The ‘Australia’s Energy Commodity Resources’ (AECR) assessment for 2022, which is an annual stocktake of Australia’s energy resources, has been released by Geoscience Australia.

The report includes detailed analysis of various elements of Australia’s natural resources as they relate to energy production, including non-renewables such as uranium, coal, oil and gas.

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the assessment showed Australia was a leading producer and supplier of energy resources and highlighted how the pandemic impacted production and demand for energy commodities.

“Australia remains a secure and reliable supplier of energy to our trading partners, particularly in this time of global energy volatility, and we will continue to help them achieve their climate ambitions,” King said.

“In 2020, Australia remained the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas and metallurgical coal. We also rose in the rankings to become the world’s second largest producer of uranium.”

AECR 2022 also focused on opportunities for the country as the world looks to move towards net zero.

“Australia continues to have strong gas reserves, which will help smooth the transition to a low-emissions economy by acting as a firming fuel for renewables,” King said.

“Our unique geology is also being used to tap into emerging opportunities and help decarbonise our economy.

“We saw a 43 per cent increase in total hydrogen projects in Australia in 2021, with the number of operational projects rising from 3 to 20. While many of these projects are small in scale, their potential is enormous.

“Australia also continues to invest in carbon capture and storage initiatives to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere. The International Energy Agency has identified CCS as essential to the world reaching net zero emissions.

“This is in addition to the central role Australia will play in critical minerals and rare earths development for energy storage and electrification.”

The ‘Australia’s Energy Commodity Resources 2022’ assessment is available from the Geoscience Australia website: https://www.ga.gov.au/digital-publication/aecr2022.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Kings Access

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/news/energy-resources-report-released-1616966275

The Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) is pleased to bring the Annual Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition to Logan.

The event provides a forum for people undertaking operational roles in the water, wastewater and recycled water industries to update knowledge and skills through interaction with other water industry employees. The large exhibition lets attendees view and discuss the latest advances in technical equipment and systems with suppliers.

Here are some of the attractions of the event:

• More than 20 speakers over two days covering a range of topics relating to the water industry
• Product and service demonstrations from many of the world’s leading companies
• Ixom 2022 Water of Origin Taste Test — Best in Queensland vs Best in NSW
• Queensland Water Main Tapping competition
• Operational, technical and research presentations
• Viewings and discussions of the latest advances in technical equipment, products and services
• A way to update knowledge and skills through interaction with fellow water industry employees.
   

If you are an operator, manager, engineer, consultant, professional, or someone who is working in the water industry or just has an interest in water, then this is a useful event to attend. The exhibition is free for anyone to attend and keep informed about the latest industry developments — the ideal platform to meet and liaise with leading figures in the water industry.

At a glance:

What: Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibition

When: 3–4 August 2022

Where: Logan Metro Sports & Events Centre

Web: https://wioa.org.au/wioa-events/conferences-exhibitions/

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/water/article/the-water-industry-operations-conference-and-exhibition-heads-to-logan-218553683

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) is running a trio of seminars at the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE), alongside an in-person training course. The AWRE concentrates on sustainable ways of processing, collecting and recycling waste and will bring industry visitors from across the waste and recycling sectors together. The event features talks and product demonstrations from experts, with AIP presenting across both days of the expo.

The first of AIP’s seminars is taking place for an hour from 11.30 am on 24 August, with a focus on how Save Food Packaging can be used to reduce waste and extend shelf life of products.

The next talk follows at 2.15 pm and will take viewers through the use of the Australasian Recycling Label program and how it relates to small and medium enterprises, with the goal of getting more companies on board with reaching the 2025 National Packaging Targets.

The final seminar, on the second day of the expo, will help businesses understand how to integrate sustainable packaging design and the circular economy into their operations.

AIP is also holding a training event alongside AWRE that covers flexible packaging. ‘Flexible Packaging: Now & Into the Future’ will teach participants about the use and design of flexible packaging, its various benefits and how it is manufactured.

Check online for details about the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo like how to register, the seminar timetable and a list of exhibitors. The event will run from 24 to 25 August at ICC Sydney.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Seventyfour

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/news/the-australian-institute-of-packaging-will-be-at-awre-875549612

It is now less than one month until the ARBS 2022 expo opens its doors to visitors. The event — dedicated to air conditioning, refrigeration and building services — will bring over 200 exhibitors from across the country to showcase their products and technologies. Registration is free and grants entry to all three days of the exhibition.

The event will also feature a selection of seminars and talks, and the presentation of the ARBS Industry Awards.

ARBS Chairman Tony Arnel said: “The sheer size and scale of ARBS has always been impressive. But it is now evident to everyone in the industry that ARBS is more than an exhibition. It’s a connector and a celebration of a sector that is mission-critical to the health and wellbeing of all Australians. I am looking forward to what I am sure will be an excellent exhibition and supporting program of seminars and events. Please join me and our many industry colleagues at ARBS 2022.”

Visit the ARBS webpage to register for the event, which will be taking place from 16 to 18 August at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/xtock

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/news/arbs-2022-is-rapidly-approaching-281760754

Low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology supports your IIoT devices with higher extensibility and availability of intelligent monitoring infrastructure for a small portion of data exchanges.

Explore two extensive user cases that optimised monitoring and control across long distances with limited processing power:

·Advanced LoRaWAN solution for general mining wellfield monitoring

·Industrial NB-IoT/LTE-M solution enables remote control of agricultural canals

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/white-paper/multiple-wireless-i-o-solutions-contribute-to-safe-infrastructures-and-improved-productivity-782914327

In 1988 Friedman’s doctrine that favours profits for shareholders over social responsibility was challenged by a concept called social capital, which meant that a company’s public image could affect profitability as much as the cost of production.

After the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1997, most companies became acutely aware that environmental disasters not only threatened the ecosystem, the costs of remediation and penalties jeopardised their bottom line. Growing concern about climate change added pressure to reduce a company’s carbon footprint. But it took the financial crisis of 2007 to turn the spotlight on excessive risk and expose whole industries to accusations of corruption and greed.

The need for organisations to assess environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact on financial performance is matched by the demands of stockholders and the public for transparency and accountability. Over the decades, companies have obliged. In 2021, 95% of S&P 500 companies published detailed ESG data and the rest made high-level policy information available to the public on their websites.

What are ESG reporting frameworks?

The complexity of the issues and the difficulty of comparing performance among companies required standardisation of reporting. Investor groups, NGOs, advisory organisations and quasi-governmental agencies stepped up to offer numerous frameworks for identifying issues and recommend standards for implementing programs. The resulting avalanche of acronyms for the numerous and varied standards can overwhelm both companies and interested stakeholders.

Comparing widely used standards can be helpful, and starts with identifying their common purpose. All standards aim to establish transparent, reliable and credible methodologies for analysing ESG best practices and measuring organisations’ performance. Most specify the type of relevant information companies should disclose and offer a framework for accurate and timely disclosure. They enable stakeholder engagement and comparative analysis across target industries.

Standards vary in compliance requirements and comprehensiveness, the scope of ESG issues they target or the type of organisation they address. Fundamentally, standards differ in their methods of achieving sustainability: whether they help companies improve operations and mitigate risk, or require them to disclose financial impact to investors or comply with government regulation.

The following list includes key ESG standard-setting frameworks to track.

GRI — Global Reporting Initiative

The Global Reporting Initiative assesses company activities and supply chains for a wide range of ESG impacts:

• Environmental: climate change, resource depletion, waste and pollution, deforestation.
• Social: working conditions, local communities, conflict, health and safety, employee relations and diversity.
• Governance: executive pay, bribery and corruption, political lobbying and donations, board diversity and structure, tax strategy.
   

GRI Standards focus on sustainable development rather than financial disclosure. They identify issues, analyse the social and economic impact, and assess governance costs and benefits. The methodology quantifies and compares ESG performance among companies and over time to measure sustainability development. Reports describe what companies are doing and evaluate how well they are performing, which companies use to benchmark their progress.

The standards apply to any organisation in all sectors, public or private, regardless of size. GRI functions as a platform for cooperative effort among thousands of organisations in more than 100 countries that self-assess their ESG impact and report sustainability efforts. Stakeholders use the information in numerous ways.

GRI Standards are mandated by the European Commission for public companies with more than 500 employees and are required by legislation or regulations in the US, France, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany and South Korea. They are also required by many leading institutional investors and development organisations.

SASB — Sustainability Accounting Standards Board

The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board analyses how companies manage pertinent ESG issues and the effects on financial performance. SASB Standards are designed for disclosing financially material sustainability information to investors and other capital providers, specifically ESG issues that have a direct financial impact on companies or affect long-term enterprise value.

SASB was initially motivated by climate change but now concentrates on the subset of ESG issues relevant to each industry. The Standards are used to implement the framework established by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) discussed next and align with GRI Standards.

Any company required to disclose the impact of ESG issues on financial performance and enterprise value can use the SASB Standards. Investors, financial regulators and policymakers rely on SASB to identify and measure ESG impact on an industry or a company’s operations and long-term value.

These standards are not mandated by legislation or regulation but are used to identify and report financially material issues subject to mandatory disclosure.

TCFD — Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

The Financial Stability Board established the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures to create guidelines for disclosing a specific ESG issue to financial entities. Climate-related risk arises from increased operational costs due to a range of threats, including scarcity of resources and disrupted supply chains. TCFD aims to make climate change mitigation efforts an integral part of companies’ risk management and strategic planning.

Any company exposed to climate-related financial risk can use TCFD guidelines to report to investors, lenders and insurance underwriters that assess value and price risks.

Mandatory reporting requirements aligned with TCFD were introduced in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. By 2025, 1300 registered companies in the UK must disclose climate-related financial information. TCFD is endorsed by the G7 and G20 and supported by more than 2200 organisations. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) uses TCFD recommendations.

SFDR — Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation imposes ESG disclosure obligations on asset managers and other financial advisors in the European Union and United Kingdom.

SFDR requires transparency of a range of ESG risks impacting the financial industry but focuses on “climate change, resource depletion and other sustainability-related issues”. It aims to eliminate the “greenwashing” of financial products and advice and steer investments towards a sustainable economy by enabling informed financial decisions. SFDR classifies funds from those that do not consider sustainability risks to those that have sustainability as a core objective.

All EU and UK financial funds and firms are mandated to disclose ESG impacts to investors and improve operations to comply with SFDR terms. SFDR doesn’t apply to the US financial market, but all asset managers who raise money, offer funds or market their products in the EU or UK must comply. Furthermore, SFDR is a model for ESG disclosure that encourages US regulators and other governments to develop similar standards.

GHGRP — Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

The US Environmental Protection Agency instituted its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program to require the submission of relevant information about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 8000 sources. The GHGRP aims to monitor 85% of emissions in the country, supplying data for analysis by all stakeholders and policy decisions by legislative and regulatory agencies. Reports are required annually and made publicly available. The data can be sorted by facility, location, industry or gas.

Reporting is mandatory for vehicle and engine manufacturers, industrial and fossil fuel suppliers, and any facility emitting 5000 metric tons or more of GHG annually. The extensive list of regulated entities includes commercial, industrial, residential and agricultural facilities.

PCAF — Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials

The Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials is a worldwide group of 269 banks, asset managers and insurance companies that collaborated with stakeholders to develop greenhouse gas disclosure guidelines for their industry. Their Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standards help financial institutions assess and disclose greenhouse gas emissions of entities receiving their loans and investments.

Although the standards are not mandatory, the SEC is proposing to mandate climate-related disclosures that include GHG emissions in registration statements and periodic reports. Worldwide, other regulators are considering similar steps.

GFANZ — Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero

Another effort by the financial industry to reduce carbon emissions is the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. GFANZ specifically pressures financial service firms and G20 governments to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement (Paris Climate Accords). It focuses on reaching investment benchmarks and issues reports on progress. GFANZ offers a Net Zero Financing Roadmaps tool for analysing financial industry support, organised by financing types, sectors and geography.

GFANZ is not mandatory, but the Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty negotiated by 196 parties and ratified by 193, including the EU and United States.

Your organisation

Understanding your social, financial and regulatory obligations and the operational benefits of sustainable practices can be overwhelming. Fortunately, specialists that have studied ESG impact and standards can help define your ESG strategy and improve performance.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/boltenkoff

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/esg-alphabet-soup-making-sense-of-the-regulations-1534252375

Flexible solar roofing panels that can be printed on the steel used in buildings are the focus of a new three-year research collaboration between Swansea University experts and Tata Steel UK.

The solar roofs would enable buildings to generate, store and release their own secure supply of electricity. This would reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy such as gas, and ease pressure on the electricity grid, especially as surplus power generated by a building can be used to charge up electric vehicles.

The concept is called ‘Active Buildings’ and it has already been shown to work, with two Active Buildings already being operated successfully on the Swansea University campus for several years. The aim of the new research collaboration is to further explore the potential of this technology and speed up the process of turning it into products for industry to manufacture.

The new type of solar cell being used in this project is called a perovskite solar cell (PSC), which is a cheaper and lighter alternative to silicon-based solar panels. PSCs can be made locally using widely available materials and manufacturing them is claimed to emit less than half the carbon compared to a silicon cell.

Flexible perovskite solar cell. Image credit: SPECIFIC, Swansea University.

Crucially, another advantage of PSCs over silicon is that they are flexible rather than rigid. This means they can be printed, using techniques such as screen printing, directly onto a material such as coated steel.

This opens the door to creating steel products for use in the construction industry that have built-in solar-generating technology.

Professor Dave Worsley, head of materials science and engineering at Swansea University, explained: “This technology will help us tackle the energy crisis and the climate crisis at the same time.

“The future is about solar energy technology being built in, not added on afterwards. These printable solar cells can be built into the fabric of our homes, shops and offices, allowing them to generate the power they need, and more besides.

“Getting this technology into widespread use could hardly be more timely. In the UK and elsewhere it can reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy such as imported gas. It would also ease the pressure on national electricity networks, for example by enabling us to charge up electric vehicles with surplus energy generated by our homes.”

Swansea University will contribute expertise in manufacturing the printable cells, led by the SPECIFIC Innovation Centre, which pioneered the concept of Active Buildings and designed and built the Active Office and Classroom. Tata Steel brings in its expertise in coatings on steel, screen printing and supply chains for materials. The project is called STRIPS/Tata Steel Industrial Acceleration.

Sumitesh Das, Tata Steel UK’s R&D Director, said:  “We are buoyant with the possibilities that the perovskite technology brings to the table — especially in integration to the building and construction solutions — across different value streams in Tata Steel.

“The combination of a ‘green’ solar technology with steel is a significant step in our net zero ambitions. We are excited by the positive effect such solutions can have on some of the poorest communities, who, through such technologies, could be taken out of fuel poverty.”

Top image caption: Active Buildings — micro-perforated steel skin close-up. Image credit: SPECIFIC, Swansea University.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/article/steel-buildings-that-can-generate-clean-energy-687176447

Blantyre Farms is a highly productive mixed farming and livestock business situated near Young, in New South Wales. They needed a pumping solution to transfer sludge from their covered methane gas dam. In other words, they found themselves facing that very old, Australian conundrum — pushing slurry uphill. That’s when Mark Schulz, Maintenance Manager at Blantyre Farms, contacted Hydro Innovations to find a suitable pump for the application.

The problem

The problem for the farm was that the slurry had the consistency of molasses, and pumping it a kilometre uphill to the ponds was no easy feat for standard pumps.

“Ordinary pumps just couldn’t handle the slurry,” said Hydro Innovations’ NSW Regional Manager, Phil Rothheudt.

The solution

Rothheudt’s solution was to use a Ragazzini peristaltic pump model MS3. The operation of this style of pump derives from human ‘peristalsis’ intestinal muscle movements — an alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles around a tube to coax the contents through.

“Peristaltic pumps are usually found in medical situations, and often used to pump blood,” he said.

The results

Schulz was happy with the results, stating: “The information supplied by Phil to select the correct pump for our application was great, as was the communication for the actual purchase.

“Our success is due to a team with many years of expertise,” Rothheudt said.

“We can turn around an enquiry same day and offer a solution; we know the specifics — that’s what matters.”

Ragazzini pumps use a roller on bearing design so the casing does not have to be filled and re-filled with expensive lubricating fluid. This means that hose changes are quicker and cleaner and also enables owners to take advantage of Ragazzini’s fast leak detection system that alerts owners when a hose needs replacing. Pumps can be used on suction lifts up to 9 m and can produce pressures to 15 bar.

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/wastewater/case-study/hose-pump-pushes-sludge-uphill-464244524

Decarbonising industrial process heat is a major challenge for Australia and it accounts for more than 40% of fossil fuel use in the industry.

While a number of renewable energy options have been identified as suitable for decarbonising industrial process heat, they have historically been unable to compete on financial terms. This continued perception has contributed to the low take-up of such options, particularly industrial heat pumps, which are being used increasingly outside of Australia.

Although local awareness and capacity have remained low, recent years have witnessed an uplift in recognition of heat pumps and their ability to reduce emissions and improve energy productivity — an uplift that has been supported by a number of government support programs.

Highlighting this topic as part of his session at Energy Next, Jarrod Leak, CEO, Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP), reflects on the lessons learned from more than 20 heat pump studies that have helped develop tools and build industry capability to correctly select and size a heat pump.

One report in particular, titled Renewable Energy for Process Heat – Opportunity Study Phase 2, is a comprehensive study into the acceleration and adoption of renewable energy in industrial and commercial process heating where Leak conducted 20 pre-feasibility studies and seven feasibility studies over two phases. These were across a wide range of food, beverage and industrial processes to consider the suitability of renewable energy options for these applications, with particular consideration of industrial heat pumps.

While outlining the misperceptions of heat pumps’ cost-competitiveness and the challenges that need to be considered when planning for a heat pump, the report concluded that there is a range of technical and economic viabilities offered by heat pumps for renewable heating across a plethora of manufacturing sectors.

To bridge the gap and pave the way for the future, there is a massive emphasis on creating and supporting networks that foster continuous improvement for the technology necessary to appropriately adopt heat pumps.

Leak will be speaking more in-depth about heat pump technology alongside a range of other topics associated with A2EP at Energy Next 2022, being held from 19–20 July at the ICC Sydney. Leak’s session is scheduled for Tuesday, 19 July at 10:25 am.

Jarrod Leak joined the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) as Chief Executive Officer in 2020 after a long career with Swedish engineering company Alfa Laval, most recently as Managing Director and Cluster President for its Oceania and South East Asian operations. He has a great depth of experience across a range of industries, with significant expertise in implementing innovative technology-based sustainability and energy productivity solutions. With A2EP already having established energy productivity on the agenda for a number of governments and businesses, Leak is focused on taking energy productivity in Australia to the next level by building on A2EP’s reputation for innovative programs and engagement.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Aleksey Sergeychik

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/energy/news/renewable-energy-for-process-heat-electrify-or-switch-to-renewable-fuels-738971530

University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers have discovered a way to bind methane, holding it chemically captive for hours instead of the milliseconds that had previously been possible. This discovery could help to make it possible in the future to store, transport or transform the gas into methanol and thus reduce its waste worldwide.

The key to the principle is the use of osmium, a rare metal. It can be chemically processed into a molecule — the osmium-methane complex — to bind to the usually inert methane.

James Watson, lead author of the study, published in Nature Chemistry, said, “We have found that methane, which is generally inert, will interact with an osmium-metal centred species to form a relatively stable osmium-methane complex. Our complex has an effective half-life of around 13 hours. This means that it takes 13 hours for half of the complex to decompose.

“This stability, in conjunction with the relatively long lifetime of this complex, allows for in-depth analysis of the structure, formation and reactivity of this class of [osmium] complexes and helps to inform the design of catalysts that have the potential to transform methane into more synthetically useful compounds.”

The osmium-methane structure is being analysed with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which the researchers are using to search for catalysts that could potentially process the methane into methanol or other chemicals. Methane, which is also known as natural gas, can be used as a fuel but is also a potent greenhouse gas. It is currently burned as a means of disposing of it, which is environmentally harmful and a waste of potentially viable fuel.

“Methane is an unwanted by-product from oil production and usually, for economic reasons, is burned in a process known as ‘flaring’,” said co-author Associate Professor Graham Ball. “The amount of gas burned in this way is roughly equivalent to the natural gas demand of Central and South America, leading to 265 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions in 2020.”

The researchers said that converting gaseous methane into fuel using the osmium-methane complex and an as-yet undiscovered catalyst would potentially create an efficient and practical means of creating fuel while also removing the gas from the atmosphere or at least preventing it from making its way there in the first place.

“Liquid fuels are easier to transport and would be easily integrated into our existing fuel infrastructure — E10 petrol already has 10 per cent ethanol,” Ball said. “If there were efficient, commercially viable methods to convert methane to methanol for example, this would also provide incentive to retain methane for conversion, and to avoid burning it without purpose, reducing overall fossil fuel use and damaging emissions.”

Researchers discovered osmium as a candidate for binding methane through computer models that predicted which molecules would have the right characteristics. The researchers said that despite osmium being fairly uncommon the model predicted that it would be able to bind to methane, which was borne out in real-world experiments.

The researchers caution that the osmium-methane complex is not ready to be widely used but that it is the first step in converting methane into other chemicals and more research in the future could lead to further-reaching knowledge.

“We hope that our discovery will inform the design of next-generation, more efficient catalysts that can be commercially viable,” Ball said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Leonid Ikan

source http://sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/case-study/chemists-make-methane-binding-discovery-1473508268