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contents
Feb/Mar 2012
4 Leading the way The energy retailer of the future 6
Facing the future of carbon with sustainability
10
Case studies
18
Magnetic soap being developed for oil spills
22
Research & development
25
Products & services
29
Protecting water’s human resources
36 Developing a sustainable Australia at EcoForum 2012 37
38
Resource centre Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide y our sustainability development.
In my opinion
Save energy by developing a sustainability culture
On the cover: © iStockphoto.com/pagadesign
Get all the BEST Case Studies of 2011 in one special digital edition. http://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/latest_issues
T
he transition to energy efficiency has become a central focus for most companies in Australia. While recent tough economic times have affected some sectors of the manufacturing industry (such as the car industry), resulting in job losses, the introduction of the carbon tax (set for July) has boosted interest in technologies that promote sustainability and efficiency. Some have said that the saviour of these industries could come in the form of high-tech green solutions. For the car industry, this could mean hybrid fuel-efficient cars, energy-efficient electric motors, energy storage and alternative fuels. Australia is well positioned to be a leader in developing and adopting these technologies and this in turn could also actually increase employment of a skilled workforce and eventually reduce costs associated with a lower carbon economy. Our article ‘Facing the future of sustainability’ discusses these issues in an industrial context, while our opinion pieces focus on energy efficiency from a retailer’s perspective and also from a less capital-intensive standpoint. Efficient use of raw materials and efficient processing of waste is also just as important for sustainability. Food waste in the developed world is a particularly significant problem and our case studies and new products section presents some technology that may provide a solution in some circumstances. Carolyn Jackson sm@westwick-farrow.com.au
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33
Leading the way
The energy retailer of the future In the quest to become more energy efficient and reduce our greenhouse gas output, the question of whether we can rely on energy retailers to help us in this journey is often asked.
Jennifer Baltatzidis has a Bachelor of Science and Engineering in Bioengineering from Arizona State University. She currently works as a Principal Consultant in Energy Engineering at Origin Energy. Her career in the power utility industry includes distribution design, power plant engineering and renewable energy, with an extensive background in power plant energyefficiency management.
the reality is that energyefficiency services have the potential to provide energy retailers with more revenue growth than energy sales alone.
S
ome of the analogies I’ve heard are that it would be like asking a cigarette company to help you stop smoking or a fast food restaurant to help you lose weight. This is an unfortunate perception because, unlike the comparisons mentioned, the reality is that energy-efficiency services have the potential to provide energy retailers with more revenue growth than energy sales alone. In essence, energy retailers can improve their bottom line by teaching their customers how to use less of their core product. Perhaps this seems like an oxymoron, but the reality is that even though energy-efficiency services may erode some of the total energy usage, it also has the potential to improve the customer relationship, meaning energy retailers can have more customers each using less energy. It also helps transition to a future where power is more than just a commodity. Many businesses seem to view power purely as a commodity and don’t differentiate whether they get it from a retailer or a broker. As a result, consultants and brokers seem to have prospered in recent years because of their perceived independence. However, it is logical that this also leads to a lack of influence over the outcomes delivered by the retailer. And while commoditisation can lead to good prices, it won’t deliver solutions to the complex problems faced by many companies today. I believe that energy will need to transition more and more from a commoditised product that businesses purchase based on price alone to a unique product that businesses value based on an array of services provided, including energy management software and energy-efficiency services. In addition, a greener future will most likely have to include innovations
This 44 Sustainability Matters - Dec 2011/Jan 2012
that change the way we’ve historically interacted with our power systems. Exactly what technologies will take hold is somewhat of a guessing game at this point. One thing though, which I do think is important throughout this transition, is to take advantage of key areas where energy retailers are especially poised to help grow greener technologies faster. Like the vast collections of data that can provide insights to help businesses pinpoint how they operate in comparison to similar businesses in similar climates. They also already have billing systems in place that can be leveraged in relation to real-time usage monitoring, allowing for the quick implementation of energy management programs, rather than having to build structures from the ground up. And for more pioneering changes, like precinct heating and cooling where energy is directly shared between buildings, energy utilities can utilise their existing billing and engineering staff and not have to create a new team in order to trial such technologies. So, what exactly will the energy retailer of the future offer? I believe energy-efficiency services and energy management software, if they’re not already available, will definitely be offered. In addition, new services will emerge, like distributed generation, new appliance offerings or services like hot and cold water from a thermal network. Regardless of what the technology is specifically, if your energy retailer is offering to help you reduce your energy use I wouldn’t be apprehensive. They’re just trying to grow and maintain their business in a changing market. Origin Energy Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M487
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Facing the future of carbon The impending carbon price has contributed to a lively debate within our nation. The launch of the Clean Energy Future Plan by the federal government is designed to encourage industry to develop proactive plans to mitigate any impact on its operations. However, managing energy and emissions with long-term, sustainable solutions may provide win-win outcomes for many industries without compromising their business and community objectives, says Michael Loke, Industry Manager, Sustainability with Rockwell Automation.
T
© iStockphoto.com/Marcello Bortolino
he recent Garnaut Report and National Greenhouse Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme have laid the foundation to combat climate change in Australia. Corporations registered under the NGER scheme are required to report greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. The data collected will reflect the total emissions from two principal categories: Scope 1 - greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere as a result of a corporation’s activities; and Scope 2 - emissions generated for the consumption of electricity, heating, cooling or steam at the facility but produced by external sources. The carbon price calculation will be based on the NGER data submitted via the scheme’s OSCAR (Online System for Comprehensive Activity Reporting - NGER Reporting Tool) system. The recently released Green Energy Future Plan has provided some clarity for industry to mitigate the business impact of such legislation. The key elements of the plan include: 1. Introduction of the $23 per tonne carbon tax on the 500 biggest polluters starting in 1 July 2012, followed by an emissions trading scheme in 2015. 2. Promotion of investment in innovative renewal energy to the tune of $13 billion. 3. Further encouragement of energy efficiency through the $1.2 billion Clean Technology Program. 4. Creating opportunities in the land sector to reduce pollution. A new independent Climate Change Authority will be set up to monitor the progress of the carbon price mechanism and make recommendations to government.
This 66 Sustainability Matters - Dec 2011/Jan 2012
To date, the NGER scheme has been driven largely by the need for compliance, rather than motivated by an improvement to the bottom line. The Aberdeen Group report concludes that compliance with current and future regulations is the top driver behind corporate focus on carbon management in the USA. In addition, cost reduction and achieving a competitive advantage are the primary drivers behind energy management programs. The current legislative environment presents a major opportunity for senior management within the mining, energy and minerals sectors to develop integrated, sustainable plans for improving energy efficiency while mitigating the impact of the carbon price. In addition to meeting corporate business objectives, companies can become responsible members of the community, thereby enhancing their company brand and image. However, NGER report generation can be cumbersome for many companies, as several disparate systems may exist which require manual manipulation, thus compromising data integrity. In response, companies implement energy management systems on an ad hoc basis to monitor Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This is further compounded by the level of resources committed to such programs and the shortage of staff with appropriate skills. Embedding contractors from automation companies can minimise the impact of total cost of ownership, without compromising the level of skills required to facilitate the legislative requirements. Integrating energy management as part of the overall automation and information strategy based on standardised processes and procedures can be scalable to accommodate future expansion. The ability to
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Energy efficiency
with sustainability automate the interface with the OSCAR database would result in higher data quality and efficiency. Predictive modelling of emissions allows for comparisons to be made against real-time data - a valuable tool to validate, audit and maintain compliance with regulatory agencies. Many of the solutions available for this type of monitoring have the capability of distinguishing between Scope 1 and Scope 2 while meeting NGER standards. Research by the Aberdeen Group and the ARC Advisory Group indicates that those companies that undertake energy management strategies are more likely to see rapid return on investments. In fact, the companies defined as Best in Class by the Aberdeen Group reported decreases in energy consumption of up to 15% and emissions by 12%.
In a 2010 submission on Energy Efficiency Opportunities to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, one Australian coal mining company estimated that upgrading the SCADA system to provide real-time energy usage
Energy and emissions management Installing energy management systems to monitor emissions, energy consumption and points of wastage will enable companies to assess their current performance and establish benchmarks. Once current levels are established, real-time monitoring of the overall production facility allows data to be captured, analysed, stored and shared. With this knowledge, peak energy costs can be addressed, energy consumption optimised and productivity improved. Effective energy management is more than just data collection. Initial analysis of energy usage throughout the plant, building historical records, establishing corporate targets, and decision-making processes must be intrinsic to the overall strategy. The benefits of employing an energy management system will be evident relatively quickly as the efficiency of the company improves. The key strategies identified by the Aberdeen Group for best-in-class corporations to facilitate improved energy management are: facility and production monitoring to understand where energy is being used; incorporating embedded energy as a raw material into bill of materials; identifying short-term quick fixes; storing data collected to build a historical reference, and adapting energy consumption to max-
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could potentially reduce engineering expenditure by 25 to 30%. A further improvement to the conveyor automation systems would have the potential to provide energy savings in the order of 1000 MWh pa and lower emissions by about 1100 CO2eT pa. imise the cost benefits available through off-peak rates, seasonal variations and load shedding. There are several simple ways to modify production processes which quickly improve energy consumption. These include using appropriate-sized compressors, variable speed drives and motors, changing heavy-load shifts to non-peak times, properly maintaining equipment and assets, and only procuring ingredients and components when they are needed. These ‘quick fixes’ have been shown by many industries to have been worthwhile activities that required little capital investment and had an instant effect on energy consumption and emission generation. A significant proportion of emissions generated by a plant is created through the operations carried out on site. For most mining applications, it will be based around contaminants trapped in water and air that are released to the environment through the extraction and processing of
by Barron
ore and minerals. Combustion of waste, fugitive methane release in coal mining and flue emissions have been highlighted as significant contributors to greenhouse gases released under Scope 1. Further improvements to energy management include the creation of alternative energy sources such as solar, wind or biofuels. The capture of methane as an alternative fuel source or as a fuel to create diesel from coal represents additional options for many coal mine operators. Heat-recovery systems can be used by many industries as supplements for heating water and boilers. Many of these technologies are still in the initial stages of design, but will represent opportunities for companies to grow in new directions and not be confined to traditional business activities.
Formulating the solution In a 2010 submission on Energy Efficiency Opportunities to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, one Austral-
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Energy efficiency Industrial Energy Management Energy Visualisation Plant Electrical Infrastructure Status Distribution System Monitoring Measurement and Targeting Power Quality Facility Energy Profiling Process Energy Profiling
Energy Control Emergency Load Shedding Demand Management Emergency Generation Load Curtailment Peak Shaving Supervisory Generator Control Supervisory Cogeneration Control
Energy Optimisation Thermal Plant Optimisation Chiller Plant Optimisation Ammonia Plant Optimisation Industrial HVAC Mechanical Efficiency Energy Scheduling Supply/Demand Matching
ian coal mining company estimated that upgrading the SCADA system to provide real-time energy usage could potentially reduce engineering expenditure by 25 to 30%. A further improvement to the conveyor automation systems would have the potential to provide energy savings in the order of 1000 MWh pa and lower emissions by about 1100 CO2eT pa. Plantwide automated systems for power and energy management, such as those available from Rockwell Automation, provide valuable tools to identify and optimise asset and energy use, including those outlined in the above example. The software for auditing and monitoring via dashboards, data historians and predictive modelling provide extensive visibility of energy usage and forecasting capabilities. With these strategic tools in place,
along with establishing sound project management methodologies, the ability to optimise processes and holistically manage energy and carbon emissions is greatly enhanced. Training staff to raise awareness of sustainability further facilitates the energy and carbon management policies established by a company’s key stakeholders. Coupled with process optimisation, intelligent motor control, asset management, power monitors, and improvements in devices such as variable frequency drives, compressors, chillers and burners, a company’s facilities are not only more sustainable but will be better able to manage, and consequently reduce, the levels of Scope 1 and 2 emissions. As a corporation improves its sustainability policies to manage energy
This 88 Sustainability Matters - Dec 2011/Jan 2012
consumption and emissions, there will be opportunity to invest in the research and development of new technologies and skill sets. This may have the potential to increase, rather than decrease, employment levels as companies seek to lower the cost burdens associated with a lower carbon economy. Foreseeable roles may include emissions specialists, R&D and tradespeople to develop and install alternative energy sources and ‘carbon accountants’, skilled in emissions trading and reporting. Sustainability strategies need not be confined to larger plants, but are often scalable to mid-range enterprises. Using appropriate equipment for production facilities and integrating all the processes over a common platform, it is possible to maximise energy efficiency, minimise emissions and become a sustainable enterprise, regardless of the organisation size. Many mining companies have incorporated strategies to become sustainable and responsible corporate citizens. Mine site rehabilitation, water reclamation and involvement in the indigenous community have been implemented for many years. Taken a step further, increasing the efficiency of a mining operation will not only lower the impact on the local environment but will also lower emissions in accordance with evolving regulatory requirements. Shareholders and consumers are now better able to gauge a company’s commitment to sustainability when making their decision to buy, based on the yearly sustainability report and ‘scorecard’ that often accompanies a company’s annual report. A buying decision based on responsible corporate citizenship is becoming a driving force for the environmentally conscious consumer. It is imperative that businesses find a balance between strong financial outcomes and the responsibility to sustainable energy consumption and carbon emissions. Incorporating power and emissions monitoring tools into mining, energy or minerals processing plants, to facilitate sustainability, should be viewed as a long-term proposition and therefore be a part of a company’s overall strategy, where the rewards are more than regulatory compliance. Rockwell Automation Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M330
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case study
Reducing water use at car manufacturing plants
W
hen it comes to water, drought and extensive population growth are just two of many challenges in places such as Mexico’s Sonoran Desert, home to Ford’s Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant. The plant produces the Ford Fusion, Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ. Production at Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant doubled between 2000 and 2010. However, water usage at the plant dropped during the same period by 40%. “We applied innovative technology to our Hermosillo plant to reduce water consumption, minimise impact on the community and build vehicles in a more sustainable manner,” said Larry Merritt, Manager, Environmental Quality Office. To reduce water use, a membrane biological reactor - a biological water treatment system - was installed. The complex system is able to make up to 65% of the plant’s wastewater suitable for highquality re-use elsewhere in the facility or for irrigation. The water treatment system also is being used at Ford plants in Chennai, India and Chongqing, China. Another approach is to cut the amount of water necessary to complete a task - a strategy afforded by the use of advanced technologies and processes. “As we invest in new and existing facilities globally, our water strategy prioritises sustainable manufacturing technologies,” said John Fleming, Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. “This disciplined approach allows us to make significant progress in water reduction and other environmental efforts over time.” For example, several of Ford’s engine plants around the world are using Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) machining, also known as dry-machining. This technology lubricates the cutting tool with a very small amount of oil sprayed directly on the tip in a finely atomised mist, instead of with a large quantity of coolant/
To reduce water use, a membrane biological reactor - a biological water treatment system - was installed. The complex system is able to make up to 65% of the plant’s wastewater suitable for high-quality re-use elsewhere in the facility or for irrigation. water mixture. The process saves over a million litres of water and oil per year. By eliminating the coolant/water mixture, dry-machining eliminates the need to treat and dispose of an oily waste stream. It also delivers significant benefits in energy use, waste production, quality, working conditions and costs.
In the US, the dry-machining system has been implemented at Ford’s Livonia Transmission Plant, Van Dyke Transmission Plant and Romeo Engine Plant. Ford also has implemented the system at a number of transmission and engine plants in Europe and applications in other plants around the world currently are being considered. Ford has already implemented a number of initiatives in Australia to ensure it helps meet the company’s water-saving target locally, including: installation of more than 40 water meters across the Broadmeadows site in Victoria that has enabled the company to obtain detailed site water usage information which is then used to develop targeted conservation plans; and research on identifying the stages of the painting process where water can be recycled rather than discharged to trade waste. Before Ford
10 Sustainability Matters - Dec 2011/Jan 2012 This 10
launched the Global Water Management Initiative in 2000, many facilities had little ability to even track water usage. When the initiative started, Ford engineers developed software to predict this usage. Another kind of software was developed to track water use at each facility and generate a monthly report so successes and potential opportunities for improvement could be identified. Also, water reduction actions are built into Ford’s Environmental Operating System (EOS), which provides a standardised, streamlined approach to meeting all environmental requirements, including sustainability objectives and targets within each of Ford’s plants around the world. EOS allows Ford to track its plants’ performance of fundamental water reduction actions such as leak identification and repair, and cooling tower optimisation at every manufacturing site worldwide. Ford’s progress against its water reduction target will be communicated in the company’s annual sustainability report and through participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Water Disclosure, which Ford joined in 2010. CDP Water Disclosure serves as a central clearinghouse for Ford and other participating companies to report on water usage, water risks and water management plans of company operations and their supply chains. “We recognise that these environmental issues are increasingly important to our stakeholders, including our customers, investors and business partners,” said Merritt. Ford Motor Company of Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M300
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case studies index R educing water use at car manufacturing plants
A nalysing Sydney’s water Advanced water treatment plant constructed
From waste biomass to biocrude oil in 30 min
T urning food waste into an ecofriendly by-product
Analysing Sydney’s water 10 12 14 16 17
Sustainable solution to groundwater and soil contamination
Gas recycling technology
20 21
research & development index S CA science works for water protection in coal seam gas activities
22
Guide for the re-use of
construction and demolition waste
23
Sydney Water Analytical Services plays an important role auditing treated and Storage and demand untreated water samples from various management for renewables 23 locations in Sydney’s water network, and Watson-Marlow pumps have been M easuring hygienic an integral part of its services for over product waste 24 10 years. The Sydney Water Analytics team, working out of the West Ryde facility, process a variety of water samples that come in from the field ranging in 10-100 L volumes. There are five identical filtration skids in the lab to process the samples efficiently. Due to the importance of this data and strict turnaround times, one of the skids is used for extra capacity in busy times and there is a duplicate 6th skid off-site for business continuity if the lab is closed, for example, by natural disaster. Watson-Marlow 620SN/R pumps have recently been installed on each skid downstream of the flat-bed membrane. The pumps, which typically run around 135 rpm, have a good suction capability and draw fluid from the sample bag through the filtration membrane for any solid material to be filtered and analysed with a microscope for microorganisms. In particular, the microscopic parasties that are looked for are Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which can cause gastrointestinal illness. “Watson-Marlow pumps have a good track record in this facility,” said Peter Beatson, Senior Analyst at the lab. “The older model 604S/R pumps were installed in this application and had over 10 years of reliable service. When we were going through the approval process for new equipment, that was a major plus when comparing potential suppliers - we knew they would be a good investment.” The 620SN/R pumps have been set up with Watson-Marlow’s most recommended Marprene peristaltic pump tubing (a thermoplastic elastomer), which has a long running life and is widely compatible with chemicals. With a duty cycle of 2-3 hours a day, the maintenance on the pumps is minimal with a tube change required only every two
12 Sustainability Matters - Dec 2011/Jan 2012 This 12
months. “Changing the tube takes just minutes, it is very simple to replace and get the pump going again.” Sydney Water’s Analytical Services laboratory has been testing for these organisms since the mid-nineties. Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in untreated water, associated with water-related disease worldwide, can follow large rainfall events and contamination by sewage effluents or animal waste. Waterborne outbreaks have been reported mostly in North America and Europe. In 1998 a number of Cryptosporidium were detected in Sydney’s water supply after flooding in the catchment. The public were asked to boil drinking water as a precaution, but no illnesses were recorded. The laboratory remains ever vigilant, checking on a daily basis for Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the water supplies to ensure that the water is safe for consumers, and using Watson-Marlow pumps in the process to help them do so. Watson-Marlow (Pty) Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M481
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case studies Advanced water treatment plant constructed Since commissioning, plant reliability has been stable with minimal requirement for process adjustments. The aeration system uses Ovivo's Aerostrip Fine Bubble Diffusers, a high-performing membrane diffuser that has provided high SOTR against power input. The efficiency has been shown as 4 to 4.2 kg O2/h per kW input. Optimisation of the positive displacement blowers is achieved through Ovivo's DO control strategy. With proper management of the sludge age and MLSS, permeability of the submerged membrane modules has been found to be consistent and well above accepted levels of 300 LMH/bar. The membrane flux rate selected reflects the high residual COD that is commonly experienced in industrial trade waste, when compared to sewage, due to slow or nonbiodegradable organic fractions.
Viterra is an agribusiness providing premium quality ingredients to leading global food manufacturers and its Tamworth malt facility has a grain capacity of 45,000 tonnes, supplying malt both domestically and internationally. With Viterra's holistic approach to water management and conservation of this precious resource, an advanced water treatment plant (AWTP) was required by the company to treat malting steep water to a quality suitable for re-use within the facility. Ovivo Australia designed and constructed an AWTP using MBR (membrane bioreactor) and RO (reverse osmosis) technology. MBR technology was used as it is suitable for the treatment and filtration of municipal and industrial waste. The MBR and RO perform all the necessary steps to treat the influent to a condition suitable for re-use within the client's facility and to maintain discharge agreement conformance for the reject stream generated. The malting steep waste is initially screened, balanced, pH corrected and biologically treated to reduce BOD/COD, nitrogen and phosphorous. Permeate is drawn through two immersed membrane trains reducing TSS levels and pathogens. The MBR permeate is further treated through a dual-stage RO system to remove dissolved content and pH corrected before being stored for re-use. The process designed by Ovivo incorporates the use of a bioselector that conditions the wastewater prior to biotreatment and enhances biological phosphorous removal. The AWTP, which is capable of treating a hydraulic load of 300 kL per day, can recover 75% of the wastewater, which equates to approximately a 50% reduction in the client's reliance on local potable water supply. Ovivo was able to provide the client with capital cost savings over conventional activated sludge systems. The AWTP performed the same function but with a reduced footprint and associated civil installation costs. The technology used resulted in a compact and efficient means of improving water quality and is well suited to re-use applications. The AWTP, which was delivered as design, build and operation (DBO), enables water savings of 50 ML per year.
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Parameter
Units
Design
Actual
Total suspended solids
mg/L
<1
<1
COD
mg/L
<1
<1
Total nitrogen
mg/L
<3
0.1 - 0.5
Total phosphorous
mg/L
< 0.1
0.01 - 0.03
pH
7.5 - 8.5
7.5 - 8.5
TDS
mg/L
< 400
100 - 300
Alkanility as CaCO3
mg/L
< 100
5 - 15
Table 1: Raw Steep Feed Specifications Parameter
Units
Design
Actual
Flow (design) Flow (peak) Total Suspended solids TDS
kL/d kL/d mg/L mg/L
250 300 <1000 1700
250 300 800 1500
BOD
mg/L
2500
2000-2500
COD
mg/L
4250
4000-6500
Total nitrogen
mg/L
70-100
150-200
Total phosphorous
mg/L
20-50
50-100
Deg C
4.5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6.5 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25
5.0-5.5 15-25
pH Temperature
Table 2: Recovered Water Specifications As can be seen, even though the designed influent data is much lower than actual influent loads, the recovered water surpasses design estimates. The excess biomass generated by the aeration phase is wasted through the MBR tank and dewatered using a horizontal solid bowl decanter centrifuge. The output of the centrifuge is a spadable cake that is beneficially re-used within the region. Centrate is captured and returned to the head of the plant. The plant is controlled via a SCADA system that allows for remote monitoring and trending. Automation is seen as critical to the long-term success of the wastewater treatment plant. This type of advanced water plant is the fifth of its kind that Ovivo has completed for the Australian food and beverage sector. Ovivo Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L037
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case studies From waste biomass to biocrude oil in 30 min A major airline and a global publication paper company have expressed interest in an Australian invention that can turn waste biomass into valuable, refinery-ready biocrude oil within a 30-minute proprietary transformation technology called ‘catalytic hydrothermal reaction’ (CAT-HTR). Upon inspecting and officially opening the demonstration plant at Somersby north of Sydney, the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson, announced that Norske Skog Australasia and Licella have formed a new joint venture company called Licella Fibre Fuels (LFF). LFF has the exclusive global licence to CAT-HTR technology to transform multiple biomass feedstocks, including forestry residues, agricultural waste and energy crops into biocrude oil. This venture will hopefully lead to construction of a large-scale ‘second-generation’ biocrude oil production plant in either Australia or New Zealand and planned continual expansion globally. The companies have also been working closely with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Air New Zealand for opportunities for the technology in New Zealand. The CAT-HTR commercial demonstration plant at Somersby is the result of three years’ of successful trials of an earlier pilot facility. Licella’s biocrude oil is a renewable equivalent to fossil crude oil and has the benefit of being able to be dropped into existing refinery infrastructure. If constructed, the first commercial-scale plant could produce up to 500,000 barrels of biocrude per annum, suited to being refined into second-generation biofuels including petrol, diesel and jet fuel. Second-generation biofuels do not rely upon food crops as production feedstock and are widely regarded as the most viable near-term supplement to petrochemical refineries’ growing heavy dependency on imported fossil fuel products.
It is anticipated that the CO2 life-cycle emissions from the biocrude oil will be 60% less than fossil fuels. Virgin Australia has signed an MoU to work with Licella on exploring the potential for an eventual commercial off-take agreement for sustainable jet fuel refined from the oil. Virgin Australia is collaborating with a number of interested parties to research and develop bio-derived renewable fuels that can be used to progressively replace conventional aviation fuels. Virgin Australia Group Executive of Operations Sean Donohue said Licella represents a promising step towards a local aviation biofuel industry. “By pioneering the use of water technology, Licella’s CATHTR offers a cleaner, faster and more cost-effective alternative to processing biomass that is the first of its kind in the world. “Virgin Australia’s strategy on sustainable aviation fuel is to work with a range of stakeholders across the industry - we know there will be no ‘magic bullet’ and that creating financially viable biofuel will involve a range of feedstocks and processes.” Licella‘s parent company, Ignite Energy, has determined that Licella will become an independent entity that will continue to exclusively focus on the commercialisation of biocrude production projects in the Australasian region and around the world. The Somersby demonstration plant was partially funded ($2.3 m) by the federal government’s Second Generation Biofuels Research and Development Grant Program. Licella CEO Steve Rogers said, “Licella expects to form additional joint venture partnerships similar to the one with Norske Skog with suppliers of sugarcane waste and algal biomass in order to ramp-up biocrude oil production through construction of future large-scale commercial production facilities.
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case studies Turning food waste into an ecofriendly by-product
Every year, countless thousands of tonnes of food waste are generated by leftover food scraps at cafes, restaurants, fast food businesses and hotels. Then there are the scraps from food preparation as well. A single 300-seat restaurant has to dispose of up to 750 kg per week of food waste. When this is multiplied by the hundreds of food outlets in a city it becomes a mountainous problem to deal with. The leftover bacon and eggs, lunchtime seafood and salads and evening steaks and veg when dumped in landfill can become a toxic organic waste mix that rots down, producing greenhouse gases as well as leachate to poison water tables. Many major national food and beverage outlets and leading event companies, among the biggest producers of leftover waste, now have a cost-effective alternative disposal option available with the environment the winner. Melbourne-based Eco Guardians has been able to provide a solution using the GaiaRecycle system, a specially designed piece of processing machinery which effectively turns food waste into an ecofriendly soil amendment product. No more long-distance hauling of the waste to expensive landfill sites. Melbourne Town Hall was the first site to have access to the system. The biomass produced from the Town Hall process is suitable for use on the City of Melbourne’s parks and gardens. Because the Melbourne Town Hall system is a compact mobile model, Eco Guardians was able to relocate it for four days to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club for The Presidents Cup tournament, turning leftover food scraps from corporate entertainment into a soil amendment that has since been used on the golf course. Other leading golf courses in Australia are now looking at adopting the system, especially those with major catering facilities. Paul Moynes of Eco Guardians explained: “Our GaiaRecycle system breaks down and ferments the organic waste, whilst the moisture content is driven off and condensed for draining without any pollution risk. Alternatively, it can be recovered for use as greywater on site. “Over a period of some hours, the waste volume is reduced by 85 to 90% and, because it is processed at high temperature, it is sterilised; pathogens and seeds are rendered inactive. This biomass is ideal for use as a soil amendment,” he said. “As smaller GaiaRecycle units are mobile we are able to take the solution to the problem,” Moynes said. “And the Gaia Recycle system is scalable to process from just 15 kg to 100 tonnes of organic waste per day.” Eco Guardians Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M555
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A Bristol University team has dissolved iron in liquid surfactant to create a soap that can be controlled by magnets. The discovery could be used to create cleaning products that can be removed after application and used in the recovery of oil spills at sea.
Magnetic soap being developed for oil spills
S
cientists from Bristol University have developed a soap, composed of iron-rich salts dissolved in water, that responds to a magnetic field when placed in solution. The soap’s magnetic properties were proved with neutrons at the Institut Laue-Langevin to result from tiny iron-rich clumps that sit within the watery solution. The generation of this property in a fully functional soap could calm concerns over the use of soaps in oil-spill clean-ups and revolutionise industrial cleaning products. Scientists have long been searching for a way to control soaps (or surfactants as they are known in industry) once they are in solution to increase their ability to dissolve oils in water and then remove them from a system. The team at Bristol University have previously worked on soaps sensitive to light, carbon dioxide or changes in pH, temperature or pressure. Their latest breakthrough, reported in Angewandte Chemie, is said to be the world’s first soap sensitive to a magnetic field. Ionic liquid surfactants, composed mostly of water with some transition metal complexes (heavy metals like iron bound to halides such as bromine or chlorine) have been suggested as potentially controllable by magnets for some time, but it had always been assumed that their metallic centres were too isolated within the solution, preventing the long-range interactions required to be magnetically active.
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The team at Bristol, led by Professor Julian Eastoe, produced their magnetic soap by dissolving iron in a range of inert surfactant materials composed of chloride and bromide ions, very similar to those found in everyday mouthwash or fabric conditioner. The addition of the iron creates metallic centres within the soap particles. To test its properties, the team introduced a magnet to a test tube containing their new soap lying beneath a less dense organic solution. When the magnet was introduced the iron-rich soap overcame both gravity and surface tension between the water and oil, to levitate through the organic solvent and reach the source of the magnetic energy, proving its magnetic properties. Once the surfactant was developed and shown to be magnetic, Prof Eastoe’s team took it to the Institut Laue-Langevin, a centre for neutron science, to investigate the science behind its remarkable property. When surfactants are added to water they are known to form tiny clumps (particles called micelles). Scientists at ILL used a technique called small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to confirm that it was this clumping of the ironrich surfactant that brought about its magnetic properties. Dr Isabelle Grillo, responsible of the Chemistry Laboratories at ILL, said: “The particles of surfactant in solution are small and thus difficult to see using light but are easily revealed by
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Spill management
From a commercial point of view, though these exact liquids aren’t yet ready to appear in any household product, by proving that magnetic soaps can be developed, future work can reproduce the same phenomenon in more commercially viable liquids for a range of applications from water treatment to industrial cleaning products. SANS which we use to investigate the structure and behaviour of all types of materials with typical sizes ranging from the nanometre to the tenth of a micrometre.” The potential applications of magnetic surfactants are huge. Their responsiveness to external stimuli allows a range of properties, such as their electrical conductivity, melting point, the size and shape of aggregates and how readily it dissolves in water to be altered by a simple magnetic on and off switch. Traditionally these factors, which are key to the effective application of soaps in a variety of industrial settings, could only be controlled by adding an electric
charge or changing the pH, temperature or pressure of the system, all changes that irreversibly alter the system composition and cost money to remediate. Its magnetic properties also make it easier to round up and remove from a system once it has been added, suggesting further applications in environmental clean-ups and water treatment. Scientific experiments which require precise control of liquid droplets could also be made easier with the addition of this surfactant and a magnetic field. Professor Julian Eastoe, University of Bristol, said: “As most magnets are metals, from a purely scientific point of view these ionic liquid surfactants
are highly unusual, making them a particularly interesting discovery. From a commercial point of view, though these exact liquids aren’t yet ready to appear in any household product, by proving that magnetic soaps can be developed, future work can reproduce the same phenomenon in more commercially viable liquids for a range of applications from water treatment to industrial cleaning products.” Peter Dowding, an industrial chemist, not involved in the research, said: “Any system which acts only when responding to an outside stimulus that has no effect on its composition is a major breakthrough as you can create products which only work when they are needed to. Also, the ability to remove the surfactant after it has been added widens the potential applications to environmentally sensitive areas like oil spill clean-ups where in the past concerns have been raised.”
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case studies Sustainable solution to groundwater and soil contamination Coffey Environments has over 15 years of experience in the injection of chemical amendments into contaminated groundwater and lithologies across a broad range of contaminated sites throughout Australia. The company recently acquired the only licence in Australasia for Wavefront Primawave pulsed injection technology that has been demonstrated to improve amendment injection efficiency. To complement this new technology, the company developed a Remediation Amendment Injection Device (RAID) to provide a more effective chemical amendment delivery system that is claimed to provide higher success rates and safer injection events. Coffey Environments' Team Leader for Remediation, Nick Lawrence, explains it took knowledge from more than 100 injection projects, and research around the world, to develop the solution. "We'd been investing in improving our injection systems continuously over the last 15 years. "We became interested in the Primewave injection technology when we learned of Brownfield sites in the US that had a 75% decrease in the number of injection points, saving more than one month in the field and more than 40% of the remedial costs. "This new pulsed injection technology, along with our mobile RAID system, has had incredible results. We used the system on many remediation sites with differing geologies and hydrological characteristics being impacted by a range of contaminants. "Using real-time data logging of injection parameters from our RAID system, we are able to ensure more accurate and reliable distribution of amendments into the target areas. We can inject into four wells at one time and monitor critical parameters at each point. Ultimately, this means an accelerated pathway to closure of groundwater contamination issues. "The pulsed injection technology increases the radius of injection, improving the amendment distribution into the ground," he stated. During injection Coffey's RAID system provides multipoint real-time monitoring for injection pressures, flow rates and totalised injectate. This information, in addition to water quality parameters, levels and vapour emissions surrounding the injection points is vital in determining the effectiveness of the injection works. Post injection follow-up monitoring also provides key information to validate outcomes and confirm achievement of remedial objectives. Coffey Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K956
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case studies Gas recycling technology ABB has developed a technology for the comprehensive recycling of contaminated SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) gas, based on an energy-efficient cryogenic process.The new technology, developed by an Australian team at ABB’s Moorebank, NSW, facility, will be implemented at a dedicated SF6 gas recycling centre at Moorebank. Australia will be the first country in a global rollout of this new technology. Purity of recycled SF6 gas using the newly developed technology is ~99.99%. This exceeds the purity that can be achieved using traditional methods and removes the need for costly and energy-intensive gas destruction. Using recycled SF6 gas will help reduce carbon emissions and could result in a cost-saving potential of up to 30%. “This breakthrough actively supports a complete life cycle management approach, improving asset optimisation and performance while reducing environmental impact in a cost-effective manner,” said Axel Kuhr, Country Manager for ABB in Australia. “It is yet another example of how ABB remains at the forefront of technology and innovation and a great example of Australia’s contribution to ABB’s global R&D program.” SF6 gas is extensively used in the electrical industry for dielectric insulation and current interruption in circuit breakers, switchgear and other electrical equipment. Pressurised SF6 gas is used for the safe and reliable
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operation of gas-insulated switchgear as it has a much higher dielectric strength than air or dry nitrogen, making it possible to significantly reduce product footprint and enable installation in constrained spaces. However, its life cycle management is a challenge for utility and industrial users. The cost of handling SF6 in a compliant manner can also be substantial, particularly when decommissioning ageing substations. The new service offering will see contaminated SF 6 gas recycled into technical-grade standard (according to IEC 60376 standards) for re-use using approved handling practices that do not allow the escape of SF6 gas into the atmosphere. The service also covers monitoring to ensure compliance with changing local and international regulations and standards.
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Plant opening
ABB Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M139
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research & development SCA science works for water protection in coal seam gas activities
Coal seam gas exploration remains a significant issue in the community and an area of strong focus for the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA). Coal seam gas activities have the potential to affect the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater in the drinking water catchments, water supply infrastructure and the ecological health of protected catchment land. The SCA’s science team is working to ensure the organisation has the best contemporary knowledge on the potential impacts of coal seam gas activities. SCA Principal Scientist Dr Jerzy Jankowski said his team is developing a monitoring program for surface and groundwater to assess possible impacts from coal seam gas drilling. “The SCA already has an extensive understanding of surface and ground-
water impacts from longwall mining and this monitoring program for coal seam gas operations will build on that knowledge. “We are developing the program using the science collected from current coal seam gas operations in Queensland and New South Wales, as well as contemporary knowledge from around the world. “Understanding the potential environmental impacts is very important in allowing the SCA to provide informed advice to the departments that approve coal seam gas exploration or production.” It also helps that the SCA build in stringent conditions to its own access consents where mining companies require access to SCA land. Dr Jankowski said there is currently only one coal seam gas project approved
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by the Minister for Planning on lands managed by the SCA for water quantity and quality. Last month the Planning Assessment Commission granted approval for a 16th borehole for this project at Darkes Forest to the south of Sydney. The additional borehole is also on SCA land and the SCA made a submission to the Planning Assessment Commission recommending a number of rigorous conditions be put in place if the borehole was approved. “Our submission focused on ensuring groundwater and surface water quality would not be affected and the Planning Assessment Commission have required the mining company to address the recommendations made in our submission,” Dr Jankowski continued. These conditions now apply retrospectively to all the boreholes approved for the project and not just this additional 16th borehole. “This is a very strong position for the SCA and our ongoing focus on the scientific knowledge behind potential coal seam gas activities means we can continue to provide this high-level advice during the planning and approval process.” There is no coal seam gas production approved on SCA land and drilling for the exploration activities has not started. Any proposal to move from exploration to production requires a new application, approval and environmental assessment process. The SCA has six mining principles that help inform its science and research programs and underpin its advice to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services. More information about the SCA’s mining principles is available at www. sca.nsw.gov.au. The article originally appeared in scan: The Sydney Catchment Authority’s quarterly newsletter (Issue 03 - Summer 2011).
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research & development Guide for the re-use of C & D waste The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released a guide to assist in the development of effective markets for the re-use of construction and demolition waste. The ‘Construction and Demolition Waste Guide - recycling and re-use across the supply chain’ draws on Australian case studies to highlight the best practice waste management and resource recovery in the construction and demolition sector and to address a common perception that the re-use of this type of waste is too difficult. The guide highlights 15 case studies on the effective uses for construction and demolition waste. The case studies showcase big and small projects undertaken in metropolitan and regional areas across Australia using a variety of construction and demolition wastes, and both refurbished and new projects, demonstrating that the re-use of construction and demolition waste is not novel and can deliver effective, fit-for-purpose outcomes.
The guide can be accessed on the department’s website: http://www. environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/ publications/case-studies.html. Following on from the release of the guide, the department has launched a knowledge store on the National Waste Policy website dedicated to showcasing documents and case studies that relate to the recycling and re-use, avoidance and reduction of waste. It can be accessed at http://www.environment.gov.au/ wastepolicy/knowledge-store/index. © iStockphoto.com/Christopher Steer html. All Australian, state, territory and local governments, industry, and community organisations are invited to submit case studies for possible inclusion in the store. A list of categories, example case studies and guidelines for inclusion can be accessed on the department’s website: http://www.environment.gov.au/ wastepolicy/knowledge-store/case-study-guidelines.html. Department of Sustainability & Environment Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M298
Storage and demand management for renewables A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) research project aims to overcome one of Australia’s main hurdles to the increased use of wind and solar energy. QUT’s Chair in Power Engineering, Professor Gerard Ledwich, said because renewable generation was not predictable, other generation currently needed to be available to ensure continuity of supply. He hopes to develop storage and demand management systems to ensure renewable electricity can be better stored during lowusage times for use in peak periods, cutting down the amount of fossil generation that needs to be available as a backup. “Winds are variable and solar power isn’t always available during peak evening usage times but essentially neither can be guaranteed to be present,” Professor Ledwich said. “Our aim is to develop new storage and management systems to better harness all of the electricity sources available and give the electricity grid greater strength. “This will benefit all electricity users, not only those in remote locations.” He said electricity prices had been rising for the last few years essentially because
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consumers needed a lot of electricity during short peak periods of the day, for example 30% of the network is often needed only 2% of the time. “With new power lines costing more than $1 million per kilometre to build, saving and storing electricity locally, rather than building more power lines, has to be the answer. “If we can better store locally the vast amounts of renewable energy Australia is capable of producing, we’ll be able to develop a stronger electricity network and significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.” Professor Ledwich said providing fossil fuelled backup generation for all renewable generators was too costly. “The creation of solar or wind power itself isn’t the problem - the problem is developing systems on the network to allow renewable power to keep feeding in. “At the moment the grid can’t accept wind-generated energy that accounts for more than 20% of the total power generated but we aim to turn this around. “Wind is always going to be variable. We need a capacity to store its energy when it’s
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available and also provide remote customers of this energy with electricity when it’s not. “The answer lies in creating local responses to overloads as well as balancing renewables, thus providing a more robust network.” The three-year project Robust electricity network accommodating high levels of renewables has been allocated $320,000 from the Australian Research Council and will be undertaken in conjunction with researchers in Newcastle, Singapore and China.
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research & development
Š iStockphoto.com/Greg Brookes
Measuring hygienic product waste
Recycling company Relivit has secured funding and support from SCA Hygiene Australasia (SCA) for a national audit of absorbent hygiene product (AHP) waste disposable nappies, continence aids and feminine hygiene items. SCA has been actively seeking better waste disposal solutions for its customers
in the aged-care and healthcare sectors, with the objectives of reducing costs and improving environmental outcomes. Relivit holds the licence for a suitable recycling technology and will open its first plant in Sydney in 2013. Accordingly, the company started discussions with SCA earlier this year. Recycling solutions have been emerging in Australia, UK and New Zealand that will divert this waste from landfill. However, while the problem is acknowledged, its magnitude is poorly understood. A lack of coherent data makes it difficult for decision-makers to appreciate the extent of their issue, and hence the potential financial and environmental gains that could be obtained from recycling. The National Audit of AHP waste proposed by Relivit will solve this problem, through wide-ranging research and detailed waste assessments to gain
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more understanding of this waste stream. The main outcome will be an online tool by which managers can prepare their own AHP waste estimates and, as a consequence, make informed decisions when planning for new waste management solutions. Mike Ritchie and Associates (MRA) consulting is currently undertaking a costbenefit analysis of the options to remove nappies from the urban waste stream for productive re-use. MRA will also lead the delivery of the work required in the national audit project. SCA Hygiene Australasia is the first corporate partner to commit to the project, to match Relivitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own commitment of funds and resources. Any organisation wishing to participate in the project is asked to contact Gareth Williamson, Managing Director of Relivit, via Relivitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.relivit.com.au.
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Innovative valve automation Rotary lobe pump Manufactured from stainless steel, the pumps can handle from low- to high-viscosity pumped media and are suitable for delicate media, froths, gels, emulsions and sludges including pumped media with suspended solids, fibrous matter and sludges with rag and grit. Standard port sizes up to 300 mm diameter, flow rates up to 680 mÂł/h and differential pressures up to 10 bar make this range of pumps suitable for some of the most arduous pumping duties. The positive displacement of the series is provided by non-contacting, contra-rotating, tri-lobe rotors within a fully swept pump chamber, capable of bi-rotational flow without modification. During pumping, the rotors do not touch each other or the pump casing, effectively reducing wear, even when pumping abrasive media. The pump features low energy consumption, high efficiency, easy maintenance, robust construction and the ability to pump large solids and abrasive media. Matrix Process Solutions Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/J296
LED floodlight The Marl 748 series floodlight is just 10 cm deep, but delivers 3000 lumens from an input power of just 56 W. The lamp has a rated life of 60,000 h, equivalent to over 13 years at 12 hours per day. The lamp is said to use 60% less energy than an equivalent metal halide lamp and is suitable for security lights in warehouses, car parks and other commercial and industrial premises. The floodlights are based on Osram Golden Dragon Plus LEDs, packaged in a robust die-cast, powder-coated aluminium housing protected by tempered glass. The units are weatherproof, being sealed to IP66 standard, and are suitable for operation between -30 and +45°C. An optional dusk-dawn sensor can be fitted to bring the light on when ambient light levels drop below a preset level. The series is offered in four versions, with medium, wide and extra-wide beams as well as an oval beam. It weighs just 8.1 kg. Aerospace & Defence Products Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M499
Ultrasonic level transmitter The device features easy programming with a 4-digit LCD screen and a simple menu format. It is suitable for direct installation over weirs and flumes and compensates for virtually all environmental conditions such as vapours, gases, temperature variations and wind. The weatherproof IP65 body makes it suitable for any flow measurement situation. Dwyer Instruments (Aust) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K753
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Portable photosynthesis system
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The LCpro-SD is a portable and easy-to-use photosynthesis system with full experimental programming and environmental control. The device provides full automatic and enhanced control of the environmental conditions within the plant leaf chamber. It is claimed to control CO2, H2O, temperature and PAR more accurately and easily than ever before. All the environmental control facilities are contained within the single and lightweight console. Featuring the latest in infrared gas analysis technology, the device features a number of enhancements to the field gas exchange performance including an extended measurement range, faster response times and less instability caused by ambient CO2 fluctuations. Weighing only 5 kg, the console is less than half the size and weight of traditional systems. The battery-operated system will function for up to 16 hours from a single charge. Sophisticated photosynthesis experiments, such as A/Ci curves and light response curves, can now be easily performed in previously impractical locations. Enhanced graphical display capabilities allow for real-time experimental viewing. Data is stored on removable SD cards and can be reviewed on the graphic display and downloaded directly from the SD cards, via USB, or RS232. An expanded range of easily interchangeable leaf chamber heads means that the system can be used for a variety of field applications, including a range of plant leaves, whole plants and a soil chamber for field respiration experimentation. This research instrument is said to be able to help enhance our understanding of world crop efficiency and a host of global environmental issues.
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Sustainable packaging films Polyden Folien has launched a range of sustainable packaging films made with Cardia Biohybrid technology that meet high packaging performance standards. The technology combines renewable thermoplastics with polyethylene material to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and dependence on finite oil resources.
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Compact wastewater disposal units
The Sololift2 range of compact wastewater disposal units from Grundfos makes installation within domestic conversions and renovations easier than ever. The range is designed to handle wastewater in domestic homes, as well as greywater in both commercial and public buildings. It is to be used where wastewater cannot be led directly to the sewer by means of a natural downward slope. The powerful motor of the range features special winding and shaft technology. Toilet paper and occasionally flushed personal hygiene products are no longer a problem due to the grinder, which performs with the maximum reliability. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s integrated lift-out motor and pump unit enables fast and clean repairs and service. There is no need to remove the appliance, drain off and disconnect the discharge pipe. Just open the lid for easy access to clean, dry parts. With its external manual anticlogging function, a screwdriver is all that is needed to remove blockages. Even objects that are too large for the grinder can be removed effectively. Additional features include captive screw fastening, external pressure switch control and tank draining via a simple socket and hose connection. Grundfos Pumps Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M140
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CO2 monitoring device The CO2 measurement is a function of the absorption of infrared energy as it travels through the optical path. The optical path is a thermostatically controlled infrared detection system which provides good stability over both time and temperature, extending the required interval between calibrations. User-defined high- and low-level alarms are available as voltage outputs, allowing users to control CO2 within a desired range. Relays can trigger devices such as automatic diallers, alarms, pumps and valves in industrial environments. The unit includes simple Windows interface software for user calibration and data collection. Users can easily set operational parameters and logging options as well as output data to a printable chart. John Morris Scientific Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/P185
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Burkert has launched the Neutrino analytical transmitters; the 8202 (for pH or redox potential) and 8222 (for conductivity). They are designed for operation with different sensor types, offering adaption across a range of applications where measurement of pH, ORP or conductivity is required. The transmitters are part of the Element system, which links clean line valves, sensors, positioners and valve actuators in an intelligent architecture to solve total control loop processes. The system has unlimited modularity and saves processing time by offering total control solutions for media from slurries to steam, and from deionised water to hydrochloric acid. The systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s devices are engineered for long service life in wet, aggressive and arduous environments. The transmitters feature a variable electrical connection for pH electrodes, making it possible to use most pH electrodes with a 12 mm diameter and an S7 connection. As a result, users have greater flexibility, as a single standard transmitter can be used for all applications within the system. Moreover, the option of selecting from three cell constants (0.01, 0.1 or 1) for measuring conductivity ensures versatility when exchanging sensors, as well as adaptability to the required task. This results in reduced inventory costs and administrative requirements, together with improved product life cycle. Also adding to the functionality and accuracy of the transmitters is an integrated pt1000 sensor, which provides internal temperature compensation. The temperature value provided by the sensor is delivered as a second process variable in the transmitter, and can also be output as a 4-20 mA signal. This eliminates the requirement and costs for a separate temperature sensor. Both transmitters are simple to use; they are supplied with a key for selecting the required measuring mode, and offer measuring range selection with 16-position multipoint switch and allocated ranges, together with the facility for one-point and two-point calibration for pH and ORP. Monitoring for calibration processes, device status, warning and alarms, is provided via an integrated LED status display. Burkert Fluid Control Systems Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M288
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Protecting water’s human resources Our world is uncertain: seven billion people, fewer natural resources and what appears to be a new paradigm governing our weather systems. Throw global financial uncertainty into the mix and the job of planning our world’s water supply has never been more challenging.
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James Currie, Client Services Director, Australia, Black & Veatch
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ustralia’s water industry faces a somewhat unique challenge. Apart from one quarter, a booming resources sector has helped drive positive GDP growth quarter-on-quarter since 2007. The irony is that this economic success story is in turn placing additional pressure on the provision of our most precious resource: water. This uniqueness was audible recently at the Australian leg of our global roundtable series. We undertook the second of our annual series of water dialogues on economic pressures facing the water industry at Ozwater in Adelaide last year. The major difference in the dialogue compared to similar events in cities such as Berlin, New Orleans, Stockholm or Washington DC was the Australian water leaders’ concern for retaining and inspiring the next generation of talent. Australia’s water challenge has simply not gone away since the rains returned. In early 2009, the Water Services Association of Australia estimated $30 billion was needed to be spent on urban water infrastructure over the following 5 to 10 years, and this does not factor in the work required following last summer’s tragic flooding. There is a lot more to do. Now as much as ever, the Australian water industry needs to retain its
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talent to ensure innovative, sustainable delivery of water solution for our growing population. Finding the right talent for more innovative work is critical. Although water has become a desirable career, attracting more interest from young professionals in recent years, participants pointed to a need to nurture and inspire the next generation of water leaders. If a young engineer’s aim in life is to make as much money as possible, then they probably shouldn’t work in the water sector. As the resources boom aggressively attracts talent out of the water sector, it is clear the industry needs to offer more than remuneration in order to retain its best people. Among the drawcards organisations in the water industry may be able to offer, or work towards, are developing an attractive work culture, negotiating a whole-of-life proposition with new staff and imbuing a sense that it is working for the greater good. Articulating any corporate value proposition and living it throughout the organisation - not just paying lip service to it - will define its ultimate success. For the talented new entrants to the water industry, fresh with hard-won technical proficiency, it is essential to broaden their capabilities, to build
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Among the drawcards organisations in the water industry may be able to offer, or work towards, are developing an attractive work culture, negotiating a whole-of-life proposition with new staff and imbuing a sense that it is working for the greater good.
leadership and management skills early in their career development. Roundtable participants in Adelaide were adamant that the industry’s current leaders are the key to teaching younger leaders and transferring institutional knowledge through stories, legends, case studies, internship programs and job rotations. Developing and reinforcing a performance culture is also critical in both the public and private sector as the water industry prepares to meet the demands of operating in a fast-moving and increasingly complex industry environment. The roundtable series identified one constant, universal challenge. The water industry must learn to ‘do more with less’ - drive value from its assets, derive value itself from nutrients in our water/ wastewater, secure better financing and use every single drop of our water more
efficiently at every level - domestically, in industry and in agriculture. Australia’s water sector has been a shining example of this success. The country has sustained continued economic growth with only 30% of the water it had 10 years ago and improved its irrigation efficiencies to 85 to 90%, according to the Asian Development Bank. There is still, however, an expectation that the water industry will make greater use of the range of water resources at its disposal, both to serve a growing customer base and to meet environmental outcomes. In addition to the traditional freshwater reservoirs, the options now include stormwater, recycled sewage and desalinated water. These new products present the industry with a new level of complexity in optimising water flows. Establishing what is the best economic
use of these products in a financially constrained environment presents the industry with novel challenges in determining the life cycle costing for a range of new infrastructure. A significant additional cost pressure for water utilities is the potential increase in energy costs. Treating and transferring water uses a lot of electricity. With the arrival of Australia’s carbon tax, electricity prices will increase and the nexus between energy and water will become a much more serious problem. How do we harness energy at treatment plants, recover it through the process and use available land and space for off-grid renewable solutions like solar and wind power? We need our best minds solving this complexity of issues and ensuring a secure supply of water for generations to come. We need to avoid mistakes of brinksmanship if faced with another water crisis. We need to plan ahead and do everything we can to protect and retain our talent. Black & Veatch SE Asia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M592
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Inline bore treatment The N-Fix Inline Bore Treatment can be used to solve inline deposit problems.There are four types of inline sludge deposits associated with bacterial growth: iron bacteria, manganese deposits, sulfur slime and iron sulfide. Available from Compressed Air Australia, N-FIX Inline Bore Treatment is a natural biological formulation which is claimed to eliminate the use of acid-based products that cause corrosion and potentially contaminate groundwater. It raises the alkalinity of water by encouraging autotrophic bacteria and causing rapid oxidisation. The highly concentrated inline bore treatment can solve inline deposit problems; optimise pump capacity and reduces the need for heavy-duty maintenance; eliminate blocked pumps, drains, pipes, filters, sprinklers and irrigation lines; improve flow rate of pumps; improve water quality; and is non-toxic and safe to use. Iron bacteria are generally resistant to chemical methods of control, but the inline bore treatment is successful due to its ability to complete the nitrification/de-nitrificationprocess in a reasonable period of time, raising pH to start oxidising sulfur (S) by using CO2 present in media (water) as a source of carbon and so decreasing the number of iron bacteria present. The treatment is manufactured in Australia and is available in 1, 5, 20 and 200 L containers. Compressed Air Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M234
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Portable water sampler
Miniature submersible level transmitter The MBLT Miniature Submersible Level Transmitter, with a diameter of 15.87 mm, is suitable for level monitoring in well and borehole applications. The transmitter has a welded 316 SS body and 316 SS nose cap.The body top is also 316 SS and tapered to prevent damage or snares when pulling the unit out of the installation. It features a precision Âą0.10% or 0.25% of full scale accuracy output, which is said to be an improvement on BFSL or BSL rated outputs used by other transmitters. Lightning and surge protection (not guaranteed or covered by standard warranty) is included for harsh applications. The transmitter is supplied with a choice of polyether polyurethane or ETFE cable materials and all are vented for barometric pressure compensation. The vent is covered with a maintenance-free filter preventing particulate or water droplets from entering the transmitter. Suitable applications include: ballast tanks, groundwater monitoring, surface water monitoring, dewatering, remediation and environmental monitoring applications.
The PVS4100C portable water sampler can be for used for stormwater, wastewater or other water-quality applications. It uses an external vacuum pump to draw water through intake tubing, instead of the traditional peristaltic pump that induce flow by squeezing flexible tubing. Advantages of the vacuum pump method include faster sampling rates, longer sampling distances and less maintenance. Because the vacuum method disturbs the water samples less, they better represent the original water solution, especially if the solution has high concentrations of suspended solids. To prevent cross contamination, the sampler use air pressure (up to 28 psi) to purge the tubing of excess water. The enclosure of the sampler is a moulded medium-density linear polyethylene, designed to handle tough environmental challenges and weathering. Its hub has an insulated ring and a cavity for crushed ice, giving more control over the temperature of the sample.
Dwyer Instruments (Aust) Pty Ltd
Campbell Scientific Aust Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M264
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n products & services
Mobile bunding solution
Flowmeter
Unlike PVC, it is claimed that the X-R5 will not become brittle and crack when exposed to oils and fuels. A standard 1000 L model folds down to a compact 500 x 500 x 100 mm size and weighs only 10 kg. All of the 10 standard sizes in the range have high-frequency welded seams to prevent leaking and delamination. These standard sizes range from 1000 to 24,700 L. The Australian-made Quickbund can also be custom made to any required size. As well as being conveniently portable, the bunding solution can be deployed and fully functional in just seconds. Simply place on the ground and unfold to create a secure bunded area. Antivibration nitrile pads add puncture resistance and underblankets extend the applications and durability of the unit.
Wastewater treatment plant engineers in search of an accurate, economical solution for air/gas flow measurement in aeration basins will find that Fluid Components International's precision ST98 Thermal Mass Flow Meter, when combined with the Vortab Insertion Panel (VIP) Flow Conditioner, provides good performance to minimise compressed airflow energy costs. In wastewater treatment plants, a variety of processes is employed to eliminate organic pollutants from water. The activated sludge method requires the pumping of compressed air into aeration basins where a diffuser system ensures the air is distributed evenly for optimum treatment. Large amounts of compressed air are required to ensure the aeration process operates effectively, with flowmeters installed in the system piping to help monitor the air that is released into the basins. This is essential because the airflow controls the growth of microorganisms that treat the wastewater. Precisely controlling the airflow is necessary to reduce compressed air energy costs, which are one of the largest expenses in the treatment process. The ST98, in combination with the VIP flow conditioner, is suitable for this task because of the meter's accurate performance over a wide flow range, ease of installation and low maintenance requirements. It features a no-movingparts thermal dispersion mass flow sensing element that provides accuracy and reliability in harsh environments. The ST98 also includes an integral 2-way HART interface, which allows engineers to receive multiple process variables and configure the meter remotely from the safety of the control room. The flowmeter provides high accuracy to Âą1% of reading, 0.5% of full scale. Repeatability is Âą0.5% of reading. This insertion-style flowmeter can be installed without shutting down the process by using a simple NPT fitting. The ST98 operates over a wide flow range from 0.21 to 172 nmps, and the turndown ratio is factory preset from 10:1 up to 100:1. It operates at pressures up to 7 bar (g). The VIP flow conditioner compensates for flow disturbances in wastewater treatment aeration basin compressed air piping systems. Vortab technology is claimed to reduce pressure drop compared to alternative technologies such as tube bundles, screens and perforated plates, which helps minimise plant energy consumption and costs. Many flowmeter technologies require several diameters of straight pipe run to meet their meter's accuracy specifications, and the VIP flow conditioner solves this pipe straight-run dilemma. A VIP installed at just three pipe diameters downstream from the flow disturbance, with the flowmeter installed at just three pipe diameters downstream of the VIP, neutralises the flow disturbance and produces a symmetrical and swirl-free repeatable flow profile.
Spill Station Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/J288
AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/J651
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Mountable display
Compact dynamic composting unit
The CD100 mountable display with keyboard can be used to check a data loggerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s status, to view or plot sensor readings and stored values, and to enter numeric data or toggle ports. Security can be set in the data logger to prevent unauthorised personnel from accessing the data. The device has a 16-character keypad and a display that can show eight lines by 21 characters (64 by 128 pixels). The keypadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design permits operation with a gloved hand. The device is both water and dust protected, providing an IP66 rating when installed in the enclosure lid.
The Backhus DC 50 compact composting unit is a dynamic containerised in-vessel composting facility. Waste can be processed at the point of generation, making it suitable for food industry applications such as composting grease trap wastes and food wastes from grocery stores, cafeterias and hotels. Other applications include composting: industrial sludges, municipal solid waste (MSW), manure, green and yard waste, biosolids and sewage sludge. The insulated composting unit weighs approximately 6.5 tonnes and has standard 20â&#x20AC;˛ container dimensions measuring 15 m2 with an interior volume of 19.5 m3 and a processing capacity of 15 m3. Capable of an annual throughput of up to approximately 450 tonnes, the retention time is three to 15 days. Complete homogenisation of the input material and fast volume reduction of organic material is achieved with the two powerful agitators. Aeration is active/positive and active/negative including biofiltration. Features include a high process temperature that allows for fast sanitation of contaminated feedstock and the elimination of odours; a leachate recycling circuit; and plug-and-play operation that requires only a power outlet. The unit requires a minimum of effort for transportation by hook-lift truck and the generous-sized electric hatch allows for convenient filling from three sides. It also features automatic discharge and comes with an optional roll-off undercarriage and hook.
Campbell Scientific Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M388
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GCM Enviro Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M509
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60 L mobile garbage bin Manufactured in Australia, the Sulo 60 L MGB is a compact wheelie bin that can fit into small spaces and can be lifted with standard lifting equipment. The mobile gargage bin is suitable for a number of applications including: food waste collection, including at the kerbside; commercial kitchens; clinical; general waste; apartment blocks or housing areas with little space to hold MGBs; battery disposal; glass collection; hospitality; large office blocks; and general storage. The bin’s handle can be extended to a height of 883 mm, ensuring maximum comfort as the user is not required to bend over when wheeling the bin. The handle can also be folded forward.The footstep at the rear of the bin allows it to be easily tilted and the optional gravity latch automatically locks the lid shut when the bin is sitting vertical and automatically unlatches it when the bin is tilted to a 90° angle, such as during lifting. Optional venting in lid handles allows air to flow through the closed MGB, reducing the weight of the contents when it is used for organic waste. The bin has 200 mm wheels for increased stability during manoeuvring. Rubber tyres on the wheel reduce noise when the bin is wheeled. Available in standard colours of black, nature green, dark green and grey, the bin can also be requested in special colours including blue, yellow, red, brown, orange and purple. Sulo MGB Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M163
Wastewater aerators The range has undergone rigorous testing and is constructed from quality materials, including a high-performance impeller, making them suitable for a wide range of wastewater requirements. The Jet Aerators (ARJ Series) are specifically designed to mix water with low levels of oxygen transfer and are suitable in sludge-mixing applications. The Jet Aerators are constructed from high-quality materials including a low-noise, high-efficiency submersible motor and a high-performance impeller to reduce downtime and ensure maximum efficiency. The required shaft power is said to hardly change with fluctuations in water depth. The Submersible Aerators (ARS Series) are specifically designed to blow in microscopic air bubbles with the water, producing a high oxygen transfer rate. The Submersible Aerators come standard with twelve radiated outlets and a unique inlet strainer that prevents the impeller from being blocked by foreign material. The double mechanical seal offers good protection. Malcolm Thompson Pumps Pty Ltd
Campbell Scientific offers both portable and stationary automatic water samplers for stormwater, wastewater or other water-quality applications. These samplers use external vacuum pumps to draw water through intake tubing, instead of the traditional peristaltic pumps that induce flow by squeezing flexible tubing. Advantages of the vacuum pump method include faster sampling rates, better vertical lifts, longer sampling distances and less maintenance. Because the vacuum method disturbs the water samples less, they better represent the original water solution, especially if the solution has high concentrations of suspended solids. The samplers include a controller that can accept a pulse input (eg, rain gauge), a 4 to 20 mA signal (eg, flow meter) or initiate a sample on a timed basis. The samplers can also be interfaced with Campbell Scientific’s data loggers, which can measure nearly any turbidity, water level or hydro-meteorological sensor, as well as control the sampler based on time, event or measured conditions. Campbell Scientific Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M328
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K132
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Portable automatic water samplers
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Solar module wire
Industrial oxygen generators An extensive range of industrial oxygen generators is available from Compressed Air and Power Solutions Australia (CAPS). The company supplies and services the full range of generators produced by AirSep. The AirSep range of industrial oxygen generators includes selfcontained, transportable units used in a variety of applications including fish farming, glass blowing and environmental remediation. These units can supply flows between 0.34 and 0.9 sm³/h. Larger, fixed-installation generators produce between 0.56 and 155 sm³/h at pressures from 3.1 to 4.4 bar(g) for applications including wastewater treatment, thermic cutting, chemical processing, mining, steel processing, manufacturing and hospital oxygen supply. The oxygen generators use the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process. In PSA, a feed air supply is compressed, treated and passed through a zeolite substrate that adsorbs the nitrogen in the air, leaving oxygen at 93% nominal product purity. A complete, skid-mounted, oxygen plant can be designed and assembled by CAPS to include the feed air supply, compressor, air treatment equipment and gas storage, all delivered as a single package. CAPS Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/M279
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Both insulation layers are set-off coloured from each other for improved handling: black sheathing on natural colour conductor insulation in the standard version or, optionally, red or blue sheathing to simplify local installation. The compact AC/DC power supply units supply 100% output at ambient temperatures of up to 60°C. They can be used in a wide temperature range between -25 and 70°C and therefore also in outside areas. Features include: -40 to +90°C max temp at conductor +120°C; nominal voltage according to VDE U 0/U 600/1000 VAC 1800 VDC conductor/conductor; AC test voltage 4000 V, 50 Hz; minimum bending radius for fixed installation approx 4x cable; bare copper, tinned, finely stranded; double-insulated; insulation cross-linked special compound; outer sheath cross-linked special compound; sheath colours: black, red, blue; approval: VDE, TÜV (2 PfG 1169/08.2007); UV, ozone, weather and hydrolysis resistant; halogen-free acc to DIN VDE 0482 part 267; good resistance to oils and chemicals, and flame resistant. Treotham Automation Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K389
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From 7-9 March 2012, 21 speakers from a variety of backgrounds will share their thoughts and theories on sustainability at the annual EcoForum Conference & Exhibition at Australian Technology Park, Sydney.
Developing a sustainable Australia at EcoForum 2012
G
iovanni Cirillo has been the Executive Director of Urban Renewal and Major Sites at the NSW Department of Planning since early 2009. As such, he is well informed on the NSW Government’s plans for delivering sustainable urban renewal in Sydney and NSW - a program which focuses on the development of Sydney as a compact urban environment by the year 2036. Cirillo will be talking about this issue as one of the speakers at the upcoming conference and exhibition. EcoForum 2012 is one of this year’s key events for environment industry practitioners and decision-makers, and is also a valuable opportunity for sustainability-focused professionals. Its multidisciplinary environment is a place where theory and practice mix. This year’s program focuses on remediation, waste, water, climate change and sustainability.
Cirillo will be just one of 21 speakers at the forum. He will be joined by academics, town planners, company directors, scientists and former politicians - and that’s just the other speakers! The event is expected to be attended by 600+ environment professionals and their clients who are interested in learning about and contributing to today’s environment industry. Attendees are encouraged to take part in any of the 37 discussion forums, while industry professionals will have a chance to develop business prospects and meet new collaborators and clients. The event will be held over three days and include nine conference streams. The stream ‘Sustainable Engineering’ will be held on 7 March, with several speeches covering water and wetlands. Mary Howard, a stakeholder for the Hawkesbury River, The Office of Hawkesbury Nepean and the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, will explain the link between aquatic ecosystems and sustainable cities, while John Argue will propose an alternative to complete flood management redevelopment. Cirillo’s presentation will be the next day as part of the ‘Sustainable Cities’ stream. This will be introduced by keynote speaker Brian Howe AO, speaking on the vital need for a change in strategic planning for Australian cities. The other streams include: the business of sustainability, remediation, water, climate change, mine water management, waste and communication. Details at a glance:
EcoForum Conference & Exhibition Date: 7-9 March 2012 Venue: Australian Technology Park, Sydney Organiser: EcoForum Limited www.ecoforum.net.au/2012
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Resource centre Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide your sustainability development.
Business sustainability conference
The Sustainability in Business 2012 conference will be held 21 to 22 May 2012 at the Radisson Resort, on the Gold Coast. ‘Taking Care Of Business: Sustainable Transformation’ is the theme of the conference and the program features over 40 presenters in keynote and concurrent sessions and workshops. There will be two networking functions to maximise business opportunities along with free wireless internet for all delegates and exhibitors. An online business-to-business forum will be conducted, which will enable registered delegates, presenters and exhibitors to network before, during and after the conference. For further details about the conference, go to http://sustainabilitybusiness.com.au/Conference/.
Carbon Farming Initiative open for business The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus QC and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig welcomed (8 December 2011) the launch of the Carbon Farming Initiative Administrator - providing exciting opportunities for farmers, landholders and landfill operators to participate in carbon markets. The Carbon Farming Initiative is a key component of the Gillard Government’s Clean Energy Future plan and enables farmers, landowners, local government and a range of other stakeholders to reduce carbon pollution while generating extra revenue. The government has taken industry views into account in making regulations for: • the Australian National Registry of Emission Units which will support both the Carbon Farming Initiative and the carbon pricing mechanism; • an initial list of activities which will be eligible under the CFI once technical methodologies are developed;
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• the protections against adverse impacts on water resources, biodiversity and local communities; and • application requirements to open registry accounts and become a recognised offset entity. “Opportunities under the Carbon Farming Initiative methodologies include the recently released reduced methane emissions from piggeries methodology, which provides guidance for piggery operators in Australia to measure and report abatement from the collection and combustion of methane,” Dreyfus said. “Of particular interest to local government, other landfill operators and clean energy businesses is the finalised methodology for the capture and combustion of landfill gas from legacy waste.” Dreyfus also highlighted the opportunities the Carbon Farming Initiative will hold for Indigenous landholders once approved. Along with the approved methodologies, the Carbon Farming Initiative regulations are now available online at www.climatechange.gov.au/cfi.
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Save energy by developing a sustainability culture
In my opinion
Chris Smith, Global Director of Sustainable Operations, DuPont, gives simple suggestions on how companies can save energy at little to no cost.
A Chris Smith is the Global Director of Sustainable Operations at DuPont Sustainable Solutions. As a qualified chemical engineer, Smith has been instrumental in achieving sustained improvements in operational, safety and environmental performance for a range of clients in the oil and gas, healthcare and aerospace industries.
Many companies believe they can only improve energy efficiency
through
significant use of capital; but these are not the first actions they should consider.
re you considering the need for energy reduction strategies due to projected volatility of energy costs or increased pressure from the investment community to lower your corporate carbon footprint? Perhaps you’re just looking for ways to operate smarter and more efficiently. Whatever the motivation is for your company, the good news is that up to more than 40% of energy-efficiency improvements can be made right now with little or no capital investment. Many companies believe they can only improve energy efficiency through significant use of capital; but these are not the first actions they should consider. DuPont currently operates more than 150 production facilities around the world, and we have found that capital will often be more effective and bring faster payback if the energy culture is optimised first. Since 1990 we have implemented cultural, operations and capital programs to continuously reduce energy usage and related costs. As a result, the company has achieved a 6% absolute reduction in total energy consumption, while production has risen by 40%, netting over $6 billion in savings to date. Where most companies fall flat is in their ability to implement their energyefficiency system and get everyone on board with the sustainability vision of the organisation. Below are six starting points for an effective management system: 1. Obtain a clear commitment from leaders. This will ensure that energy efficiency is given the same weight as production, quality and profitability in management decisions. One senior member of staff should also be designated the ‘Energy Champion’. 2. Set measurable goals that are integrated with production, financial, quality, safety, cost and all other metrics tracked by the company. The energy metrics should be written in a simple way so that every
38 Sustainability Matters - Dec 2011/Jan 2012 This 38
employee can understand how their daily actions impact energy efficiency. 3. Give ownership to line management. The magnitude of energy savings opportunity and corporate goals need to be strongly embraced by senior management so that line managers realise these directives are not temporary or the organisational ‘theme of the month’. 4. Set up a Centre of Competency (CoC). This is a virtual organisational structure connecting all the site energy coordinators and other energy subject matter experts with the senior Energy Champion. 5. Upskill staff by encouraging them to be on the lookout for energy-efficiency improvements and providing specific training related to the equipment they operate. 6. Create multidisciplinary teams, so that all personnel are empowered to identify problems. In many organisations, employees notice issues and discuss them informally but there is no obvious mechanism in place to analyse the issue. Our research has indicated that most industrial sites have dozens or hundreds of these opportunities. These are just a handful of suggestions to get your energy management system up and running. Like many cultural change initiatives for operations, they focus on using what you already have more effectively rather than deploying capital to bring in ‘something else’. For companies where implementing an energy-efficiency program has become increasingly urgent, turning your attention to the cultural rather than capital aspects of the change can be highly beneficial. Based on DuPont’s own experience, implementing cultural change will not only synergise future capital changes you make, it will help you realise upwards of 40% of the total energy-efficiency opportunity, reducing your footprint and generating immediate cash savings, while positioning the organisation for ongoing sustainable success, whatever the future might bring.
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