As economies around the world enter into a bidding war for market share and dominance of hydrogen production, Australia is at risk of being left behind in the race to become a clean energy superpower, despite it being well placed to develop a clean energy export market due to natural advantages.

An analysis of the US Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) clean energy incentives in research from Deloitte Access Economics suggests that Australia could lose market share to the US and export 65% less renewable hydrogen by 2050.

Meanwhile, the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) has released a paper detailing what it believes would be an appropriate response by the Australian Government to the IRA and other international incentives that are increasingly attracting investment in hydrogen.

The hydrogen tipping point

The Deloitte Access Economics report, Australia’s Hydrogen Tipping Point – The urgent case to support renewable hydrogen production, found that without action, Australia’s scaled renewable hydrogen production may be delayed by a decade until the mid-2030s, and its hydrogen industry may never reach a comparable scale to fossil fuels.

The analysis suggests there may be a goldilocks zone for policy intervention — around a $2/kg hydrogen production credit, approximately half the level of the maximum credit in the US for renewable hydrogen, reflecting Australia’s underlying comparative advantages.

This would require a $15.5 billion public investment over a decade and, if done right, would put Australia on track to produce almost 16 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen a year by 2050, with exports worth $17.5 billion a year. This would also lead to the creation of clean industries to offset the decline of existing fossil fuel industries.

Pradeep Philip, head of Deloitte Access Economics said: “We have a wealth of comparative advantages in green industries like hydrogen but we’re at risk of falling behind in the race to net zero. Despite Australia’s clean energy ambitions, the reality is our global competitiveness is declining. The US Inflation Reduction Act looks set to cut Australia’s renewable hydrogen lunch.”

Matt Judkins, Deloitte Access Economic Partner, said Australia has an opportunity to take advantage of its natural assets to produce products that meet zero carbon ambitions, such as green steel, green aluminium and zero carbon fertilisers. “We can’t afford to lose this race.”

Call for strategic action

The AHC paper calls for ‘immediate action’, listing six recommendations to enable the hydrogen sector to move forward. The recommendations include:

1. Underwrite demand through a revenue support mechanism to incentivise domestic production of critical chemicals and metals.
2. Increase and expand ARENA funding for trials and demonstrations looking at decarbonisation of the production processes for carbon-intensive industries.
3. Develop bespoke joint support packages between Australia and its trading partners.
4. Develop a revised hydrogen strategy.
5. A revised hydrogen strategy should explicitly value and support the development and commercialisation of new technologies and industries, to ensure a pipeline of technologies and researchers in Australia.
6. Consider establishing a case manager approach within government to assist project developers and funders to tie all potential sources of support together, as well as assist in the coordination of planning and approvals.

Dr Fiona Simon, CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council, recommends that the government underwrites demand through a revenue support mechanism, such as contracts for difference, to incentivise the domestic production of strategically important chemicals and metals such as iron, ammonia and methanol.

“Beyond the next 12 months, a revised hydrogen strategy is crucial to incentivise hydrogen production in areas where Australia has a competitive advantage, such as the production of iron. Funding could be matched by the states and territories, or split so that one funding stream defrays capital costs and the other provides long-term underwriting for contracts.

“A renewed focus on job creation, building sovereign manufacturing capabilities and helping heavy industry decarbonise should be a key focus of an updated strategy.

“We welcome the government’s commitment last week to review the National Hydrogen Strategy and hope to see a cohesive plan that reduces uncertainty and complexity for investors.

“This cannot be left to chance, or to the whims, complexities and uncertainties of a nascent market. Governments must be market makers at this stage of the energy transition. This is not only about funding for pilots but also major infrastructure investment in the public interest. Becoming cost competitive with fossil fuels will not happen without extensive government policy and subsidies.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Olemedia

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/is-australia-in-the-race-to-net-zero–698909654

University of South Australia (UniSA) researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to work out how best to manage waste collections from public rubbish bins — predicting which locations accumulate the most rubbish and where resources should be allocated.

Using algorithms to analyse data from smart bin sensors, UniSA PhD student Sabbir Ahmed is designing a deep learning model to predict where waste is accumulating in cities and how often public bins should be cleared.

Ahmed said sensors in public smart bins can give a lot of information regarding how busy locations are, what type of rubbish is being disposed of and how much methane gas is being produced from food waste in bins. This data can be fed into a neural network model to predict where bins are likely to fill up quickly and which are rarely visited.

This can help councils optimise waste management services, schedule bin clearances and relocate rarely used bins to where they are needed.

A pilot project is now being developed in collaboration with Wyndham Council in Victoria, using its smart bin data to develop an AI model which could be deployed by councils across the country.

The research is published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Sameera Mubarak, co-author of the paper, said waste management is a growing concern around the world as many urban areas struggle to cope with an increase in garbage due to rapid population growth.

In developing an AI model, the researchers have analysed sensor data from public bin sites, routing paths and pick-up locations. The sensors capture different types of waste: solid, organic, industry or chemical waste, medical waste and recycling waste.

According to Mubarak, the use of AI can predict patterns of waste generation in public sites and forecast which days would be busier in certain locations by flagging upcoming events that will result in a spike in garbage and scheduling waste collection around these predictions.

Improper waste collection can cause health and environmental hazards for cities, something that this research looks to address.

The researchers plan to investigate the impact of socioeconomic factors and public utility investment on waste generation in future work.

Image credit: iStock.com/franz12

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/case-study/getting-smarter-with-waste-bin-management-82951142

Bestech Australia has been supplying high-accuracy pressure transmitters from Keller for the Australian water industry. These sensors incorporate silicon strain gauge sensing technology of a floating built-in piezoresistive transducer and a XEMICS CPU with an inbuilt 16-bit A/D converter that is designed for measurement accuracy. The resulting data is output through a serial RS485 interface, and is both mathematically and digitally compensated.

The housing of the Keller 33X pressure transmitters is designed with robust, waterproof IP67 protection for use in harsh and dirty environments. They also come with optional USB and RS232 converters for connection to laptops or desktops, as well as optional 4–20 mA and 0–10 V analog output.

These pressure transmitters are suitable for various applications, including floodgate design, laboratory experiments, industrial test benches and leak testing. The prog30 instrument programming software and the CCS30 data collection software are used for data visualisation. Live measurements can be taken, or a data logging system can be set up to record pressure data at predetermined intervals. The 33X series pressure transmitter also incorporates a temperature sensor that is placed close to the diaphragm in contact with the media, and is used to adjust the pressure sensor digitally at various temperatures.

For more information, call 03 9540 5100 or email enquiry@bestech.com.au.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/water/hot-product/keller-33x-high-accuracy-pressure-transmitter-103595649

AMS Water Metering has achieved WaterMark certification for the Qalcosonic W1 Australian Utility Version smart ultrasonic water meter.

Along with the NMI R49 metrology approval, AS3565.1 water meter approval and AS4020 drinking water approval, the WaterMark approval now means that the meter is fully certified for supply into the Australian water utility market.

AMS Water Metering fits brass threaded adapters, a dual check valve and a copper conducting strip to produce the Australian Utility Version, which meets the requirements of the Australian water utility market for end-to-end length, dual check valves and electrical conductivity.

The compact, fully integrated smart ultrasonic water meter has a one-piece moulded composite plastic body with an IP68 rating. The ultrasonic measuring technology has no moving parts and is designed to maintain accuracy throughout the life of the meter. It is available with fully integrated LoRaWAN or NB-IoT communication protocols and the battery life is up to 16 years.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/water/product/ams-water-metering-qalcosonic-w1-australian-utility-version-570038958

The EchoStorm, by Gorman-Rupp, is a high-quality range of static venturi aeration devices installed in-line on the discharge side of self-priming pumps to introduce dissolved oxygen into the liquid being pumped. The liquid is moved through the internal nozzle creating a Venturi Effect. Air is drawn into the body of the EchoStorm which mixes and oxygenates the liquid.

As these units are mounted on the bank (instead of floating on the water or being submerged in it), access is much less complicated and safer, while delivering oxygen transfer outcomes. Unlike other methods of aeration, no rowboats, cranes or tethers are needed by operators to access them for monitoring, maintenance or repair.

Applications for Venturi Aerators

EchoStorm venturi aerators can be used to treat wastewater, add oxygen to water bodies, blue-green algae treatment and lake destratification.

Wastewater Treatment

EchoStorm units are used to reduce BOD, COD and NH₃ from wastewater, and also used to strip substances with low Henry’s Constants such as CO₂ and VOCs.

Units not only add dissolved oxygen to wastewater bodies, but they also provide an excellent mixing action and “condition” the wastewater. Conditioning occurs in the mixing zone of the unit, “smashing” larger pieces into smaller ones, making more surface area available for biological treatment.

Improve Lake Health

Echostorm units can be used to add oxygen to water bodies as well as destratification and algae removal.

Adding dissolved oxygen is one component of keeping water bodies healthy, but because the Echostorm suction and discharge points can be set at any level and in any direction, correcting stratification is another component. As well as this, EchoStorm units treat algae by breaking the vacuoles within algae cells, making them sink and depriving them of the necessary components for growth (CO₂ and sunlight).

Why use an EchoStorm Venturi Aerator?

The main reasons for using EchoStorm venturi aerators are safety, ease of installation and life cycle cost.

Echo-Storm aerators are mounted on the bank of the lagoon, so installation generally means laying a small slab to mount the pump and providing any necessary pipe supports for suction and discharge lines.

After that, monitoring and maintenance is both easy and safe, making it much more cost effective for the life of the installation. And because they are located on the bank, they are much more likely to get that preventative maintenance that is often neglected when operators need boats, tethers or cranes to access them — ensuring a long service life.

Easy to Maintain

Because all the mechanical equipment is located outside of lagoons or tanks, pumps and the Venturi Aerator are easily accessed for maintenance. No need for boats to get to the equipment, or long and expensive walkways, or for long tether and winch systems to drag pontoons in.

Gorman-Rupp pumps are the easiest pumps to maintain, and the Venturi Aerator has no moving parts and just a few bolts to access liner or nozzle.

How to apply EchoStorm Venturi Aerators

Echo-Storm venturi-aeration Engineers can work out the size and type of system required if given the right information. The types of information needed is as follows:

• The size of the tank or lagoon (Length x Width x Depth)
• The amount of inflow into the tank or lagoon
• The type of application (wastewater treatment, maintaining D.O. levels, destratification etc)
• The goal of the treatment (increase dissolved oxygen, reduce BOD or COD, increase pH levels, destratification, oxidation of the fluid, odour reduction etc)
• The target of the treatment
   

The aerator is available in a range of sizes to meet the aeration needs of multiple industries, including municipal wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment and potable water treatment. Units are available in sizes: 50 mm; 75 mm; 100 mm; and 150 mm. Applications requiring more oxygen than the largest unit can deliver, can use multiple units.

Whether you need a complete replacement to your existing aerator or an enhancement to your existing operation, the EchoStorm venturi aerator offers an innovative and convenient approach to your aeration needs.

• Odour Control
• Sludge Digestion
• Wastewater Aeration
• Lake Destratification
• Septage treatment
• Increase levels of Dissolved Oxygen
• Reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand

Simple, Uncomplicated Design

When The EchoStorm aerator is used with Gorman-Rupp pumps, there is no need for pontoons, walkways, intricate retrieval systems, or special sumps. Pumps and Aeration system are mounted on simple concrete plinths on the side of lagoons or on the side of tanks.

Efficient

The EchoStorm Venturi Aeration systems’ efficiency is dependent on the efficiency of the pump used to provide water to the system, and because Gorman-Rupp produces efficient pumps, standard oxygen transfer rates can be as high as 1.69.

Low cost of Ownership

Because Venturi Aeration systems are on the “bank”, there is no requirement for cranes, multiple operators using boats or winches and no need to remove equipment from service. One operator can perform routing (or major) maintenance events with basic hand tools in minutes, not hours. This has a tremendous effect on the “bottom line” when extrapolated over years of service.

Safe for Operators

Operators do not need to row in boats to a Venturi Aeration system and they don’t have to walk across narrow planks to “board” their aeration system. The work does not need to be done in the middle of a lagoon. Operators can safely access a Venturi Aerator and its pump.

These products are of high quality and are relied upon by industry leaders around the world.

For more information: https://www.hydroinnovations.com.au/pumps/echo-storm-water-aerator

Video:

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/wastewater/sponsored/gorman-rupp-echostorm-static-venturi-aeration-devices-1219530794

It is part of SEW-EURODRIVE’s DNA that its products should always be designed to be as maintenance-friendly and repair-friendly as possible.

For example, our gear units and gear motors can be disassembled non-destructively and then reassembled again once faulty or worn parts have been replaced.

This means we can extend the service life of our existing products and services and avoid unnecessarily using up resources. This is achieved by our modular system approach where we manufacture as few parts as possible. For instance, many components can be used across many different product series, thus enabling twice as many variants of each product from as few individual parts as necessary.

Our Life Cycle Services represent the next logical step in this approach.

They are based on a holistic and carefully thought-through closed-loop concept that covers the entire service lifespan of a product while it is in use with the customer.

1. Guidance in the form of personal advice on trends, issues that will arise in the future, application and industry know-how, regulations and specifications.
2. Planning and engineering, such as concept development, variant management and energy consulting.
3. Procurement and supply, such as via electronic data exchange, delivery services, and electronic dispatch notifications.
4. Installation and startup, including advice on installing and programming the application.
5. Operation at the customer’s premises, including product monitoring via remote services, repairs, servicing, maintenance, Spare Parts Service and energy efficiency tools.
6. Modernisation through retrofitting.

Thanks to this service from a single source, which is provided by a dedicated contact, our customers can rest assured that they are getting the best possible expertise and advice for their drive technology.

So what exactly is sustainable about that?

Example – the maintenance-friendly connection between the gear unit and motor

The connection between the gear unit and motor on all our standard gear motors offers a good example of just how maintenance-friendly our solutions are.

It is made via a pinion shaft that has a key and a mounted pinion with a corresponding slot. Unlike on crimped pinions, this connection can be disassembled without destroying the parts. Any necessary repairs can be carried out at the customer’s premises or in one of our state-of-the-art service centres.

How our Life Cycle Services are sustainable

• By providing personal consulting and working in partnership to plan customised drive and automation solutions, we ensure our customers always get precisely the solution they need. In other words, we always manufacture with precision and to suit the market.
• As we continue to digitalise our supply chain, we are continuously driving down the amount of paper we use while simultaneously maximizing transparency.
• Together, a preliminary in-house check and startup support ensure that our gearmotors run as smoothly as possible on an efficient and resource-friendly basis from the outset.
• Thanks to our remote services, we can leverage predictive maintenance to reduce repair outlay and therefore the associated production of spare parts.
• A customised and broad-based spare parts system that satisfies the highest standards in technology and quality helps us maximize flexibility while minimizing costly and energy-hungry downtime and extending the dependable service life of our components.
• Our retrofitting and modernisation concept ensures that every system can be kept up to date and in the best possible energy-efficient state.
• Our 100 sales and service experts and our over 45 qualified engineers nationally are ready and able to assist you across our 6 Service Centres, 5 assembly plants, and 7 sales offices, incredibly direct and rapidly. Thereby enabling us to reduce the energy use and resource consumption otherwise associated with long journey times.
   

We ensure that our customers get precisely the solution they need — we manufacture with precision and to suit the market.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/sponsored/sustainable-service-concept-and-ease-of-maintenance-516150627

Approximately 60% of clothes worn today are made of synthetic textiles and they are often sent to landfill or incinerated at end of life.

Now, researchers at the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Enzyme Innovation are using their enzyme technology (which has previously been used to recycle single-use plastics, including PET) to help combat polyester textiles in clothing waste.

Synthetic fabrics such as polyester are widely used for clothing due to their durability so the process of recycling them using enzymes will not be an easy one. The addition of dyes and other chemical treatments makes it even harder for these tough oil-based materials to be ‘digested’ in a natural process. Developing enzymes that can efficiently ‘eat’ polyester clothing, without energy-intensive pre-treatment, is the biggest challenge.

Professor Andy Pickford, Director of the Centre for Enzyme Innovation at the University of Portsmouth, said: “We will develop enzymes that can deconstruct the PET in waste textiles, tolerating the challenges that this feedstock poses, namely its toughness and the presence of dyes and additives.

“We will test the compatibility of our engineered enzymes with additives, dyes and solvents to select those enzymes that are best suited to polyester textile deconstruction. Then we will apply these enzymes to appropriately pretreated waste polyester textiles in laboratory-scale bioreactors to evaluate the potential and limitations of scaling up the technology.”

While it is possible to turn quality oil-based textiles into carpets and other products, current recycling methods are energy-intensive. Scientists hope that enzymes developed at the University of Portsmouth will help them create an environmentally friendly circular economy for plastic-based clothing.

Pickford said: “Our research will establish the feasibility of using enzymes to deconstruct the PET in waste textiles into a soup of simple building blocks for conversion back into new polyesters, thus reducing the need to produce virgin PET from fossil fuel-based chemicals. This will enable a circular polyester textiles economy and ultimately reduce our dependence on taking oil and gas out of the ground.

“We want a system that uses plastic in the same way we use glass or tin cans — infinitely recycled. The ultimate aim is to close the loop — however, this requires not only the technology but also the will to do so.”

The research, which is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), started in January and is expected to last for 18 months.  The university team will work with project partners Biomimicry Institute, who will provide expertise in natural solutions to sustainability challenges, and Endura Sports clothing, who will share their knowledge of fabric dyes and provide samples of end-of-life polyester textiles.

Image credit: iStock.com/Annaspoka

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/case-study/-plastic-eating-enzymes-to-help-combat-textile-waste-947021135

EDF Renewables has acquired the Newcastle Offshore Wind (NOW) Farm, a floating offshore project under development. Situated near the Port of Newcastle and energy distribution networks, the project has been proposed for the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) as part of the NSW Government Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. Its development stages will support the Australian Government’s renewable targets and align with the progressive retirement of coal-fired power stations in the region.

The initial project developer, Newcastle Offshore Wind Energy (NOWE), has almost 10 years of experience on the project and has worked closely with the EDF Renewables team in Australia for the last 12 months. NOWE will continue to collaborate with EDF Renewables on the project, with the two teams having previously worked in the Hunter region.

Dave Johnson, CEO of EDF Renewables in Australia, said NOWE has put effort into building its local development expertise and can connect with the community and stakeholders, which is beneficial to the project.

“It’s always top priority for us to make sure the community and region benefit from our work and those benefits are clear, far-reaching and impactful for the entire community,” Johnson said.

The project will require an entirely new industry to be established in Australia, which will help create jobs, establish businesses and revitalise businesses looking to transition from existing industries.

EDF Renewables operates seven offshore wind farms globally and has a further five under construction. Projects are being developed across North and Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Image credit: iStock.com/Imagvixen

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/edf-renewables-acquires-offshore-wind-project-1138383462

Endress+Hauser has launched five laboratory sensors compatible with its Liquiline CML18 handheld laboratory analysis device. The Memosens CPL53E, CPL57E, CPL59E, COL37E and CLL47E liquid analytical sensors now join the CPL51E.

Using the bayonet connector, the handheld CML18 and Memosens sensors work out of the box with support switching output parameters — such as pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity — at the measuring point. Users can begin making measurements without initial calibration because the instruments are pre-calibrated at the factory.

Memosens 2.0 sensors are suitable for laboratory measurement and random process grab sampling.

The CPL53E glass PH sensor is built for all-around use in the lab, covering everything from lab sampling to random process grab sampling.

The CPL57E pH sensor is designed for low-conductivity water applications in all industry types.

The CPL59E pH sensor is built to withstand harsh conditions in chemically aggressive fluids.

The digital COL37E dissolved oxygen sensor enhances oxygen measurement with a fast response time.

The CLL47E is a four-electrode conductivity sensor for random sampling and measurements in the lab with a measurement range of 5 μS/cm to 200 mS/cm and a process temperature range of 0 to 100°C. This sensor is suitable for measurements in drinking water, cooling water, wastewater and process media (such as cleaning solutions).

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/water/product/endress-hauser-memosens-laboratory-measurement-sensors-688454272

Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology collaborated to set up a future Energy Transition Hub at the university’s Hawthorn campus in Melbourne. The $5.2 million hub features advanced digital energy technology from Siemens and technical, R&D and teaching expertise from Swinburne. The hub aims to build a future energy grid laboratory accessible to students and industry, and when fully operational, will offer researchers and industry the opportunity to work on solutions for greener, more efficient future energy systems using Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform and marketplace.

Karen Hapgood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, said the hub will work on technologies to improve energy efficiency, supply, integration, storage, transport and use. It will focus on taking ideas that can make the most impact to market.

The hub will enable users to leverage digital twins of energy grids, map scenarios, research new findings and develop hypotheses. It will be home to a digital twin of Australia’s energy grid that commercial research teams can use to run simulations of innovative solutions and software.

It will also deliver short courses for industry professionals and integrate into Swinburne’s engineering technology courses.

Peter Halliday, CEO and Chairman of Siemens Australia and New Zealand, said collaboration between industry and academia is critical to driving better outcomes on key topics of national importance. Digitalisation allows technology to assist in identifying the opportunities for reducing energy consumption and emissions, accelerating the journey to net zero.

According to Halliday, the hub will extend Swinburne and Siemens’ longstanding relationship.

In addition to microgrid and planning stations, it will also feature Siemens’ microgrid management system (MGMS) and decentralised energy optimisation platform (DEOP) software.

The microgrid technologies include SICAM A8000 and SIPROTEC5 devices for control and protection. The planning stations feature Siemens PSS software.

Jose Moreira, Country Business Unit head – Grid Software, Siemens Australia and New Zealand, said a collaborative and co-creative approach is required to tackle the speed and change in the energy landscape to create solutions that help achieve net zero. The hub is for both students and industry to help spark Australian innovations for future energy challenges.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/driving-innovation-with-5-2m-energy-transition-hub-260297350