The Andrews Labor government has introduced large energy storage targets. The state is planning to reach 2.6 GW of renewable energy storage capacity by 2030, with an increased target of 6.3 GW of storage by 2035.

The storage targets include both short and long-duration energy storage systems — which can hold more than eight hours of energy — including batteries, hydroelectricity and hydrogen technologies.

Victoria is already home to the largest battery in the Southern Hemisphere — the Victorian Big Battery — a 300 MW battery just outside Geelong.

To support the new targets, the state government is investing $119 million from its $540 million Renewable Energy Zone Fund in a 125 MW big battery and grid forming inverter in the Murray Renewable Energy Zone, between Bendigo and Red Cliffs. It will also invest $38.2 million from its Energy Innovation Fund (EIF) in four projects using new technology to generate and store clean energy

Environment Victoria congratulated the Andrews government for setting these energy storage targets and will now work with the government on the design of the targets.

“Energy storage is one of the crucial missing pieces in Australia’s transition to 100% clean energy,” said Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze.

“The Andrews government has already made important investments in energy storage including 10,000 batteries in Victorian homes, the 300 MW grid-scale battery storage project in Geelong, and the 350 MW utility scale battery slated for Yallourn.

“Until now however, there has been no overarching plan to coordinate public and private investment in storage capacity at either the state or federal level.”

Key priorities for Environment Victoria will include:

• ensuring the target can be scaled up to provide for a 100% renewable grid as soon as possible;
• supporting the rapid development of the electricity storage industry in Victoria;
• ensuring transmission and distribution infrastructure is built to facilitate the delivery of power from storage.
   

“We now urge the Commonwealth and other states to work with Victoria to develop a national storage target that will enable the Albanese government to achieve its target of 82% renewables by 2030.”

Image credit: iStock.com/MF3d

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/energy-storage-targets-for-victoria-1046535390

PolyJoule, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) spin-off, is partnering with NZ dairy co-operative Fonterra on the application of the battery made from electrically conductive polymers, an organic-based compound with the ability to act like metal.

Late last year, the large-scale organic battery was installed on a Fonterra farm at Te Rapa. The battery was cycled daily, supporting dairy shed operations for 10 months.

The co-op is now moving this battery to its Waitoa UHT site, which can sometimes be impacted by power disturbances leading to downtime and waste.

Fonterra Chief Operating Officer Fraser Whineray said as a significant electricity user, at about 2.5% of the national grid, a sustainable and secure electricity supply is vital.

“At Fonterra we have a strategy to lead in sustainability, and innovation partnerships are a critical ingredient to achieving this.

“The PolyJoule battery has a remarkable discharge rate, which may ultimately link with ultra-fast charging of our fleet, including Milk-E, our electric milk tanker.”

PolyJoule CEO Eli Paster said he’s excited to partner with Fonterra and sees great opportunity for growth in New Zealand.

“We both have sustainability front and centre of our strategy and understand the importance of a reliable, green supply of electricity for quickly chilling the raw milk on farm, processing and distribution.

“Since PolyJoule batteries do not rely on lithium, nickel or lead, the materials are easier to source and the batteries are safer and easier to manufacture anywhere in the world, including New Zealand.”

The PolyJoule battery installation is the third decarbonisation project Fonterra’s Waitoa site has recently adopted. Last month it announced the site would install a new biomass boiler and it will also be home to its Milk-E electric milk tanker.

Image credit: iStock.com/Zyabich

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/case-study/fonterra-trials-organic-energy-storage-system-1181016271

Endress+Hauser has released Liquid Analysis disinfection sensors and accessories for measurement in more applications, adding the CCS55D Memosens Free Bromine sensor, CCS58D Memosens Ozone sensor and Flowfit CYA27 assembly to its product family.

The CYA27 assembly is designed to be freely configurable, accommodating a wide range of sensors, including disinfection, pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. It also offers flow monitoring and diagnostic indicator options, covering a wide range of disinfection applications.

The Memosens CCS55D is used for measuring free bromine in seawater, swimming pools, process and cooling water, fish farming applications and more.

CCS58D Memosens Ozone sensor is capable of measuring ozone concentrations in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 mg/L, with an error of ±2% or ±5 µg/l. This range is suitable for monitoring ozone levels in drinking water, wastewater and utilities.

The CYA27 Flowfit assembly flow assembly is used for the measurement of up to six parameters in process and drinking water, enabling adaptation to many process requirements. It provides a flexible basis for the measurement of disinfection parameters, including chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, bromine and further parameters of liquid analysis, such as pH, ORP, dissolved oxygen and conductivity.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/water/product/endress-hauser-liquid-analysis-disinfection-sensors-1121473508

A Queensland abattoir was looking for a solution for its DAF tank sludge and scum transfer. It had previously used submersible pumps and double diaphragm pumps, but with limited success. A Hydro Innovations pump specialist recommended the use of a Ragazzini peristaltic (hose) pump for the application.

Ragazzini hose pumps are positive displacement pumps using a set of rollers to compress an elastomeric tube that pushes the fluid contained within it. This means that no mechanical moving parts are in contact with the fluid being pumped, and there are no valves or seals to ever replace. And because the pumps use rollers and not ‘shoes’, the casing does not need to be filled with an expensive lubricating fluid.

Solution

The abattoir needed to transfer up to 10 m³/h of the sludge, so Hydro Innovations recommended the Ragazzini MS3 peristaltic pump with fully cast casing, cast iron rotor and cast iron rollers.

The pump only needed to run at the slow speed of 26 rpm to meet the duty, so the pump is expected to have a long service life. It is also fitted as standard with a leak detector that instantly detects a damaged hose. The leak detector stops the pump and sends a warning signal. Pumps are mounted on stainless steel base frames and are supplied with 316SS ports.

The pump was duly ordered and installed. An operator at the plant commented: “It was easy to install and works very well, with little maintenance. A great feature is not having to fill the roller section with glycol, and the quiet operation of the pump.”

The operators at the abattoir are very pleased with the solution and have since rolled out the new technology to its other branches around the country.

Ragazzini pumps are available in sizes ranging from 10 mm ports up to 150 mm, with flows from 0.2 L/h up to 180 m³/h, and with pressures to 15 bar. Various pump hose materials allow pumps to move abrasive fluids, corrosive fluids, fats, oils, along with FDA-approved hoses for foods and pharmaceutical products.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/wastewater/case-study/modernising-an-abattoir-s-pump-technology-497656051

Firing bricks and making mortar and cement can be costly, but organic chemists at Flinders University are working on more sustainable alternatives — focusing on building materials made from waste products.

In another move into the circular economy, researchers from the Flinders Chalker Lab have used low-cost feedstocks to make lightweight but durable polymer building blocks which can be bonded together with an adhesive-free chemical reaction.

Their latest study tested the strength of these materials and explored ways they can be reinforced in construction.

Matthew Flinders Professor of Chemistry Justin Chalker said the need to develop sustainable building materials is increasingly important, with cement, iron and steel production accounting for more than 15% of global CO₂ emissions each year.

“In this study, we tested a new type of brick we can make from waste cooking oil, mixed with sulfur and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). Both sulfur and DCPD are by-products of petroleum refining.

“The bricks bond together without mortar upon application of a trace amount of amine catalyst.

“All the starting materials are plentiful and can be classified as industrial waste.

“This research is part of a larger effort to move towards a sustainable built environment,” said project leader Chalker.

The Chalker Lab’s new polymer research team at Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering is collaborating with Clean Earth Technologies for further development scale-up and possible commercialisation.

Chalker Lab research associate Dr Maximilian Mann said as well as repurposing waste materials into value-added construction materials, the polymer bricks’ sulfur–sulfur bond means they can be bound together without mortar.

By applying an amine catalyst, the bricks bond together and become a single monolith. Image credit: Flinders University

“The bonding in this novel catalytic process is very strong, producing a sustainable construction material with its own mortar which will potentially streamline construction,” Mann said.

First author Paris Pauling said the research is an excellent example of new scientific developments in sustainable materials science.

The latest research tested the new bricks’ mechanical properties and looked at ways to reinforce them in construction, including with carbon fibre fillers. The findings are published in the journal Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Eoneren

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/case-study/circular-construction-making-bricks-from-industial-waste-372852026

The Friedman doctrine, also called shareholder theory or stockholder theory, is a normative theory of business ethics advanced by economist Milton Friedman. In it, Friedman defines the sole purpose of a corporation as to create the greatest profit possible for shareholders. Today, this explanation is dated and arguably irresponsible.

Businesses still want their efforts to generate profit, that’s non-negotiable; however, profit cannot come before people and the planet. Companies of all sizes, from all industries, are now focusing on another non-negotiable of business — sustainability.

Corporate sustainability goals often align with published, globally endorsed agreements such as those of the Paris Agreement and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, it is also important to develop goals specific to your business that will help to improve its sustainability credentials while simultaneously supporting business growth. So how should manufacturing businesses go about creating their own objectives?

Make them personal

Ensuring sustainability goals reflect and influence a business’s core processes is key. When forming a new sustainability policy, businesses are at risk of greenwashing — when a company spends time and money on marketing itself as environmentally friendly, rather than actually minimising its environmental impact.

So, where can manufacturers start? There is still some low-hanging fruit that any business can combat. For instance, setting up small-scale recycling projects or limiting paper in business meetings are steps virtually any business can take. These are good entry points for introducing sustainable actions into a workplace, but they are not adequate to constitute a full sustainability strategy for manufacturing and engineering firms.

Ideally, sustainability efforts should target business function improvements that directly relate to an organisation’s position in the market. At Sandvik Coromant, for example, our lifeblood is developing innovations for metal cutting — tools and inserts, such as turning grades and industrial drill parts.

Because our business relies so heavily on the sale of tools, we recognised we needed to make this area more sustainable. For several years, the company has offered a resilient carbide recycling program that allows customers to sell their used tools back to Sandvik Coromant so that they can be recycled. We also offer customers a tool reconditioning service, so that their worn but still usable tools can be returned to their original condition. Both of these services feed into our sustainability goal of becoming more than 90% circular by 2030.

Ultimately, aligning sustainability goals with your core business model will ensure their integrity, creating a connecting line between who you are and what you do. Having goals that support a company’s existing model for profitability will make them easier to accept and integrate enterprise-wide.

Get the facts right

Sustainability goals need to be grounded by measurable facts. There are several frameworks manufacturers can take inspiration from, such as the WWF’s Science Based Targets, which provide companies with a clearly defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. Targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they align with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement — limiting global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to reduce warming to 1.5°C.

Another important framework is the UN’s SDGs. Each of these 17 goals has specific targets that need to be achieved by 2030, including building sustainable communities, investing in innovation and infrastructure, and ensuring responsible consumption and production. It is clear that primary responsibility for achieving the SDGs lies with governments, but it is also widely understood that they will not be able to make the required level of change without the help of business. After all, business activity — both positive and negative — touches upon all the goals.

To track companies’ net contribution to the UN SDGs, they are scored by their positive or negative contribution to each of the 17 goals. Specifically, the framework centres on a discussion paper that was developed in partnership with the OECD in 2018. Company policies, operations, products and services, and practices are analysed according to reported and publicly available information.

Time to analyse

Creating sustainability goals is critical, but without analysing progress and acting accordingly, a business will limit their effectiveness. In addition to looking at external sources for inspiration, data also provides a framework for these goals and is a key driver to keeping businesses accountable.

It’s important a business first analyses where it is now — how much does it recycle? How much waste does its production process generate? Does it use any renewable forms of energy? Most manufacturing organisations will have several pieces of software that can provide this information, from manufacturing execution systems (MES), enterprise resource planning (ERP), right through to supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA). Understanding your starting point, and evidencing it with data, will help inform your key performance indicators (KPIs).

Data shouldn’t only be assessed when forming new goals. Manufacturers should continually monitor their progress at regular intervals and use their findings to inform whether they’re on track to succeed, or if more action should be taken. Again, good software platforms should be able to provide historical data using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.

Already, society is working together to meet many sustainability goals. The onus is also on business, especially those in the manufacturing industry, to craft their own goals that reflect their business. Having collective goals, and working to achieve them, is critical. However, no two companies are alike and it’s equally essential that manufacturers of all sizes take time to create their own, personalised sustainability goals that drive efficiency and contribute to industry’s greener future.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/why-manufacturing-needs-data-led-sustainability-goals-235541169

Australia and New Zealand’s infrastructure industry is well positioned to meet 2030 benchmarks and the net zero carbon by 2050 goal to address climate change risks identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Almost every jurisdiction requires infrastructure supply chains to deliver carbon reductions measured using the Infrastructure Sustainability Council Rating Scheme (IS Rating Scheme). This is the Australian and New Zealand rating framework designed to assess the sustainability of the planning, design, construction and operation phases of infrastructure programs, projects, networks and assets.

The IS Rating Scheme evaluates governance, economic, environmental and social performance and has now become standard practice in most states and territories for any major transport project to plan and deliver carbon reductions, across a broad range of asset classes and sizes. Throughout Australia we have also started to see a range of targeted policy programs to incentivise innovation and uptake in low-emissions building materials, renewable energy and the circular economy.

Our industry is strongly placed to help enable this transition over the next decade because of its role in shaping societies and economies and through its unique position to influence emissions reductions, leverage investment and respond to policy incentives from government, proponents and asset owners.

However, collective action is needed to deliver the low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure that meets community, government and investor requirements.

The infrastructure industry’s contribution to emissions

Across Australia, it is estimated that infrastructure contributes around 70% of national emissions; with around 15% (or approximately 87 million tonnes of CO₂ per year) directly contributed through the delivery and operations of that infrastructure.

The infrastructure industry has already demonstrated the influence it can have on the reduction of emissions, with most recently delivered infrastructure projects being able to deliver a combined 11% reduction of CO₂ equivalent from materials across the asset lifecycle, and 68% reduction from energy use.

However, over the three years from 2021 to 2024 it is expected that around $166 billion will be spent by governments in Australia on infrastructure.

Joint industry report highlights positive findings

In December 2021, in a first-time collaboration, Autodesk, the Australian Constructors Association, Consult Australia and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council released a joint report to support industry in accelerating a net zero future through the design and construction of the infrastructure pipeline.

The report, A net-zero future delivered through our infrastructure pipeline, signals that a whole-of-business, systems-based approach across asset lifecycles is required to accelerate the journey to net zero. This includes pulling key levers such as procurement, materials, methodologies, technology and people capability.

There are many tools identified in the report which also map key enabling levers against asset lifecycle phases, as well as a net zero delivery model to prompt and guide decision-making — from rethinking and redefining problems and solutions through to reducing carbon-intensive materials and ensuring regenerative approaches are integrated in asset design and construction.

The report also presents real-world case studies to inspire project teams to use, adapt, scale and accelerate further innovation. Technology is also identified as a key enabler of decarbonisation.

How technology supports the infrastructure industry

Technology supports the infrastructure industry with the tools they need to unlock insights, make better decisions and achieve superior outcomes.

Software helps automate complex processes and transform data into actionable insights that empower innovators to improve the impact of everything they design, make, own and operate. Cloud solutions and connected data environments fuel innovation — across technology, processes, supply chains and industries. This opportunity is only accelerating.

Sumit Oberoi, Industry Strategist, Autodesk Construction Solutions. Autodesk Construction Cloud software is involved in the construction of some of the world’s biggest construction and infrastructure projects.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Fahroni

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/australia-amp-new-zealand-s-infrastructure-industry-is-well-positioned-to-reach-net-zero-1129168209

Smart solar-powered bins that crush garbage to increase the amount of waste they can hold are being installed in Lake Macquarie.

The RAY Smart Solar Powered Compacting Bins have been designed to improve the environment by preventing overflowing garbage being released into the lake. The first bins have been installed along the esplanade at Warners Bay Foreshore, with another expected for Toronto Foreshore in the future.

If the bins are successful, others could be installed elsewhere in the area.

“Not only will this be able to store more waste with a smaller footprint, but having a strong sealed hatch as a lid ensures no items will blow out into the lake,” said Lake Macquarie City Council Waste Strategy Coordinator Hal Dobbins.

Each bin can hold 1200 L of general waste, compared to a conventional bin’s limit of 240. This is achieved by compacting the garbage using the bin’s solar-powered crushing function.

Each device contains a 60 W solar panel which charges a battery that can run for up to four weeks with little to no sun.

Additionally, sensors inside the bins will alert the council when the bin has reached 80% capacity so a collection can be organised.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said: “Warners Bay is a very popular destination which is close to cafes, restaurants, a large picnic area and a shared pathway, so these bins will efficiently store a large amount of waste where it’s needed.

“Another device will be installed at Toronto Foreshore in the coming months to reduce litter in the area, which has recently become popular since the installation of a new town green and picnic area.

“I would encourage residents to take advantage of these public bins and properly dispose of waste to prevent litter.”

The $30,000 bin project was funded through the Waste Less, Recycle More initiative and a Community Building Partnership grant.

Jodie Harrison MP Member for Charlestown said: “I was very pleased to support Council’s request for funds for this innovative solution for waste in the local area.

“More and more people are coming to the lake to relax with family and friends, so it’s important to keep the area clean and well maintained for people’s enjoyment.”

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/case-study/smart-bins-installed-on-nsw-central-coast-117062887

Australia faces losing hundreds of billions of dollars between today and 2050 due to droughts, floods and storms, according to new research.

The ‘Aquanomics: The economics of water risk and future resilience report’, published by GHD, predicts that Australia could suffer an annual GDP loss of 0.6% from water events, with total losses of $452 billion by the middle of the century. The agricultural and retail sectors are particularly at risk.

The report argues that these threats need to be addressed immediately with a focus on water recycling, desalination and smarter irrigation.

Lindsey Brown, Australian Water Market Leader at GHD, said: “To create resilience to the increasing risks from extreme weather events we need to adapt how we build water infrastructure, optimise the performance of existing infrastructure and prioritise nature-based solutions to water management across industries.”

Storms may prove to be the most economically problematic water issue with an impact of $102 billion, followed by floods ($64 billion) and droughts ($41 billion).

The report analysed five sectors as they relate to the effects of extreme weather: agriculture; banking and insurance; energy and utilities; fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and retail; and manufacturing and distribution.

For agriculture, which is especially vulnerable to weather, the report found that annual losses from water-based problems could be over 5% by 2030 and 8% by 2050. It recommends a circular economy as a means of averting these steep economic pitfalls.

“With a growing population and increasing demand for water, embracing the circular economy is a key part of creating climate resilience in Australia.

“A circular economy approach to water management includes options like supporting water authorities to design out waste and pollution and regenerate natural systems,” Brown said.

“Increasing supplies of manufactured water through water reuse and recycling also offers a reliable source of water that is not climate-dependent and can contribute to economy-wide decarbonisation efforts through energy production of green hydrogen.

“For Australia’s coastal cities — where 80% of the country’s population is concentrated — desalination will be crucial in easing water stress, and inland, wastewater treatment and recycling will become more important.

“These processes make purified recycled water available for drinking and for use by power stations, industry and agriculture.

“The government has a key role to play in managing the transition to new methods of water management. Investment programs, such as the National Water Grid Fund, are the first step but infrastructure can only be part of the solution.”

Brown said that Australia will need to rethink how the nation treats water.

“By focusing on economic impacts of extreme weather events in our Aquanomics report, we aim to help identify and unlock the social and environmental benefits of tackling water risk head-on.

“It’s time to move away from viewing water as a commodity to be controlled, and instead recognise its intrinsic value — water is part of a natural cycle, the balance of which must be restored and maintained if we are to live sustainably and to prosper.

“We also have a responsibility to collaborate with traditional owners and explore water’s deep connection to country. And it’s important to remember that many Indigenous communities are vulnerable to water risk, especially drought.”

Read the full report online.

Image credit: iStock.com/davidf

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/water/news/australia-faces-billion-dollar-losses-from-extreme-weather-560345798

Once perceived as the guardians of company funds and in charge of financial reporting and forecasting, 43% of Australian business leaders feel that today’s CFOs are placing greater emphasis on solving business problems, according to data from Anaplan, a cloud-based planning platform.

Over the last year, CFOs have been crucial to helping organisations navigate the pandemic and recovery. This has been recognised by their colleagues, with 70% of business leaders saying over the last 12 months CFOs played a key role in keeping up with regulatory changes and 67% felt they were key in meeting customers’ changing needs as well as facilitating hybrid work.

When reflecting on the past 12 months, almost half (46%) of CFOs found that keeping up with regulatory changes proved to be “extremely challenging” while 36% and 31% thought the same of addressing supply chain shortages and meeting customers’ changing needs, respectively.

This data was revealed in a report commissioned by Anaplan, in partnership with Deloitte, to explore the evolving role of the CFO, and the opportunities that come with this transition. Conducted by The Harris Poll, the survey respondents included more than 100 senior departmental leaders and CFOs across Australia, and 700 total participants globally.

Key role in ESG initiatives

As companies place greater emphasis on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, business leaders in Australia have high expectations of their CFOs.

86% of business leaders in Australia believe that it’s the responsibility of the CFO to select the right resources to effectively execute on ESG strategies. In the same vein, 85% of Aussie business leaders expect their CFOs to play a key role in setting the business’s sustainability and ESG strategy.

However, Australian CFOs’ self-reflections about the role they’ve played on ESG to date are not aligned with the rest of their leadership teams. While almost four in five (79%) Australian CFOs feel that they have played an essential role in managing their company’s ESG initiatives, only half (52%) of their fellow C-suite team felt the same.

Planning crucial to CFO’s evolving role

The current business environment requires leaders to be confident in their ability to quickly adjust plans according to ever changing realities. However, planning — and therefore, strategic decision-making — has historically been a siloed and highly manual process. It’s therefore unsurprising that a majority (89%) of CFOs and their senior colleagues agree that recent challenges — such as the transition to hybrid work and supply chain volatility — could have been improved with stronger communication.

Business leaders must revamp their approach to planning to be more collaborative, agile and real time, but the research revealed CFOs and senior colleagues both realise this requires an improvement in people dynamics (89%), technology (79%) and processes (86%).

In terms of what Australian business leaders hoped to see their CFOs doing, 32% of business leaders said they’d like to see them spending more time collaborating with other business units.

Commenting on the findings, Andy Thiss, Area Vice President, Anaplan, said, “The role of the CFO has changed immensely as businesses grapple with the many challenges that have been thrown at them these past few years. While their role used to be centred around company finances, these findings show that there is an expectation for CFOs to stretch beyond that focus, and help the company drive long-term goals. From breaking down silos, to navigating uncertainties and meeting ambitious ESG goals, the role of connected planning in assisting CFOs with these challenges is paramount.”

For the full details, visit https://www.anaplan.com/resources/research-report/awaken-the-potential-of-the-modern-cfo/.

Image credit: iStock.com/gesrey

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/changing-role-of-australian-cfos-677088223