus on new end use market opportunities for ‘ungraded’ material applications, when coupled with changes to AS3582.1 and AS 2758, these end-use applications are expected to grow. The use of CCPs, in particular fly ash has been proven to significantly contribute to further reducing the carbon footprint of the cement and concrete sector4, however additional processing capacity to produce ‘graded’ fly ash to meet growing demand, coupled with supply chain inventory capacity are essential. Further research needs to be undertaken to exploit the large volumes of ‘homogenously’ stored materials within ash dams to buffer supply chain demands.

Demand for fine and coarse aggregate use in structural/civil applications is tied to consumption or growth in the future development of infrastructure in both urban and regional Australia – estimated to be in excess of 160 million tonnes annually. Extractive resources are generally widespread and remain in adequate supply nationally, however, shortages in important large-scale markets (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are emerging, requiring additional logistics and associated handling costs not historically incurred. These are mainly attributed to unsuitable geology, conflicting or incompatible land uses and environmental problems caused by high rates of urban expansion. Natural sand and gravel resources are also being depleted leading to opportunities for substitution by ungraded CCPs. There has been a considerable increase in interest from extractive industries to supplement natural sand and gravel resources with recovered resources such as CCPs, which is an areaof considerable focus within the Association with the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living research projects.

Approximately 4.2 Million Tonnes were used in projects offering some beneficial use e.g. on site remediation, etc.

Approximately 5.32 Million Tonnes were placed into onsite storage awaiting some future use opportunity Over 50 Million Tonnes of CCPs have been used in cementitious applications from 1975 to 2017 50 Million Tonnes of CCPs divided into 1 Tonne bags placed side by side would encircle the Earth’s circumference once

“Effective utilisation” is the sale or utilisation of recoverable mineral resources into a value added construction application that provides both commercial returns [revenue] return on investment or an economic profit [avoided expense], and use is consistent with the criteria of ecologically sustainable development (EDS) principles.

2 http://www.adaa.asn.au/membership.

3 Power stations.

4 Heidrich, C., I. Hinczak, et al. (2005). Case study: CCP’s potential to lower Greenhouse Gas emissions for Australia. World of Coal Ash 2005, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, American Coal Ash Association & University of Kentucky.

5 Generator – means a company who generates coal powered electricity, produces CCPs as a by-product and has been admitted as a member.

CCPs can be supplied to processors, consumers or value adders.

6 Marketers (Value adder) – means a company who processes, mixes, blends, or otherwise incorporates CCPs to produce products for supply to consumers or other value adders. [A value adder typically incorporates owned intellectual property].

7 Company annual reports and other published data sources.

1

ADAA | JUNE 2019

03

04

ADAA | JUNE 2019

8

1,451,643

7,240

-

50,000

-

Category 1

C2. Flowable Fill CLSM

C2. Structural Fills/Embankments

C2. Road Base/Sub Base

C2. Soil Modification/Stabilisation

271,301

Furnace Bottom Ash

776,092

164,000

78,000

1,000

243,000

1,751,883

Fly Ash

1,751,883

5,995,759

C3. Mining Applications (e.g. Backfill)

C3. Waste Stabilisation/Solidification

C3. Miscellaneous/Other

Category 3

Total Use (C1, C2, C3)*(Auto-Calc)

SECTION D Summary Results

7. Total of All Sold (Auto-Calc)*

6. Total of All Beneficially Used (Auto-Calc)*

116,423

47,440

38,210

Cenospheres

38,210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

38,210

17,845

-

20,365

Cenospheres

47,440

18,604

28,836

31,979

60,815

Cenospheres

12,194,481

878,867

378,374

10,937,239

Ash (Auto-Calc)

6,786,372

2,566,185

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,566,185

278,499

1,000

78,000

199,499

426,526

116,423

17,676

-

-

180,000

20,000

92,427

1,861,160

17,845

107,247

1,763,068

Combined (Auto-Calc)

6,786,372

2,484,431

4,301,940

7,909,004

12,210,944

Combined 2017

Ash (Manual -Calc)

20%

56%

11%

17%

73%

56%

5,356,087

2,783,331

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,655,151

360,807

1,000

126,000

233,807

478,979

123,505

1,117

-

11,305

201,868

69,847

71,337

1,815,365

20,000

-

1,795,365

Combined (Auto-Calc)

5,356,087

2,372,340

2,983,748

9,363,714

12,347,461

Combined 2016

19%

37%

14%

18%

68%

43%

5,139,422

2,373,834

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,373,834

261,000

1,000

126,000

134,000

489,835

156,000

4,117

21,000

0

189,718

39,000

80,000

1,622,999

23,023

10,000

1,589,976

Combined (Auto-Calc)

5,139,422

2,322,908

2,816,514

9,601,852

12,418,366

Combined 2015

18%

10%

24%

67%

48%

5,933,701

2,726,648

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,726,648

261,115

1,500

106,000

153,615

646,943

224,000

76,117

20,000

0

188,718

129,108

9,000

1,818,590

70,000

10,000

1,738,590

Combined (Auto-Calc)

5,933,701

2,187,408

3,746,293

8,637,847

12,384,140

Combined 2014

18%

10%

24%

67%

48%

6,353,259

2,535,983

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,535,983

274,979

1,500

106,500

166,979

578,687

181,000

1,259

0

31,000

229,615

135,813

0

1,682,317

25,000

10,000

1,647,317

Combined (Auto-Calc)

6,353,259

2,365,284

3,987,975

8,276,419

12,264,395

Combined 2013

11%

23%

66%

52%

5,385,143

2,424,121

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,424,121

117,500

2,000

34,500

81,000

403,008

123,000

600

0

41,000

115,300

123,108

0

1,903,613

10,000

0

1,893,613

Combined (Auto-Calc)

5,385,143

2,343,291

3,041,852

9,755,479

12,797,331

Combined 2012

5%

17%

79%

42%

6,627,579

2,184,018

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,902,033

182,688

0

15,913

166,775

592,729

20,000

600

0

0

295,899

95,515

180,715

2,126,616

35,879

61,174

2,029,563

Combined (Auto-Calc)

6,627,579

2,368,626

4,258,953

9,421,266

13,680,219

Combined 2011

6%

20%

73%

48%

5,812,516

2,184,018

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,465,996

90,946

1,500

6,446

83,000

485,059

5,708

0

8,787

11,725

320,334

103,505

35,000

1,889,991

0

0

1,889,991

Combined (Auto-Calc)

5,812,516

2,101,983

3,710,533

10,365,700

14,076,233

Combined 2010

4%

20%

77%

41%

0

4,254,429

2,217,229

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,217,229

113,943

0

6,443

107,500

531,791

708

0

8,787

10,936

476,360

12,820

22,180

1,571,495

0

0

1,571,495

Combined (Auto-Calc)

4,702,504

2,037,200

4,702,504

9,053,178

13,755,682

Combined 2009

Data presented in this table is aggregated based on member and non-member responses. Where appropriate, estimates are given based on published public reports. Coverage of data represents all coal fired power stations currently operating.

743,173

776,092

35,499

-

-

35,499

369,286

-

57,240

Category 2

17,676

-

-

85,187

100,007

C2. Aggregate

-

130,000

-

C1. Mineral Fillers

-

20,000

7,240

C1. Cement/Raw Feed for Clinker

C2. Agriculture

371,307

1,444,403

C1. Cement/Concrete Products/Grout

C2. Mineral Filler in Asphalt

-

Fly Ash

Furnace Bottom Ash

743,173

10,092

733,081

SECTION C CCP Use (Tonnes)

3,540,023

Total Production Used (Auto-Calc)

610,796

1,343,877

2,455,736

7,266,229

B2. Total Not Used (Stored)

5,995,759

10,806,252

B1. Total Produced (Jan - Dec)

Furnace Bottom Ash

Total of All Used (Auto-Calc)*

Fly Ash

SECTION B CCPs Beneficial Use Calculations (Tonnes)

14%

B3. Amounts Removed or Diverted from Storage

87,853,961

Total Coal Burned (Auto-Calc)

2%

8%

4,804,021

36,910,634

A2. Sub-Bituminous

A3. Lignite (Brown Coal)

24%

46,139,306

A1. Bituminous (Black Coal)

Avg % Ash Content

Tonnes Consumed

SECTION A Fuel of Coal Used

Ash Development Association of Australia - 2017 CCP Production & Use Survey 8

5%

24%

71%

34%

4,469,300

2,276,675

Combined (Auto-Calc)

2,276,675

9,266

0

8,991

275

480,030

0

0

7,209

30,000

0

227,821

215,000

1,787,379

30,000

0

1,757,379

Combined (Auto-Calc)

4,584,096

2,192,625

2,391,471

12,246,852

14,638,323

Combined 2008

21%

79%

31%

GEOPOLYMER HANDBOOK

A GUIDE TO SPECIFICATION & USE OF GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE Did You Know?

The manufacture of General Purpose Cement (GPC) is the second largest emitter of carbon emissions, globally. In Australia, GPC is responsible for 7.2 million tonnes of carbon emissions, according to industry data.

As these alarming figures increase, groups such as the ADAA and the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRC-LCL) are investigating ways in which concrete can be manufactured with low or even no carbon emissions. A promising method to achieve these targets is through the development of Geopolymer Concrete.

Geopolymer Concrete employs materials such as fly ash (FA) and iron and steel slags to replace large amounts of GPC in concrete, without reducing its performance as a building material. Using a range of activators and pozzolans, results continuously show that this altered formula of concrete is not only an effective way to reduce carbon emissions (approximately 80% carbon reduction) but it can also reduce costs.

Currently, there is believed to be a lack of knowledge within the construction industry concerning how Geopolymer Concrete can be functional in largescale projects. The primary cause of this is the lack of publically available information about Geopolymer Concrete. To counter this, the Association (ADAA), in partnership with CRC-LCL and other like-minded organisations, have been working to publish a Geopolymer Concrete Handbook. The Handbook will be published through Standards Australia and designed to assist engineers and users about how to use Geopolymer Concrete with greater confidence and less risk. The Handbook will also build on other published information such as the Recommended Practice prepared by the Concrete Institute of Australia.

The Handbook “Guide to Specification and Use of Geopolymer Concrete” will include:

• Background • Properties and applications

• Relevant standards • Recommended performance test methods

• Case histories and long-term durability • Performance-based specification

The production of the Handbook aims to remove major barriers to the use of low carbon Geopolymer Concretes and profoundly increase their use in the construction industry. Based on research previously conducted, having a standard specification is the highest priority to enable the industry to adopt Geopolymer Concrete in the near future.

ADAA | JUNE 2019

05

PAVING THE WAY TO SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

AN ECO-PAVEMENT TRIAL TO UPCYCLE ASH, WASTES & CARBON DIOXIDE Fly ash was featured in the National Waste Report 2018 as one of the largest waste streams in Australia, constituting some 12.3Mt in the year 2016-2017. A co-product of combustion, fly ash is beneficially used in construction products such as concrete replacing a portion of the cement.

The utilisation of ash in Australia reported a steady increase of 13% over the decade 2006-2016 (ibid), however the overall utilisation rate when compared to other countries remains significantly lower, despite the potential of the use of ash in a variety of marketable products. The research team at the University of Sydney’s Waste Transformation Research Hub are exploring this potential through a research partnership with Delta Electricity that will see fly ash from Delta’s Vales Point Power Station upcycled into low-carbon engineered eco-pavements.

Associate Professor Ali Abbas and his team are developing a recipe of fly ash-based composite engineered materials that will be trialled in a pavement test section and monitored for a 12-month period. The team will assess the utilisation of fly ash together with glass waste, and will test the incorporation of carbon dioxide into the formulation, achieved through a controlled chemical process. The opportunity for sustainable products formulated by blending ash with waste streams is great, yet doing so seems to be a tricky affair requiring appreciation of the interactions of the different blended waste streams at the atomic scale. The team will use advanced characterisation techniques to test these interactions to find the sweet spot for the recipe that achieves a durable final product. Success means that a range of other construction products of different properties are then possible, paving the way to sustainable construction materials and products.

“Enhancing the flow of fly ash by upcycling it into construction materials aligns with the circular economy, because these products also work to design out waste and emissions and keep ash in use,” commented Dr Anthony Callen.

This collaboration between Delta Electricity and the University of Sydney was featured at the inaugural Australian Circular Economy Conference chaired

by Professor Ali Abbas, held in Wyong NSW in November 2018. A host of industries convened for a session on “Circular technologies” to discuss “Australian local solutions for a global challenge”. The NSW Environment Protection Authority, who were also at this Conference, presented their new draft on circular economy policy that was launched in October 2018. This new policy is part of the Government’s response to the China’s National Sword policy banning the importation of certain types of waste into China.

The team at the University are designing an ash circular economy for Australia. In this new ash economy, various material flows. From society and industry are integrated and circulated back into use in construction materials and products.

“

Carbonation

MCO 3 Metal Oxide (Impurities)

CO2

ADAA | JUNE 2019

Carbonated Cement-Based Materials

Ash Circular Economy Hydroxide

Mineral-Rich Wastes

pH Adjustment

Plastics Industrial Ash/Glass

Figure 1. Ash circular economy design illustrating the increasing utilisation of ash and wastes though construction products.

Ali Abbas, Associate Professor Director - Waste Transformation Research Hub School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies The University of Sydney NSW 2006 02 9351 3002 ali.abbas@sydney.edu.au Anthony Callen Manager Project Development Delta Electricity - Vales Point Power Station Anthony.Callen@de.com.au

Industry is now considering sustainability from a circular economy perspective; This shift from business as usual requires careful design of products that fit within circular economy principles which will lead to emergence of new and a different way of business operation.

Ali Abbas, University of Sydney Associate Professor

06

Aside from ash, such flows include plastics, glass, mineral tailings, steel slag, agricultural residues, construction rubble, and the list goes on. This ultimately diversifies the utilisation of fly ash and contributes to environmental and sustainability goals of the power, cement, steel, construction and other industries. Local governments have expressed strong interests in such ‘green’ products because they not only serve to lower the council’s carbon footprints but also contributes to dealing with their local waste, as local council also embark on shifting to the circular economy.

THE CIA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN CONCRETE Established in 1971, the Concrete Institute of Australia’s Awards for Excellence in Concrete recognise and publicise the many significant contributions to excellence in concrete design, construction and materials in Australia.

Concrete related projects, technologies and innovations are all eligible to receive an award. The Institute’s Awards program caters for projects of all sizes, and organisations alike.

This year’s project entries and winners will be displayed on digital posters and in the Concrete Institute’s 2019 Awards for Excellence Commemorative Booklet at Concrete 2019 in September. They will be published on the Concrete Institute of Australia website following the conference.

To view past entrants and winners, visit www.concreteinstitute.com.au.

Winners of Awards for Excellence from each state will be judged in separate categories for an overall category winner.

Awards for Excellence in Concrete will be made in the following categories:

• • • • •

Residential Buildings Commercial Buildings Infrastructure Projects Repairs and Rehabilitation Technology and Innovation

ADAA | JUNE 2019

07

ACRETE:

THE LIGHTER, STRONGER CONCRETE ALTERNATIVE MADE FROM FLY ASH

A disc made of the new Acrete material (Photo: Paul Tumarkin/Tech Launch Arizona)

Jinhong Zhang, associate professor of mining and geological engineering at the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering, has developed a new substitute for concrete that has a number of advantages over alternative cements and utilises up to three times as much fly ash. This new material is reportedly lighter, stronger and less expensive to produce than concrete.

The new company goes by the name of Acrete, a combination of “Arizona” and “concrete”. “Once the technique developed at the University of Arizona is applied in industrial practice, it will substantially substitute concrete in the construction industry,” Zhang says. “It will save the impoundment space for fly ash and reduce CO2 emission during the production of cement. It will be a novel construction material for the new era for a sustainable development.”

Tech Launch Arizona, the office of the University of Arizona (UA) that commercialises inventions stemming from research, brought together Zhang and entrepreneur Abraham Jalbout to create the start-up company to develop the product and bring it to market.

While fly ash serves as an additive in the production of Portland cementbased concrete products, it tends to make up about 30 percent of the solid material. Alternatively, fly ash provides nearly 100 percent of the solids in Acrete for the end product without the addition of cement.

08

ADAA | JUNE 2019

“Acrete can have as much as three times the compressive strength of cement and twice the flexural strength,” says Tech Launch Arizona licensing manager Bob Sleeper, who collaborated with Zhang to protect and commercialise the invention. “It repels water, and we can control the workability by tweaking the recipe.”

The next step for Acrete is to determine the commercial viability of the product. “Our vision is to look at how we can reutilise … materials that are being produced as by-products of mining,” says Jalbout, Acrete’s CEO, “we want to find ways to use these materials for other applications.”

Sleeper says that the aim for Acrete is to, “market a way to transform [byproducts] into a useful building material, binding it up, and removing it from the environment”. While it may take a while before Acrete makes its way into large construction companies, Zhang says a number of different markets could benefit from the product.

CITY OF SYDNEY EMBRACE LOW CARBON GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE In a world first, the City of Sydney is putting a ‘green road’ made from fly ash, slag cement and material use to make concrete to the test. It’s hoped the new technique could slash carbon emissions.

Building new roads can often draw the ire of climate activists who dread the impact of more cars on emissions — but here is one exception. A 30m section of a busy street at Alexandria has become a test bed for a world-first trial to develop environmentally friendly “green roads”, and slash carbon emissions. Using by-products from coal-fired power stations (fly ash) and steel production (slag) has been used to fix a patch of road on Wyndham St, which will be closely studied by researchers from the University of NSW. Traditional concrete was laid on half of the strip, while Geopolymer concrete was used on the other. The Geopolymer concrete only generates 300kg of CO2 per tonne, compared to the 900kg created making normal concrete. Nine sensors have been laid beneath the road to track how the performance of the two slabs compares, with results to be followed for up to five years.

UNSW’s Professor Stephen Foster, head of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said concrete contributed 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions — about seven per cent of the total mark. Professor Foster said the trial would “demystify” Geopolymer’s use in construction, and put 40 million cubic tonnes of waste to good use. “This trial will help drive step change in the industry. Many concrete companies are already doing a lot to change, but this trial really gives it another push,” he said. “Research into Geopolymer has been undertaken since the 90s, but it’s only now that it’s starting to be commercialised.”

The City of Sydney recently relaid part of the major road in Sydney’s inner south leading to the airport, which it says would provide perfect conditions for the trial. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the project was another step in the council’s carbon-neutral agenda.

“Local governments are responsible for maintaining local roads, so if we can purchase more environmentally sustainable materials, we can fight climate change and provide quality infrastructure for our community,” she said.

“

With 70% of concrete produced today going into pavements & footpaths, there’s great potential to further lower emissions from our operations.

Clover Moore, Sydney Lord Mayor

ADAA | JUNE 2019

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CONFERENCE REVIEWS With another great year jam-packed with industry development, we reflect on the informative events across the globe.

Educational events were in abundance this past session, with a number of conferences available for both Association members and industry stakeholders to attend. These innovative events brought together global industry leaders to share knowledge and develop innovation techniques for managing and utilising Coal Combustion Products, and discuss latest advances within the industry.

CAMS 2018 I WOLLONGONG, NSW

WORLD OF CONCRETE I NEVADA, USA

Hosted by Materials Australia and The Australian Ceramic Society, CAMS 2018 was the 6th conference of the Combined Australian Materials Societies. It is Australia’s largest interdisciplinary technical meeting on the latest advances in materials science, engineering and technology. The University of Wollongong partnered with the hosts to hold the event from 27th – 29th November 2018 at their main campus on the NSW South Coast.

Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 21st – 25th January 2019, World of Concrete 2019 presented up-to-date industry information through 180+ sessions of hands-on training, interactive workshops, certifications and technical and business seminars.

Craig Heidrich, ADAA Chief Executive Officer, was invited to speak at CAMS 2018 about Advancing Materials and Manufacturing.

Heidrich’s presentation focused on enhancing the utilisation of fly ash.

Other themes covered in the technical program included; • Use of Waste Materials and Environmental Remediation, • Ceramics and Composite Materials, • Advances in Materials Characterisation, • Advances in Steel Technology, • Cements & Geopolymers.

WOC was launched in the commercial construction industry in 1975. It now hosts over 1,500 exhibiting companies and 58,000 registered industry professionals annually.

Craig Heidrich, Ash Development Association of Australia CEO, attended WOC19 on behalf of the Association. The event provided an opportunity to showcase the Association’s activities and connect with many international industry personnel, increasing our database of contacts.

WOC19 offered a great opportunity for the ADAA to mingle with many leading international companies, associations and specialists, expanding our current database of connections, as well as showcasing the Association’s latest activities.

ACAA 2019 WINTER MEETING I TEXAS, USA The American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) held their 2019 Winter Meeting in Houston, Texas from 30th – 31st January.

Ash Development Association of Australia Executive Director, Craig Heidrich, was invited to speak about ash development in Australia, offering the perfect opportunity to highlight the Association’s activities and advocate for the Australian industry. Heidrich’s presentation was one of many in a packed agenda full of meetings and presentations by other industry, government and academic speakers.

The ACAA Winter Meeting is held annually in the United States, bringing together stakeholders from all corners of the Globe to discuss the latest developments in the industry and provide networking opportunities.

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ADAA | JUNE 2019

Other topics included; • CCP utilisation in cement manufacturing; • Research on materials for mitigation of alkali-silica reactions; • Crisis communication planning; • U.S. Department of Energy support for fossil fuel utilisation; • EPRI program updates; • Recent CCR regulatory and litigation activity; • Investigation of off-specification ash utilisation; • Performance engineered concrete mixtures.

2019 EVENT CALENDAR ILCCC 2019 24 - 26 JUNE I LONDON, UK

ASCP 5TH CONCRETE PAVEMENTS CONFERENCE 21 - 22 JULY I HUNTER VALLEY, NSW

The first International Conference on Innovation in Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete Technology (ILCCC) will be held from 24th – 26th June 2019. As the political, economic and cultural capital of Britain, London is the perfect place to host ILCCC 2019. Recognising the pressure the construction industry has been under to shift towards sustainability, the conference aims to exchange the latest scientific and technical advancements on low-carbon cement and concrete technology from around the world. Key themes include;

The ASCP Concrete Pavements Conference is the only Australian conference in the field of heavy-duty concrete pavements. It is geared towards industry practitioners and regularly includes a number of international experts as key presenters.

• Low-carbon and energy saving Portland cement manufacturing • Low-carbon cement and concrete technology based on nonPortland cement systems (e.g. alkali-activated, MgO-based, etc.)

• Chemical admixtures for low-carbon cement and concrete • Durability of low-carbon concrete • Low-carbon cement and concrete Standards and specifications

The 5th ASCP Concrete Pavements Conference will be held at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley NSW from 21st – 22nd July 2019. Key conference themes include various types of concrete pavements from road and airfield to ports, heavy industrial and rail, as well as rehabilitation, developments and innovations.

Not only will the conference offer an unrivalled opportunity to be a part of a community of concrete pavements practitioners at the leading edge of the profession, but it is an excellent platform for networking and education.

ILCCC 2019 is jointly organised by the Advanced & Innovative Materials (AIM) Group and University College London (UCL). To find out more and register, visit www.aim-ilccc2019.com.

Hosted by the Australian Society for Concrete Pavements, the conference is expected to attract close to 200 local, national and international delegates from the concrete pavements industry.

CONCRETE 2019 8 - 11 SEPTEMBER I SYDNEY, NSW

ICCS&T 2019 24 - 28 NOVEMBER I KRAKOW, POLAND

Concrete 2019, hosted by the Concrete Institute of Australia, will be held from 8th – 11th September 2019, focusing on the theme Concrete in Practice – Progress through Knowledge.

Held every second year, the International Conference on Coal Science & Technology (ICCS&T) typically gathers hundreds of delegates from academia, industry and governments in the field of coal research all around the world. Tthis year marks the first time the conference will be held in Central Europe. ICCS&T 2019 will run from 24 – 28 November in Poland’s historical and academic hub Krakow, on the bank of Vistula River. Topics covered include:

The conference is dedicated to bringing together leaders in the concrete industry, covering all aspects of concrete in practice through materials, design, constructions, repair and maintenance, and learning how increased knowledge has seen the industry progress through research, innovation, and know-how.

Concrete 2019 will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, offering attendees the chance to connect face-to-face and share innovative ideas with experts from around the world.

The conference program features international keynote lectures, concurrent sessions, free paper sessions and posters. Themes range from concrete materials and construction to shotcrete, standards, structural strengthening and much more. For more information visit www.concrete2019.com.au.

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Coal geochemistry Coal processing Coal combustion Coal pyrolysis Low rank coals Environmental issues Gaseous and liquid chemicals

• Biofuels • Fuel cells • Coke, coal tar, coal combustion products (CCP) • High efficiency low emission (HELE) technology • Carbon dioxide capture, utilisation and storage

Abstract submission is now open until 4 May 2019. Early registration will then open on 6 May 2019. For more information, visit iccst2019.com.

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MEMBERSHIP SURVEY REMINDER CCPs produced from coal-fired power stations represent useful sources of raw materials for a range of applications and products. In addition to the new ash produced each year, the ash already stored (estimated to be in-excess of 400 million tonnes) in ponds and other storage sites represents shallow-lying mineral deposits that are more readily accessible than many equivalent geological materials.

The utilisation of CCPs in a variety of both high and low value add products helps to conserve natural resources such as sands and gravels. This reduces the environmental impact that would otherwise be caused by mining these resources. In addition, the need to construct additional storage facilities at the power stations can be deferred or even eliminated.

The ADAA conducts an annual survey for information regarding CCP production and sales by members and non-members for each calendar year to determine the utilisation of CCPs annually. Information provided by members and non-members is collated and then aggregated into a national set of results and include CCP production levels and nominated uses for all CCPs. The survey results include all generators, marketers, (processing and marketing companies) and users for the total production and resulting sales by each end use. Please download the 2018 Membership Survey from www.adaa.asn.au and email your completed spreadsheet to info@adaa.asn.au.

COAL ASH

Coal Ash Matters is the ADAA’s main educational publication that is produced twice a year for the benefit of ADAA members and readers. Before each publication is drafted, an email is sent out to all members, urging them to contribute stories that they think are of interest. The types of content we are looking for include: • New Developments • Technological Innovations • New Projects • New Employees • Industry Research If you have an idea or some content that you think should be shared with the CCP community, get in contact with the Editor, Aiden Chilcott at 02 4228 1389 or email: publications@adaa.asn.au

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COAL ASH matters www.adaa.asn.au