Sustainability Matters Oct/Nov 2013 by Westwick-Farrow Media

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contents 4

October/November 2013

Case Studies

6 Key trends in energy management 12 Sustainable water management in the mining industry 19

Not all gold bars

Research & development

Building control for energy efficiency

33 Resource centre Computer Aided River Management wins top prize amongst engineers

The future looks bright for solar PV in Australia

Cover pic: © iStockphoto.com/ Evgeny Terentev

component of the millions of tonnes of hazardous waste, ewaste is also a valuable source of resources such as mercury, lead, aluminium, iron and precious metals such as gold. However, before you start seeing dollar signs in front of your eyes thinking about all the computers you have hoarded in your cupboard at home, there are safety issues that need to be considered when extracting these resources and it can only really be profitable if significant quantities are processed. The implementation of the National Product Stewardship Television and Computer Recycling Scheme in Australia combines government regulation and industry action to take responsibility for the collection and recycling of e-waste. The scheme has resulted in about 30% of computers and TVs now recycled after only a year of operation, according to Carmel Dollisson, CEO of TechCollect, a federal government approved, not-for-profit, ewaste collection company. Australia has a stated goal of 80% recycled e-waste by 2022. There has also been a call for a future expansion of this scheme which could potentially include products such as paint, batteries, tyres, mercury and other electronics. The article titled ‘Not all gold bars’ on page 19 presents an insider perspective on the fledgling e-waste recycling industry. This issue also features energy efficiency and water sustainability in mining. Carolyn Jackson sm@westwick-farrow.com.au

Westwick-Farrow Media is committed to using environmentally responsible print services to produce our publications. PAPER This edition is printed on recycled paper (FSC Mixed Sources Certified) from an elemental chlorine free process. PRINT It is printed by Webstar (ISO12647-2, FSC COC and PEFC certified), using soy-based inks and CTP plate processing. WRAPPER It is delivered in a totally degradable plastic wrapper.

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October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 3

case study

Energy-efficient design for council building

nspired by the town’s unique identity as a hub of wheat production with steel storage silos and agricultural sheds dotting the landscape, Melbourne-based architecture firm k20 Architecture has incorporated sustainable design into the Hindmarsh Shire Council’s corporate centre in Nhill, north-west Victoria. With ESD principles at the core of the building’s design intent, the architect firm used a number of innovations to deliver an outcome that would not only minimise embodied energy and energy loadings within the building, but also reduce carbon output for the life of the project. k20 Architecture along with Intrax Consulting Engineers used the principles of the Green Star rating system to assess and implement measures that are actually effective in improving the building’s impact with respect to both its interior environment and the wider environment more broadly. Conscious of the building’s location in a region which is exposed to extreme temperature conditions, the architects paid much attention to the building’s thermal performance. By constructing a series of thermal chambers underground via earth tubes and underfloor ventilation plenums, fresh air is drawn in from the exterior and cooled (or warmed) naturally by the earth before being redistributed back throughout the building via air displacement plenums.

The Hindmarsh approach pre-tempers the air via an earth pipe heat exchange system before it is introduced into the habitable areas of the building, thus reducing the energy required to heat or cool the air once inside the space. An underfloor air distribution (UFAD) air-conditioning system was then designed to provide an excellent level of control for occupants via a series of operable floor grilles. Placing the grilles on the floor of the building levels, rather than along the ceiling as is customary with traditional air-conditioning systems, ensures the freshest air supply is delivered closest to the

4 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

occupied space, thus delivering the highest level of health benefits. With air quality addressed, LED lighting systems were selected for reduced energy consumption and maintenance within the main workspaces, and solar panels were installed on the roof to harvest energy to offset energy consumption. Over 80% of the existing building’s materials were recycled before the existing infrastructure was demolished, while one of the three original buildings was retained and repurposed in order to minimise the embodied energy within the building’s design. Very little steel was used in the building’s design, but instead k20 Architecture custom designed and manufactured a laminated timber product from locally sustainably sourced Vic Ash timber to replace steel for structural purposes without the associated environmental consequences. The building also consumes less energy via passive solar design, crossflow ventilation principles and zoned motiondetecting lighting, and has a number of vertical green walls aimed to enhance the indoor air quality, which collectively promote a sustainable lifestyle informing the culture of the organisation. An electronic control and monitoring system has also been installed to test the effectiveness of the measures taken to minimise energy consumption, so that the positive impact of the building’s systems can be measured and documented over time, resulting in more informed decisions about building systems in the future. k20 Architecture Director Theo Kerlidis said: “The challenge was delivering a modern building incorporating leading-edge design principles while still serving our responsibility to the community to deliver a building that they will accept as their own. “I think the fact that we have been able to incorporate one of the original buildings into the site’s design and repurpose this structure for a more modern use shows respect for both the past and the future,” he said. K20 Architecture Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V112

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Leading the way

In this article, Executive Director and founder of Energetics Jonathan Jutsen* predicts some key trends in energy management over the next three years.

*Jonathan Jutsen, Executive Director and founder of Energetics, has been a leading figure in energy and carbon management for over 30 years. In 1984, he founded Energetics, which assists the nation’s largest energy users to reduce their greenhouse emissions and improve energy efficiency. He is Chairman of the Australian Alliance to Save Energy and has been selected as one of the 100 most influential engineers in Australia.

Key trends in energy management Trend 1: Gas price escalation will lead to a drive for improved gas use and alternative supply options Over the last six years, business experienced a near doubling of electricity prices. Electricity prices have now stabilised and we are anticipating only moderate electricity price increases in the next three years and prices should fall by around 10%, if the carbon price was scrapped. The rapid price increase plus technology improvements, the strong exchange rate and incentives made electricity efficiency projects, which would not have even been considered five years ago, highly attractive and have driven significant overall efficiency improvements. Gas pricing is the next big challenge for business, with potential doubling of wholesale commodity prices on the cards as the three Gladstone, Queensland, LNG plants come online from 2015 and expose the domestic industry to global gas price parity. There are many uncertainties in gas supply and demand and, as a result, Energetics has been running three gas price forecast scenarios, as depicted in the chart below, with a probability against each scenario which is adjusted as market conditions change. The most likely outcome is for significant price escalation and there may even be supply constraints in NSW. We are working with a large number of industrial companies to mitigate the impact of the price increases through: • enhancing submetering and business systems to drive continuous improvement in gas use; • developing gas efficiency improvement and project implementation business cases; and, • a lternative sources of supply and alternative boiler fuels.

Trend 2: Australia needs to improve its energy productivity to maintain and then improve competitiveness In my role as chair of the Australian Alliance to Save Energy (A2SE), I’m working to pull together a project to define how Australia could double its energy productivity ($ GDP/unit of energy consumed) by 2030. This is a

6 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

critical project. We built our industry based on exploiting low-cost energy resources, but are moving rapidly to paying international parity pricing for our energy. Because of our low energy costs in the past, we have generally neither invested in the most energy-efficient technology available nor had a culture of eliminating waste and optimising resource efficiency. This means we have low energy productivity, and Australia’s energy productivity has been increasing at half the rate of comparable countries over the last two decades. So the competitive advantage we have been steadily frittering away has now gone, and is becoming a weakness. High prices + poor productivity = competitive disadvantage Most businesses can achieve this goal of doubling energy productivity through continuous improvement in operations and maintenance and investing in retrofitting plant for efficiency and applying improved technology. This will become critical in energy-intensive businesses dealing with escalating gas prices.

Trend 3: All companies with significant energy use will develop energy management systems integrated into overall business management Most companies still do not manage their energy use systematically using a continuous improvement approach. The federal government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program aimed to push the top 250 energy-using companies into applying EEO as their management system and some companies have adopted this and other systems to professionally manage energy performance. But this is not the norm. Energetics introduced the One-2-Five program to help companies improve their business systems 15 years ago, but these approaches are still the exception. Our focus now is to encourage clients who have implemented EEO and ISO14001 to make the small additional step to extend their ISO140001 systems to include energy and comply with ISO50001, the new energy standard.

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But just implementing a standard does not ensure results. Energy management must be integrated into business operations and become the responsibility of operations management. This is becoming an emerging trend. We are working with many companies now to enhance submetering and performance monitoring and reporting across their facilities. Meter data providers and some equipment providers are now offering on-bill payment for information services, rather than the company having to outlay capital to buy and install metering and monitoring systems. We also expect much greater focus on training and capacity building in energy management and the evolution of the role of the professional energy manager. We have been offering internationally recognised Certified Energy Manager training, and this will become increasingly important for companies dealing with escalating energy costs.

Trend 4: Government carbon policy will become less of a critical driver in energy efficiency and external funding may become more difficult to access The advent of the new Coalition government marks a significantly reduced focus on carbon mitigation from the last three years. The new

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government wants to remove the carbon tax, a whole range of incentives (including the very popular Clean Technology Investment Program) and finance for carbon mitigation, and may cut the RET (renewable energy target). They will implement a ‘Direct Action’ program with fixed annual budget allocations, but it is still unclear what this program will entail. It appears that some form of baseline and credit trading scheme for major emitters will operate, combined with a ‘reverse auction’ scheme to fund cost-competitive carbon mitigation including energy efficiency. The Direct Action program is unlikely to be implemented this financial year, though $300 million is budgeted, so there will be a funding hole from the dissolution of the CTIP and other programs until it starts. There is also a question about the new government’s approach to existing state schemes such as the NSW Energy Savings Scheme and whether they will seek to influence the states to close them down.

Energy efficiency

Trend 5: Financing energy projects has become much more accessible, as well as on-bill charging for services Finance for energy-efficiency projects has become easier to access. The big four banks are offering up to sevenyear terms for equipment lease finance (on balance sheet) to their customers, with zero up-front capital and repayments aligned with savings cashflows. Non-bank institutions are also offering off-balance-sheet financing (operating leases) for energy efficiency but at higher rates. There are also many other ways to access finance now including on-energybill payments, performance contracts, EUAs and energy services contracts for supply of hot/chilled water, power and other services. It is increasingly attractive to offer these services, packaged with funding, to deliver the most attractive and simple way to ensure project implementation and remove capital obstacles.

Trend 6: On-site renewables will start to become viable for business Renewables are becoming an attractive option for businesses in specific instances and will become more widespread as fossil fuel prices increase. PV (photovoltaic) is already economical in more remote areas with high central-power prices. Large-scale wind is economical where there is a good wind resource and suitable site conditions, away from residential developments. We are seeing several attractive projects emerge at present using utility-scale 2-3 MW turbines. There will be a rapidly increasing focus on hybrid fossil/renewable solutions in remote areas off-grid. In summary, business faces a challenge to rapidly improve energy productivity in order to address escalating energy prices, particularly gas, over the next three years. Continuously improving energy efficiency and investing to improve plant and equipment will need to become part of Australia’s business culture or it will become an increasing source of competitive disadvantage. Energetics Pty Ltd

Chart 1: Three gas price forecast scenarios.

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V096

October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 7

case studies index  E nergy-efficient design for council building

 W eima manages wood waste in workshop

Weima manages wood waste in workshop

 Transpacific granted patent

for grease-trap wastewater solution 10

 Control and monitor water at mine site truck wash

 A ustralian battery

technology for remote sites 16

 SolarMax system provides club with energy savings

 Alternative to inverter

used at solar installation

16 18

 Protecting Fiji island

beaches with on-site wastewater treatment 22

 Sydney Water seeking

energy savings 22

research & development index

St Mary’s Joinery was established in 1975 and works mainly on commercial building projects to produce quality custom-made joinery for various fitouts such as offices, hospitals and  A dditive prevents schools. Located in the Sydney suburb biofouling in reverse of South Windsor, the business has a osmosis membranes 24 team of over 35 staff. General Manager Matt White said the company was looking for a solution to manage wood waste in its busy workshop. “We were at a stage where the workshop was like a snow storm!” he said. “It was a very dusty place to work and was becoming unmanageable, so we started to look into a Weima solution to manage the waste with a shredder and briquette machine.” Both the Weima WL 4 Shredder and the C150 Briquetter were found to have impressive footprints, making them suitable for any busy, compact workshop where space comes at a premium. “We saw the Weima demonstrated at AWISA [the Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association exhibition] and liked the footprint of the machines,” said White. “We have a very compact workshop and really needed something that was small yet could do the job. “We did find that some of the companies we approached for comparable estimates came across as ‘backyard operators’, which made me trust the Weima and DKSH solution even more.”

8 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

The Weima WL4 was commissioned in November 2012 along with a Weima C150 briquetting machine. White said it was “installed in about a day without any problems at all”. The workshop’s waste extraction line feeds the shredded wood waste directly to the briquetter, which reduces the wood waste even more into a compressed briquette form. This reduces the amount of air and volume within the waste transport bins. The shredder has a 600 x 1050 feeding hopper, which was suitable for the size of the offcuts that were left over as waste. “Previously, we had a weekly average of 850 kilos of wood waste per bin. We have managed to get that up to around 1400 kilos since the Weima solution was installed. As a result, we have reduced our transport pick-ups from three to two bins per week,” explained White. “Really, we’ve had no dramas with the Weima at all. It’s all been pretty hassle free.” DKSH Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U884

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Sweet returns for dessert company. When the thought of turning on the lights started to leave a bad taste in the mouth, multi-award winning dessert maker, Exquisine Pty Ltd, decided it was time to act. Like many companies the rapidly rising and fluctuating energy costs were severely affecting their bottom line. But as it turned out the solution to their needs was to be found in an overhead, literally. Their Thornbury based factory has a large north facing roof space that was ideal for solar panels. So in 2013 Exquisine Pty Ltd commissioned EnviroGroup, a leading commercial installer, to install a 80kW Yingli Solar PV system. They chose Yingli Solar high efficiency polycrystalline panels because of their proven ability to produce ongoing high energy yields under the harsh Australian climate, making them an excellent return on investment. In fact, this large solar PV system will not only offset a significant portion of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electricity usage, approximately 300 kilowatt-hours per day, but will also help reduce carbon emissions by 139.7 tonnes a year. Exquisine can now invest this energy cost saving back into the company to allow an expansion of production in the future. Sweet! For more information please visit yinglisolar.com/au or call 1300 309 489.

YING0009

case studies Transpacific granted patent for grease-trap wastewater solution

Transpacific Industries Group has been granted a patent for its innovative solution to reduce and re-use wastewater taken from grease traps. The company’s Thomastown Grease Trap Treatment Plant in Victoria has adopted a new process and mechanical device to screen, filter and separate wastewater components, allowing it to be treated and re-used. Plant Manager Steve Danielidis treats liquid waste collected from grease traps around Melbourne as part of his work for Transpacific’s Technical Services division, which provides liquid and hazardous waste solutions to users. It is a legal requirement that fats, food-grade oils, water and food waste produced by retail and industrial customers are captured and separated onsite in grease traps in order to prevent this waste from going down the drain and potentially blocking the city’s sewerage. Transpacific’s vehicles vacuum out the contents of grease traps before transporting more than 40 million litres to the Thomastown Plant every year. But the old system and equipment required a large volume of waste to be taken off site and disposed, as a process did not exist to separate and treat and/ or recover components at the one facility, which resulted in hundreds of long-haul,

emissions-emitting truckloads from the plant every year. With the help of the Thomastown team, Danielidis devised a more efficient treatment process which “involves a number of complex and tailored processes that combine specific pressures and temperatures to breakdown the wastewater,” according to Transpacific’s Group Manager for Research and Innovation, Dr Peter Isdale. The mechanical devices separate the waste by-products through filtration, thermal treatment and mechanical centrifugal forces. The process then separates the four layers in the feedstock, allowing fats/oils/grease/ solids and water to be separated, leaving clean water, low-grade tallow product and dry solids. In early 2012 Danielidis brought his idea to management, who approved a trial with hired machines and some outside engineering expertise. Dr Isdale said that, following the trial’s success, Transpacific approved the construction and commissioning of the new process in the plant, with the new equipment increasing the processing capacity of the sludge by approximately 200%. “The introduction of this innovative technology results in an approximate 80%

10 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

reduction of off-site waste that can now be recovered as clean water in the Thomastown plant,” said Dr Isdale. “Of the remaining waste, half is then able to be sold as a low-grade tallow product, which can be used to produce things like soap and animal feed, helping to further close the recycling loop.” It is expected that the remainder will be handled by Transpacific’s subsidiary Cleanaway in its composting operations at Brooklyn, Melbourne. Dr Isdale said the patenting of the technology strengthens Transpacific’s reputation as an innovator and industry leader. The process now been adopted in the company’s other grease-trap treatment plants at Padstow in NSW and Yatala in Queensland, which are double the capacity of the Thomastown plant. Danielidis thanked his staff for their eager participation in the project, saying, “It’s fine for me to have an idea, but it is only with the enthusiasm and dedication of all involved that it gets done.”

Transpacific Industries Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U859

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Dr Paul Slatter*

Sustainable water management in the mining industry

Water shortages, vast distances and increasing water costs have mining companies, particularly in Australia, seeking cost-efficient and environmentally friendly ways to manage water supply on-site.

*Dr Paul Slatter

I *Dr Paul Slatter heads up ATC Williams’ Rheology and Slurry Engineering Group. He has written over 400 published technical papers, presented 16 invited international keynote addresses and is cited in 15 design textbooks on mining and mineral processing plant design. His previous involvement in the hydrodynamic contexts of pipe flow, fittings losses, pump de-rating and free surface flows has produced pragmatic design tools for industry. He has served on a number of international technical committees in rheology, slurry flow and pump and pipeline design.

ssues surrounding water storage, transport, recycling and identifying underground sources all make for a significant challenge. However, by engaging in water recycling initiatives, companies can move towards a zero water discharge mine, while satisfying stakeholders who are increasingly demanding greener practices and an improvement on the bottom line. Much of the water at mine sites exists in the form of slurries, used to transport the product and waste materials such as tailings. A large component of mine water is retained within the tailings storage. Therefore, understanding rheology and slurry behaviour of tailings, in order to optimise the water needed for transport, is critical to water sustainability. Australia is leading the world’s rheology and slurry engineering practices with cutting-edge new technology and assessment techniques. Heading up

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the rheology and slurry engineering group at ATC Williams, I see the water sustainability issues facing mining companies every day. The industry accounted for 4% of water consumption in Australia in 2009-10, with 489 gigalitres of water used* - this equates to more than quarter of a million Olympic swimming pools. These numbers will only have increased over the past four years in line with the resources boom. Optimising slurry pumping has become increasingly important to mining companies as water becomes more valuable, mine and plant sites become more remote, and economic and environmental pressures force companies to cut costs and increase efficiencies. New technology is entering the rheology and slurry market, meaning mining companies have access to more targeted assessment, strategy and execution to help lower the water required for slurry transport.

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Water management

Dr Paul Slatter with Laboratory Manager and Associate Geotechnician John Walker

Generating solutions isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy. Transporting liquid and semi-liquid matter is complex, unique to each situation and involves significant cost and environmental considerations. The issues we see vary - we have areas in Western Australia where companies may pump slurries hundreds of kilometres, and want to do this at low water content with higher solids concentration to reduce overall water demand and therefore costs of make-up water. In contrast, in some wetter areas in Queensland, a risk exists of temporary mine closure due to excess water and flooding to the environment, in which case there is less imperative for high-concentration slurries. The tailings stream from any mining operation is a slurry - a mixture of solids and water - and is pumped from the processing plant to the tailings disposal area. Essentially the challenges lie in predicting the effect of the solid particles in the mixture as it flows through the pipe.

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A good example of sustainable water management is the Paulsenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gold Mine near Paraburdoo. The Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is a sidehill-type facility with a crescent-shaped earth embankment approximately 1 km long at the base of a low hill. ATC Williams has been involved in the design and construction of five successive raises of the TSF since 2006. The TSF is rated a category 2 facility of Significant Consequence in accordance with DMP and ANCOLD guidelines. Sandy silt tailings are discharged at approximately 450,000 tpa with a typical solids concentration of 50 to 55%, forming a non-segregating beach deposit with a slope of approximately 1%. The tailings dry and gain strength rapidly, allowing the beach to be used for the upstream method of embankment raise construction. This significantly saves on heavy earthworks and associated diesel and CO 2 emissions.

Evaporation is the dominant process in the water balance, and this is one driver to adopt thickeners in order to recycle water and minimise evaporation losses. This has resulted in only a very small decant pond forming, reducing the opportunity for evaporation, particularly since the onset of drought conditions in early 2009. The minimal pond size also means that rehabilitation will occur much faster. With a falling Australian dollar, rising environmental impacts and a recently uncertain political period, our current environmental and economic climate presents a fitting opportunity for mining companies to assess and improve their water consumption practices. Companies are ardent about finding solutions, and our rheology and slurry team are resolute in providing them. *Australian Bureau of Statistics Yearbook of Australia - 2012 ATC Williams www.atcwilliams.com.au

October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 13

case studies

Multitrode, which became part of the Xylem family of companies in March, is used in the water and wastewater industry for innovation in monitoring and controls. In a recent project, technology company Hydrasyst required a solution to assess, design and build a switchboard for a heavyand light-vehicle truck wash and recycling plant at a mine site in Blackwater, Queensland. The project involved designing, supplying and installing a pump station control and graphical interface footprint for the treatment plant and pump stations. The Hydrasyst criteria for choosing Multitrode was very precise. The company required that: 1. The controller must have an integral display that could configure and monitor the MultiSmart units. 2. The other controllers on the treatment plant skid would need to still monitor other motors associated with the process. 3. There needed to be an open protocol for connecting to other devices at the mine site, that is, the coal preparation plant control system. 4. T he controller must have a graphical interface so the process could be viewed remotely via the internet, using Multitrode PumpView.

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Control and monitor water at mine site truck wash

5. There needed to be a graphical interface on the site which would emulate what would be seen on the internet. 6. A monitor away from the site needed to be able to see and acknowledge alarms and events, and to troubleshoot and fault find the system. 7. When necessary, it must be able to change the controllers and get the system back online in four hours. 8. The monitoring system must enhance the water recycling savings at the treatment plant and save energy. Hydrasyst services high-volume water-use industries. Its Waste Water Recycling Systems are claimed to have low operating costs, high energy efficiency and a small footprint. Its ‘Grey Box’ is a high-turbidity wastewater treatment system which has been specifically designed for industrial wastewater recycling applications and addresses the rising costs and legislative demands of managing industrial wastewater. Multitrode was able to provide Hydrasyst with a suite of engineering, consulting and design services, as well as a full schematic of the control process, network diagram and general arrangement of the plant. This involved managing and designing the project, supplying the web-based graphical interfaces, all the communications networks and databases, and customer training and support. The customer is reported to be very satisfied with the solution. “Multitrode designs and manufactures pump station controllers, pump station supervisors, liquid level sensors, SCADA software and web-based monitoring and control,” said Multitrode National Sales Manager Paul O’Kane. “We have delivered technically advanced, yet simple-to-use solutions to municipal water and wastewater applications around the world for almost 27 years.” Multitrode’s Multismart is the result of its 20 years’ experience in control and monitoring technology for water and wastewater pump stations. The MultiSmart intelligent Pump Station Manager has an intuitive interface for operators and engineers, and minimal programming is required. Its Duo Probe level sensor helps prevent overflows and improves accuracy of measurement. Xylem Water Solutions Australia Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V106

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case studies

Australian battery technology for remote sites

Emerson Network Power and Australian engineering and manufacturing company RedFlow have formed a partnership to take RedFlow’s flow battery storage technology into new markets. Plans are already underway for a trial with a telecommunications company located in the Asia-Pacific region and the two companies are in discussion with a European-based telecommunications company. Under the agreement, Emerson Network Power will integrate its solar energy solutions with RedFlow’s zinc bromide module (ZBM) flow batteries to provide power to remote sites that lack continuous power. “Our battery technology is ideally suited to the telco market as it uses the same DC voltage - allowing 100% discharge - and operates in temperatures up to 50°C,” said Stuart Smith, CEO of RedFlow.

“Compare this to the lead acid batteries traditionally used in the telco sector that can only discharge to 80% and need air conditioning in ambient temperatures over 25°C to ensure ongoing performance.” RedFlow, a Queensland-based company, provides modular zinc bromide flow batteries which are claimed to lower the cost and complexity of potential implementations and enable users to easily add more units as needed. “RedFlow’s technology also offers customers a range of environmental benefits,” said Ross Campbell, vice president for Emerson Network Power’s Energy Systems business in Asia. “Because they can be fully discharged, fewer batteries are needed to power a site and there is less need to call on back-up generators. Also, because the RedFlow batteries function in ambient temperatures of up to 50°C they are less likely to need an air-conditioned environment. “In addition, whereas industry standards recommend that lead acid batteries are replaced every five years with the consequential environmental impacts, the RedFlow ZBM batteries have largely plastic components which are expected to be less of an issue with hazardous waste.” Emerson Network Power Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V120

SolarMax system provides club with energy savings SolarMax has announced the installation of its solar inverters at Yass Soldiers Club, a regional NSW community venue. SolarMax reseller Ygrene Energy worked with the club to install a 100 kW system that includes seven SolarMax 15MT2 inverters (each with 15 kW output power) to convert the direct current from solar panels into alternating current for use across the site. The club has faced a 40% increase in energy costs in the last three years, which was the catalyst to invest in commercial solar generation infrastructure, according to General Manager John Weir. “Making a long-term investment in a sustainable future was critical for the club,” Weir said. “We were looking at an expected electricity bill of $200,000 for

2013-14 and that is just not sustainable if we want the venue to continue to grow alongside the community.” Weir expects the solar installation to absorb 20-25% of the club’s annual energy needs and to have paid for itself within five years. He also expects its output to increase during the long days of summer, driving further seasonal savings. The club’s decision to invest in solar energy was a financial one, as the money saved would be reinvested back into the local community. “There hasn’t been a downside to this investment for us. The installation was seamless and the system has been perfect. I’m delighted to have a quality SolarMax solution that not only facilitates the conversion of our energy from DC to AC,

16 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

but also helps monitor how much solar energy we are consuming.” SolarMax 15MT2 inverters are highly efficient string inverters that are suitable for medium-sized home installations or major industrial projects. With a Euro efficiency of 97.5%, SolarMax MT series inverters achieve maximum DC voltages of up to 900 V to enable longer strings, reducing cable losses and expenses. Yass Soldiers Club uses the MaxWeb Portal for checking usage through remote monitoring via a data logger. The portal provides fault messages and other data to guarantee continuous and smooth operation of an installation. Sputnik Engineering Australia & NZ PTY LTD Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U676

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case studies Alternative to inverter used at solar installation Wondai Electrical Services has installed a 5 kW solar array which uses the Enphase Microinverter System to power its industrial offices, training room and combined electrical warehouse and workshop in Queensland. Having already shifted the buildings’ air conditioning and HWS to a more economical tariff, Wondai Electrical hoped to achieve financial savings by exporting energy through an approved IES agreement on solar power. Working with Ergon Energy to receive IES approval, Wondai Electrical was granted a 5 kW array designed with European string inverters. However, prior to installation, the site’s solar accredited staff were introduced and trained with a new type of solar technology recently made available in Australia: the Enphase System. Convinced that the microinverter’s easy installation, high safety rate and maximum harvest capability were better suited for the project, Wondai Electrical Service switched its original design to Enphase, making its array the first Enphase installation in Queensland. “After learning about the Enphase System and being trained with its technology, the decision to use microinverters was obvious,” said Owen Blamires, managing director of Wondai Electrical Service. The remote monitoring capabilities of Enlighten also allowed Wondai Electrical to provide potential solar customers with accurate and detailed data about their system’s progress via the internet.

“By switching to Enphase, we were given an alternative option to the traditional inverter that enabled real-time monitoring and analysis for each individual module,” added Blamires. The Enphase Microinverter System is claimed to provide a new approach to the installation, operation and maintenance of solar energy systems. It allows each module the capability to harvest power individually, bringing production losses to a minimum. Enphase Microinverters, the Envoy Communications Gateway and Enlighten web-based monitoring and analysis software work together to deliver good energy harvest and solar system intelligence. By converting direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) at the panel level, microinverters create independent power producers out of every single panel in a solar array. This simplifies solar system design and installation while also eliminating high-voltage DC. Enphase’s web-based Enlighten software comes included with the Enphase Microinverter System and communicates with each microinverter over the existing power lines. Enlighten allows remote access to system information from any web-enabled device, providing installers with increased visibility into the performance of their installed-base and remote troubleshooting capabilities. Enphase Energy www.enphase.com

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Not all gold bars An inside perspective on the fledgling electronics recycling industry Alvin Piadasa, Founding Managing Director TES-AMM Australia New Zealand

I have often wondered how life would have turned out if I had realised my schoolboy ambitions of becoming an airline pilot much like Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch me if you can.

U Overconsumption aside, evolving product design and converging technologies are continually creating new challenges for the recycling industry.

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nrealised dreams aside, the fork in the road of my life seems to have found the next most exciting career option - that of leading a young company that recycled a waste that didn’t exist prior to the invention of modern colour television. The epiphany was the realisation of how pervasive electronics has become and how wantonly wasteful society is in manufacturing already obsolete product, harming the environment and foregoing the recovery of scarce resources. While not the answer to world peace, I join an industry that rallies to make a difference in the recycling of electronic equipment. An industry colleague, Russ Martin CEO of the Global Product Stewardship Council cites: “Because of its significance, the responsible management of end-of-life electronic equipment has been made a high priority by a broad range of states, provinces and countries.” The Basel Convention signed by over 178 of 189 countries furthermore draws attention to the need to minimise the movement of hazardous waste such as electronic waste between countries, especially to the third world.

Martin adds, “Rising public sentiment on this matter in Australia has also led to the introduction of product stewardship regulation in 2011 requiring importers of electronic product to pay for the collection and proper recycling of end-of-life equipment and to provide consumers reasonable access to collection services. There is certainly an interest and will to be responsible.” Electronic waste (e-waste) is a term that is used loosely to refer to obsolete, broken or irreparable electronic devices such as televisions, computers, computer monitors (flat screen and cathode ray tubes), laptops, printers, scanners and associated peripherals, wiring and mobiles. In my years in the industry, I have been incredibly amazed at the wonder of technology and innovation and its sheer volume. I recall standing in our first warehouse in Wetherill Park, NSW, wondering how we would ever fill 700 m2. Six years on and we are bursting at the seams in 15,000 m2 dealing with consumer, IT and telecommunication waste. The stories are similar for my industry colleagues as well. Sam Miller of PGM Refiners cites: “Within two or so years of establishing our business,

October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 19

E-waste management

we were forced to seek far larger fit-forpurpose premises, and this was before the launch of the Commonwealth Government’s National Product Stewardship Scheme for TVs and Computers. “E-recycling continues to get bigger and attract new entrants primarily because of society’s desire to do things faster and the insatiable desire to own the latest gadget that responds to finger gestures instead of the ancient art of pressing buttons, or worse - dialling! From the humble Commodore 64 and the Motorola ‘Brick Phone’ to the latest tablet, smartphone and LED TV, the wave of new product is unending. At the same time, the intrinsic value of consumer electronic items is diminishing due to advances in materials design substituting cheaper materials for the higher value products used in older electronics,” says Miller. Overconsumption aside, evolving product design and converging technologies are continually creating new challenges

for the recycling industry. Rose Read, manager at MobileMuster, explains that due to nickel cadmium batteries being replaced by lithium ion batteries in mobile phones some years ago, the mix of components collected by MobileMuster has changed dramatically. “The volume of batteries and chemistry has changed significantly over the past seven years, where now 80% of batteries collected are lithium ion, rather than nickel cadmium,” Read said. “Likewise, as the life of batteries has improved the proportion of batteries to handsets and accessories has also dropped significantly,” she added. “Changing material types and dematerialising means recyclers need to continually evolve their recycling and dismantling processes to optimise material recovery. In some cases, thinner and smaller products like smartphones and tablets are harder to dismantle and separate due to increased use of glues and embedding metals into plastics. Whether the end game will

20 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

eventually be a single device or not, it is clear that recyclers need to work with product designers, chemists and material scientists to ensure the benefits of the latest technologies are also realised at the end of their life through material recovery and not just during their use,” she concluded. The e-waste recycling industry, as the modern-day alchemists, faces a dynamic environment just like IT or mobile phone manufacturers. New products and technologies mean new recycling approaches and new methods of recovery. “We need to evolve and be smarter, recover more at a lower cost and be open, accountable and compliant,” said John Gertsakis, the chief sustainability officer with Infoactiv Group. “Recycling companies should no longer just be content with investments in mass materials separation, size reduction and recovering noble metals of platinum, silver, copper and gold. The next aspirational horizon may well be in delivering greater value in the supply chain for customers and a part of this is material recovery to a higher degree.” There is greater interest in securing sources for rare metals (such as indium, yttrium and other iums) elements higher up in the periodic table which are rapidly depleting as we journey down the road of unsustainable consumption. The source of where we find these rare metals is in none other than China. Low-cost labour is not the only reason why China is the manufacturing capital of the world. Recyclers with value-add offers and the ability to invest in research and development will lead the way in capturing market share and inadvertently swallow smaller outfits that have limited capital, enterprise and footprint. Location, location, location and price are unfortunately poor strategies to adopt for success.

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E-waste management

Adapting to the dynamic environment inevitably will result in either consolidation or collaboration as a recipe for long-term survival. While volumes keep increasing with the continuing rollout of product stewardship for televisions and computers, “it is not a given that recyclers will necessarily receive sufficient feedstock to keep their operations running”, says Gertsakis. The Product Stewardship Act’s Regulations for TV and Computers not only specifies a collection target each year for liable parties (importers of IT/TV products), recycling must also achieve an 90% material recovery rate. There is, furthermore, an inferred requirement for co-regulatory arrangements (CRAs are government approved legal entities under the TV and computer regulations that represent TV and computer importers) to meet Australian standard AS/NZS5377 for the collection transport and recycling of such waste. Its application thus far by individual CRAs appears to be inconsistent with differing

Above ground

interpretations of what it means to be compliant to the standard. The underlying reason that gives rise to such a situation lies in the blurred line between where government responsibility stops and where CRA responsibility starts. Currently, the view of government is that CRAs, who may be commercial entities, are suitably responsible to establish and monitor themselves. “The position is a source of frustration to various recyclers who have made investments in environment, quality and health and safety systems only to see loopholes that permit volumes to disappear to lower cost. Such conditions do not bode well for the long term of numerous

recyclers and their employees who have stepped forward to tackle the e-waste in Australia,” Gertsakis adds. At face value, e-waste is reported to be the fastest growing form of household waste. There are mountains out there and a lot to be excited about. There is also gold in them there hills (or mountains), which interests manufacturing capitals such as in Japan, India and Korea. In reality, however, the lack of waste arising whether from an indifferent or uneducated consumer or from redirected volume does not bode well for the future of a vibrant e-recycling industry in Australia. Considerations such as the high cost of labour limit opportunities for recyclers to competitively export any innovation, technology and process internationally. Creativity in this industry is very much a requirement of survival because all that glitters is not necessarily gold. TES-AMM Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V070

Bioreactors

New Australian Technology

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BioGills treating sewage for environmental discharge

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October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 21

case studies Protecting Fiji island beaches with on-site wastewater treatment Mantaray Island Resort opened its doors to travellers as an eco-resort in 2004. Claimed to have one of the best house reefs in Fiji, protecting the environment and marine reserve has always been a key priority for resort manager Ryan Irvine. Now, with Australian-invented BioGill technology, the island is effectively treating wastewater on-site, recycling the water for garden re-use and protecting the local reefs and waterways. “Guests really appreciate the fact that you can see huge fish on our reef and that the clam bed is only about 45 metres from their bed. The majestic manta rays visit our waters for six months of the year, so it makes good business and environmental sense to protect our natural assets,” explained Irvine. Mantaray installed BioGill units two years ago to treat 14,000 L of wastewater each day from the showers, laundry, kitchen and composting toilets. Before the BioGills, the island used septic tanks to treat the greywater, which, according to Irvine, failed dismally.

“Since installing the BioGills there’s been no smell and we are treating and recycling our wastewater on the island with no discharge into the sea. The gardens, too, have literally gone crazy, and we now have a beautiful, lush jungle,” said Irvine. BioGills are above-ground wastewater bioreactors that offer a suitable habitat for microorganisms to thrive in. Wastewater is gravity-fed down the surface of patented nano-ceramic membranes known as ‘gills’. These gills provide the oxygen-rich conditions for bacteria and fungi to rapidly grow and multiply with the microorganisms, effectively ‘eating’ the nutrients out of the wastewater. The result is accelerated wastewater treatment at low cost and low energy. Independent testing from The National Water Quality Laboratory Suva has shown a reduction of up to 96% in biochemical oxygen demand - a widely used indication of the organic quality of the water.

Later this year, Irvine plans to build new bures and will be installing additional BioGills to treat the extra wastewater and sewage. “Being so far from the mainland means we need systems that deliver results and are easy to install and maintain. A single BioGill can handle a number of bures, which makes them very economical. Plus we get to use the treated water on the gardens. By using BioGills, I believe we have the most environmentally friendly resort in Fiji,” stated Irvine. BIOGILL Operations Pty Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U406

Sydney Water seeking energy savings Identifying ways to reduce energy usage takes on added importance when you’re consuming almost 1% of New South Wales’ total electricity demand each year. That’s the challenge facing Sydney Water amid the unprecedented transformation of Australia’s energy sector over the past decade. As Australia shifts to being a more energy-efficient, datainformed and export-focused clean energy economy, Australia’s largest water utility is on the hunt for ways to reduce usage and put a lid on costs for consumers. To assist it in meeting this challenge, Sydney Water has engaged Aecom for its Energy Consulting Services program, with specialist support on energy markets to be provided by Schneider Electric Professional Services (formerly M&C Energy Group). Over the next five years, Aecom will assist Sydney Water optimise assets and increase renewable energy generation from its wastewater treatment plants, transforming them into energy and nutrient recovery systems to be harnessed and valued. Other performance improvement projects will aim to reduce energy use in wastewater and pumping systems through new technologies and optimised performance. Schneider Electric, meanwhile, will provide smart energy procurement and advisory services that will assist Sydney Water to respond to the market and ensure the accuracy of its invoices and energy data for over 1000 sites.

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Aecom’s Chief Executive, Australia New Zealand, Michael Batchelor, said Sydney Water is leading the way for other Australian utilities to respond to the combined pressures of population growth, rising energy costs, capital constraints, ageing assets, increased performance standards and expanding customer markets. “Sydney Water is examining options to lower its costs by further reducing energy use and by increasing renewable energy generation in areas such as biogas, hydrokinetic systems, waste heat and, perhaps in future, other new energy sources,” said Batchelor. “By leveraging smarter systems and new technologies - such as microbubble technology - this program will be an important step forward in achieving efficiencies which will ultimately benefit consumers.” Sydney Water’s General Manager of Business Strategy & Resilience, Paul Freeman, said consumers are at the heart of its business. “Sydney Water is focused on achieving cost savings and process efficiencies to enable us to continually improve our capacity to meet the needs of our customers while keeping prices down,” said Freeman. “Sydney Water is committed to being energy smart and doing more with less, so we’re looking for smart solutions and smart partners to help us achieve this.” AECOM Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U719

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Served up on a plate

AirLINE Quick: High quality, cost effective, fast delivery Meet AirLINE Quick. AirLINE Quick has internalised all pneumatic air channels, and integrated primary and secondary components to deliver one single complete pneumatic (or electro-pneumatic) valve bank on a stainless steel adapter plate. Unlimited modularity in valves, functions, feedbacks, I/O, and accessories, is offered, with local assembly from Bürkert’s ISO 9001 Sydney Systemhaus. The stainless steel plate mounts directly into a cabinet, effectively minimising labour for cost effectiveness and fast delivery. Same day turn-around (on lower-quantity orders) is common. Last year Bürkert shipped around 600 panels, and this year with AirLINE Quick it could easily be thousands. Call us, and get your valve banks served up on a plate, or mounted in a cabinet, ready to go. Ideal for end-users, OEMs, and switchboard consultants. Designed for arduous environments, for physical and chemical resistance.

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We make ideas flow

research & development Additive prevents biofouling in RO membranes Flinders University has been granted a provisional patent through Flinders Partners, the commercialisation arm of the university, for an additive that prevents biofilms from clogging up membranes used in the desalination of seawater. The provisional patent is between Flinders University, US membrane manufacturer NanoH2O, SA Water and Adelaide-based global renewable energy company Wind Prospect. The additive was developed by nanotechnologists led by Associate Professor Amanda Ellis. Associate Professor Ellis explained that reverse osmosis membranes help produce pure water by filtering out salt and other

effluent materials from the ocean under high pressure. The problem with these membranes, she said, is biofouling, “which occurs when microorganisms accumulate and grow on top of the membrane and stop water from flowing through”. “This means the membranes have to be cleaned more frequently and it also drives up energy consumption, because you have to increase the pressure in the membranes to get the same amount of fresh water through. “But the major issue is that the membranes are not recyclable, so when there’s biofouling they don’t last as long.” The new additive can be easily incorporated into the membrane manufacturing process for just a few cents per membrane, said Associate Professor Ellis, making the surface of the membrane appear ‘neutral’ so organisms do not recognise the surface and therefore keep moving through the saline flow stream.

24 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

“It’s just an added chemical in the membrane manufacturing process - there’s nothing complicated about it and the cost is insignificant from a manufacturer’s perspective,” she said. She said laboratory tests have confirmed the additive removes nearly all biofouling from the membrane while having no impact on salt rejection. Other advantages are: “These new membranes lower energy use because you don’t need to apply as much pressure to maintain the flow rate; you don’t need to clean the membranes as often because there’s virtually no biofouling; and you don’t need to replace them as often, which reduces environmental waste.” NanoH2O is now making membranes containing the additive - with a key aim for the membranes to be used in South Australia’s desalination plants - while Associate Professor Ellis hopes to lodge an application for full patent by April 2014.

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US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory www.pnnl.gov

Advanced controls that can customise ventilation based on the number of people in a room are expected to translate to big energy savings.

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Building control for energy efficiency

“An 18% boost in building energy efficiency by modifying a single factor is very, very good,” said team leader Michael Brambley. “The savings were much greater than we expected.” The report is based on extensive simulations of the impact of one type of advanced building control now in the offing in the building industry. The device is capable of customising the level of ventilation by sensing the number of people in different areas or zones of a building and then adjusting fan speed and air movement accordingly. That’s a big change from the way most sensor-based ventilation systems operate now. Currently, if there is even a single person in a room, ventilation runs full blast, as if the room is full. But a room with just a few people doesn’t need nearly as much ventilation as a crowded room. Why have a fan pushing around air for ventilation for 100 people if there’s only one individual in the room? It’s like airing out your house completely because there’s one small whiff of bacon still in the kitchen. “This is the reason you often feel cold when you’re in a big space like a conference room or cafeteria without a lot of people,” said engineer Guopeng Liu, the lead author of the report. “Technology available today doesn’t detect how many people are in a room, and so airflow is at maximum capacity nearly constantly. That creates a big demand to reheat the air before it enters the rooms. It takes a lot of energy to keep you comfortable under those circumstances.”

Current occupancy sensors have helped the nation save significant amounts of energy by automatically turning off lights when they’re not needed. But the team estimates that the more advanced versions still to come - which count the number of people in rooms - will save approximately 28 times as much energy, when used both for lighting and ventilation, compared to current sensors. The project began three years ago when Liu began exploring the idea of adjusting airflow to different zones of a building based on the precise number of people in a room. That ‘decision’ of how much air to move takes place in a piece of equipment known as a variable air volume terminal box. The new sensors that count people are likely to become available within the next few years. While they are currently very expensive, the technology is improving rapidly and the cost is expected to come down, Brambley noted. “We undertook this study to try to determine if this is a technology worth pursuing vigorously. The answer, clearly, is yes. Using the number of people in a room as a factor in determining the level of airflow offers great promise for saving energy and money,” said Brambley. To do its study, the team focused on a prototypical large commercial office building whose footprint is 48 by 73 m. The model building is 12 storeys and also has a basement, giving it a total of about 46,450 m2. Such buildings in the United States take up more than 408 million m2.

October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 25

A single advanced building control now in development could slash 18% - tens of thousands of dollars - off the overall annual energy bill of the average large office building, with no loss of comfort, according to a report by researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Building energy efficiency

Brambley’s team programmed the simulation to heat a building if temperatures dipped below 21°C and to provide cooling at temperatures beginning at 24°C. Numbers were set back 6°C on the evenings and weekends. Occupancy patterns were estimated based on past studies. In 13 of the US’s 15 climate regions, the PNNL team estimates that the advanced controls would save at least US$40,000 annually for each building similar in size to the one modelled in the study. In two cities, Baltimore and Fairbanks, the savings stretch to more than US$100,000 each year, because of the greatly reduced need to heat new air being pumped in from the cold outdoors. Even in the two cities where the savings would be the least, El Paso and Miami, estimated savings come to US$33,400 and US$23,500, respectively. “While buildings have gotten much more efficient in the last two decades, there are still huge gains to be had,” noted Brambley.

Michael Brambley and Guopeng Liu in PNNL’s Building Controls Laboratory.

Since just a small percentage of office buildings in any given year are newly built, Brambley and Liu say a prime target for these advanced controls is retrofitting existing buildings. Liu notes that technology has leaped forward since 1989 - the year the average large office building was built - offering huge energy gains even with the expense of retrofitting. Since heating and cooling and related equipment usually draw much more energy than lighting, those systems offer a greater opportunity for savings. The team found that advanced controls for ventilation offer about eight times as much savings as advanced controls for lighting, where lights are turned off more quickly than is now common after

everyone leaves a room. When the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system alone is considered, the advanced controls cut energy usage by nearly 40%. A stumbling block to the new technology is that certain advanced controls might require modification to some building codes. For instance, current codes require some ventilation at all times no matter how many people are present. Brambley thinks the options are worth considering, given the energy savings at stake. In addition to Brambley and Liu, mechanical engineer Jian Zhang and engineer Robert Lutes contributed to the project. The work was support by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Is your

Emission Monitoring System saving you money and fully compliant with EPA requirements? Leading technology for emission monitoring and process control

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n products & services

Portable pH meter for low ionic strength water Hanna Instrumentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HI 99191 is a waterproof, portable pH/temperature meter designed specifically for measuring the pH of drinking water, since the pH of water influences properties including taste, odour, clarity and disinfection. Measuring pH of water low in minerals is difficult using a general-purpose pH meter. The lower the mineral content, the less conductive the water will be. Low conductivity water presents a challenge since the pH meter is an electrochemical system that relies on the test sample being conductive. To overcome this challenge, HI 99191 uses the FC 215 amplified pH electrode. This electrode has three ceramic junctions in the outer reference cell providing electrolyte flow of 40-50 ÂľL/h. This increased flow provides a greater continuity between the reference electrode and the indicating electrode, making it suitable for water of low ionic strength. To optimise the flow from the electrode, the refill cap should be screwed to open, allowing positive head pressure to be created. The meter has automatic one- or two-point calibration, automatic temperature compensation and battery error prevention system (BEPS) which alerts the user in the event that low battery power could adversely affect readings. Percentage battery power is also shown at start-up. With a multilevel LCD and on-screen tutorial messages for calibration and set-up, the compact unit is waterproof and easy to clean. Hanna Instruments Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U997

AC module Suntech Power Holdings has launched its Alternating Current (AC) Fusion module for residential and commercial users. The smart AC module is equipped with a microinverter from Enphase Energy. The AC module can increase system output by up to 16% through optimisation of each AC module individually and is suitable for all residential applications and for complex commercial installations. The AC module provides intelligent system monitoring that captures the performance of every AC module, which helps to maximise lifetime energy production. Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U639

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October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 27

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Energy management systems EP&T Global has launched the Edge 3 and Edge Mars 3 advanced energy management systems which are designed to help asset owners and operators achieve further energy efficiencies. Using nanotargeting technology, the products have the capacity to pinpoint operational anomalies (eg, use energy only where and when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed) and notify energy-efficiency actions on an immediate basis. Edge 3 is a cloud-based platform with a multiuser licence to enable utility monitoring, billing and reporting to be accessed anywhere through a number of applications including PCs, tablets and mobiles. The software now has cross browser compatibility and enhanced reporting features. Edge Mars 3 is a monitoring, analysis and reporting service, a critical tool for users to achieve optimum operational performance. This is where the robust amounts of live data that is collected, refined and interpreted by the Edge 3 technology is translated into recommended actions by the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multidisciplinary engineers. These actions include accurate details on what to do to reduce consumption, as well as provide a forecast of actual savings in energy and the costs if the action

28 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

was implemented. This level of intelligence enables users to develop business cases, improve reporting precision and effectively engage stakeholders to implement sustainability activity within their property. Other benefits include: real-time detection of energyand cost-saving opportunities - enabling optimum building performance 24/7; remote accessibility across all major web browsers and applications; data is auditable to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reporting standards; comprehensive range of automated reports from single site, multisite to user-defined options - enabling extensive data analysis and interrogation at all levels; and capability to interface with existing site-based monitoring equipment via HLIs and/or through collecting direct inputs. The products are designed and developed in-house and supported by a team of multidisciplinary engineers at the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remote operations centre.

EP&T Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V027

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Groundwater data logger The OTT Hydromet ecoLog 500 groundwater data logger specialises in long-term measurement of water levels and temperature. It can also store the measured values and transfer them to the headquarters at defined intervals. It sends status information and transmits alarm signals, if required when limit values are exceeded, using telecommunication channels (SMS, HTTP, FTP, etc) that can be flexibly configured.

The system can be easily and rapidly installed, the automatic data transfer saves numerous trips to the measurement location and the remote diagnostics facility prevents any loss of data. The system also works in a cost-saving way with a well-thought-out energy strategy. The lithium battery pack will last up to 10 years depending on measurement and transfer rates. That reduces maintenance time and protects against any gaps in the data due to power cuts. Alternatively, the system can also be sustained with alkaline batteries. All the components of the compact system fit within measurement tubes of 2â&#x20AC;ł or more and are consequently protected against both environmental influences and vandalism. The pressure probe is in a stainless steel housing and comprises a robust, ceramic pressure cell, a precise temperature sensor and the data logger, which can store up to 500,000 measured values. The communication unit forms the upper end of the system and is connected by means of a kevlar-reinforced cable with a pressure compensation capillary. It houses the batteries along with everything necessary for the data transfer: an IR interface, a GSM/GPRS modem and an antenna. Alternatively, an external antenna can be connected. The battery change is as easy. For configuration on-site, the communication unit is connected to the laptop by means of an optical IR reading head. Any plug contacts which could bend or corrode are simply not used. The OTT ecoLog 500 ensures precise groundwater data with its integrated data transfer unit. It also ensures significant savings over time. Aqualab Scientific Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/V006

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October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 29

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Solar monitoring system Suntech Power Holdings has launched its Solar Analytics monitoring system for residential and commercial users. The product was co-developed by Suntech R&D Australia and Envais Solar with the support of the CRC for Low Carbon Living. By comparing actual performance against expected performance based on local weather conditions, the system can directly monitor the power output of a solar system and provide direct feedback on system performance to users, allowing them to evaluate the performance of their solar systems. It makes monitoring easy and provides automatic reports in the event of any underperformance, which substantially reduces system downtime. The product can be used in small-scale residential systems up to large-scale commercial systems. It can be installed on new systems as well as retrofitted on existing solar systems. Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U640

Sustainable Energy Solutions Co/Tri Generation - 7kw to 2MW - Reduce site energy costs - Focus on your core business and let Urban Energy operate and maintain the plant

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Water-level recording sensors

The Campbell Scientific CRS451 water-level recording sensor, contained in a compact stainless steel case, consists of a waterlevel and water-temperature sensor that has its own clock and memory to store collected data. Users can place the sensors at remote sites to collect data for extended periods of time. The sensor can then be retrieved, connected to a PC via a micro-USB port and the data transferred to the PC. Long battery life and rugged construction mean the device can be trusted to collect important data. The product is easy to use, making it a suitable choice for a variety of applications. The CRS456 has a rugged titanium case, allowing it to be used in saltwater and other harsh environments. Campbell Scientific Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U984

High bay LED Ilum-a-Lite has announced the Icepipe LED high bay solution. The product features advanced LED technology with fluid dynamic pressure (FDP) technology. The productâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heat transfer system is claimed to remove heat from the LED junction 200 times faster than aluminium. Other features include: one for one replacement for HID lighting with optional lighting controls; IPART approved. Ilum-a-lite Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S723

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n products & services

Building efficiency solution Schneider Electric has released its SmartStruxure solution designed to maximise building efficiency and reduce operating costs across the entire life cycle of a facility. The product is made up of hardware and software that is combined with engineering, installation and services to ensure facilities are energy efficient and effectively managed. The solution breaks down traditional information silos and delivers integrated building information and real-time data via web access, powerful graphics and trend visualisations, rich reports and mobile applications to ensure buildings are running at maximum efficiency. Built on open standards, it provides seamless integration through LON, BACnet, Modbus, Web Services and Schneider Electricâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EcoStruxure Web Services. In addition, it enables numerous advanced building services, such as automatic mechanical equipment analytics and building optimisation. The solution is powered by StruxureWare Building Operation software, which provides integrated monitoring, control and management of HVAC, energy, lighting and other critical building systems. Additionally, this application will connect easily to other StruxureWare software within suites, developed to address the needs of key market segments. The product is useful for architects, engineers, building owners and business executives. It is suitable in diverse segments including healthcare, green buildings, retrofits, hotels, retail and data centres.

Handheld colorimeter The handheld DR 900 allows quick and easy access to the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most used testing methods. The colorimeter is waterproof, dustproof and field durable, as well as drop tested and shock resistant for quality assurance. The user can save time by storing favourite methods for access in fewer than four clicks. The product stores data for up to 500 tests and comes with a USB port for downloading or transferring information. With an intuitive user interface allowing quick selections and easier testing, simple data transfer abilities and the ability to test up to 90 of the most commonly tested water methods, the product makes water testing in harsh field environments less challenging. Hach Company Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/U812

HORIBA U-50 MULTI-PARAMETER WATER QUALITY METERS

pH Oxidation Reduction Potential Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity Salinity Total Dissolved Solids Seawater Specific Gravity Temperature Turbidity Water Depth GPS

Schneider Electric (Aust) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S962

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October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 31

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Computer Aided River Management wins top prize amongst engineers

A computer aided river management system has won the top honours at the highly contested 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards Sydney in September. Taking home the Bradfield Award, recognising highest overall achievement, was the Murrumbidgee Computer Aided River Management (CARM) Project by the State Water Corporation with joint entrant Water for Rivers. In addition, CARM won the Excellence Award for Engineering for Regional Communities and received a highly commended in the category of Software and Embedded Systems. NSW river operator State Water and funding partner Water for Rivers embarked on this ambitious and innovative program to improve the efficiency of the Murrumbidgee River delivery system. The aim of the project was to make the Murrumbidgee one of the world’s most efficient and best managed working river systems while achieving real water savings and improved service to all water users and the environment. In the past, water management had been a complicated task because of the varied needs for irrigation, the environment and town water. Consequently, dam releases often exceeded actual demands, which led to significant water loss. The CARM project was designed to control water flows and dam releases more precisely and efficiently through a combination of upgrades to river infrastructure, metering, operational modelling and information systems. The project looked at ways in which loss of water through evaporation and evapotranspiration, groundwater interchange (both losses and gains) and unforecasted tributary flows could be managed. Making full use of the existing and new monitoring data, the system encompasses a suite of projects that are designed to improve the measurement and monitoring from

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the major dams upstream as well as the many weirs and en route storages. Brett Tucker, CEO of State Water Corporation, in accepting the awards shared the importance of this project. “The impact of CARM is two-fold; it helps us run the river properly for we are now saving 30,000-40,000 megalitres per year and second, it ensures confidence in customers, who now know the water will be there when they are ordering. This project goes to show that we can find the balance between water management and the needs of the community,” said Tucker. The judges recognised the sustainable solutions implemented as part of the $65 million upgrade of infrastructure and operational processes throughout the Murrumbidgee River system. It received a high score with the judges due to the project’s evolution of engineering and water management practices in the water industry. CARM puts theory into practice by using real-time data, better forecasting of tributary flows and demand forecasting, and couples these with hydrodynamic modelling. It takes into account the complexities of the catchment flow processes and river flow dynamics and builds on sound engineering science and many years of operational experience. “Each element of CARM is not new or unique on their own; however, we took the kaleidoscope approach, putting existing ideas together in a new way to create new outcomes,” said Tucker. The J.J.C. Bradfield Award is presented to the overall winner of the Excellence Awards by Engineers Australia, Sydney Division. It recognises an accomplishment of exceptional engineering merit.

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October/November 2013 - Sustainability Matters 33

In my opinion

Daman Cole is the Commercial Director for Yingli Solar in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. His previous roles include national sales and commercial manager in the energy, technology and construction industries. His skills include end-toend contract management, project management in complex tender, strategic development, identifying new product opportunities and relationship building for business.

The solar industry is on the cusp of the second stage of the economic cycle: the

development

stage, where the end of incentive schemes is linked to achieving grid parity.

The future looks bright for solar PV in Australia

our stages can typically be identified in every economic cycle: growth, development, maturity and decline. Those who believe that the future of solar power in Australia is troubled are wrong, mistrusting a market which last year accounted for 4% of global PV installations and was ranked sixth in the world. However, there is no doubt that the solar industry is going through a complex phase in which some of the biggest challenges are policy uncertainty over the future of carbon pricing, a reduction in the value of feedin tariffs, re-establishing profitability into the solar market and concerns about whether renewable energy targets could potentially change under the new government. Despite this, the need to reduce Australia’s carbon footprint and increase the production of cleaner electricity can, and will, stimulate competitive and sustainable growth for the solar industry and for companies like Yingli Green Energy. Overarching concerns about the economics and even aesthetics of renewable energy installations have been replaced by the realisation of an urgent need for solar power as a viable long-term option for both residential and commercial sites to support our increasing population. The solar industry is on the cusp of the second stage of the economic cycle: the development stage, where the end of incentive schemes is linked to achieving grid parity. In Australia, the industry is undergoing a natural transformation, having moved from an initial phase where it was highly incentivised, or ‘medicated’, compared with normal market conditions. This transformation is becoming clearer as solar becomes more affordable. Rapidly improving energy storage

34 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2013

technologies also offer the potential for greater direct use of renewable electricity, both in the residential and, increasingly, in the commercial sector. Today, a family or business can cover almost all its annual energy requirements with solar power without prohibitive costs and have the ability to see consistent savings over time. This can be attributed to the increasingly affordable prices of photovoltaic systems against rising retail energy costs. While Australian consumers are reaping fewer or no benefits from feeding electricity back into the grid, they are now focusing on the return on investment that can be achieved within only a few years of investing in an installation. As part of this, the solar system’s manufacturing quality and longevity is becoming more important. In the commercial sector, businesses now have ample opportunity to adopt new strategies and industrial policies to use solar photovoltaic systems to deliver significant economic benefits for their bottom line. The Australian Government has committed to getting at least 20% of Australia’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020. This is a signal to the solar industry and businesses that there is a market for clean, renewable energy investments. Do we really want to ignore the needs and wishes of Australians wanting to avoid high electricity prices by continuing with the current policy uncertainty? The future for solar PV in Australia is looking bright despite these uncertainties. We have already embraced solar energy and its ability to meet the needs of future generations. We can only see further growth over time, with an industry that is well positioned to move to the third stage of the cycle, maturity.

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