Implementation of a greenhouse gas reduction roadmap for steel producing companies

This paper shall show an economic feasible approach to implement greenhouse gas(GHG) reduction measures into steel companies. The goal to improve energy consumption is directly linked to the reduction of GHG emissions and therefore directly in correlation with the economic viability. A baseline scenario of the considered reference system and of the respective reference year has to be defined, mapped and analysed. In a second step an analysis of the same operation using available and prospected best available technology (BAT) processes is carried out to generate a basis for a benchmark system. The identified reduction potentials are reported and the GHG emission reductions are put into relation to the investment cost of the new process technologies/process adaption to be implemented.This economic feasibility calculation is necessary to realise a cost efficient GHG reduction roadmap implementation into the company's business operations. The GHG reduction roadmap is developed using the abatement curve concept to get an indication of ' low hanging fruits' and for establishing a sequence for implementing carbon emission reductions measures. The scope of that approach can be extended by including further important environmental parameters like NOx, SO_2,CO,dust,heavy metal emissions in air as well as production residues.That gives in the end a broader picture and more starting points to improve the overall environmental performance of steel producing companies beyond the GHG emissions and energy consumption.

Mitigation of greenhouse gases released from mining activities:A review

Climate changes that occur as a result of global warming caused by increasing amounts of greenhouse gases(GHGs)released into the atmosphere are an alarming issue.Controlling greenhouse gas emissions is critically important for the current and future status of mining activities.The mining industry is one of the significant contributors of greenhouse gases.In essence,anthropogenic greenhouse gases are emitted directly during the actual mining and indirectly released by the energy-intensive activities associated with mining equipment,ore transport,and the processing industry.Therefore,we reviewed both direct and indirect GHG emissions to analyze how mining contributes to climate change.In addition,we showed how climate change impacts mineral production.This assessment was performed using a GHG inventory model for the gases released from mines undergoing different product life cycles.We also elucidate the key issues and various research outcomes to demonstrate how the mining industry and policymakers can mitigate GHG emission from the mining sector.The review concludes with an overview of GHG release reduction and mitigation strategies.

Effective goaf gas capture design at Ravensworth Underground Mine

This paper highlights a reliable goaf gas capture system developed and used at Ravensworth Under-ground Mine since its trial in 2009. The method utilises horizontal holes drilled from underground sites and connected to an underground gas pipeline. This system incorporates a gas suction and flaring plant designed specifically for this method. The current method has captured effectively a total longwall, and adjacent goaf gas accounts for over 85%. The design of the holes drilled has been the success of the gas flow reliability. The flow is extraordinarily consistent and predictable. The management of the under-ground pipeline determines the overall reliability of flow. The design has resulted in Ravensworth Man-agement being confident to remove a gas bearing bleeder roadway and still manage the existing tailgate roadway for allowing access as required. The reduction of CO2 equivalent emissions recorded is approx-imately 0.35 ？ 106 tons annually. This design has further improvements to be added to allow use at any other site with gas in the overlying strata.

Ecological Footprint of Hydropower Development in China and the Associated Reductions of Greenhouse Gas Emission

Hydropower, next to coal, is the second most important source of electric power supply in China. It amounted to 20.4% of the nation＇s total installed capacity of electricity generation in 2011. To provide a comprehensive picture of the development of hydropower in China and its potential environmental impacts, this study calculates the ecological footprint and greenhouse gas emission reduction of hydropower development in China over the past 60 years. The ecological footprints include the energy ecological footprint and arable land occupation footprint. The energy ecological footprint is calculated in terms of the area of the land which would be used for reforestation in order to assimilate CQ emissions from fossil energy consumption for hydropower development. The arable land occupation footprint is calculated in terms of the area of the land to be inundated by hydropower development. The calculated energy ecological footprint was 502 422 ha in 2010 or about 0.3% of total arable land in China and the calculated inundated land was about 1.42×10 6 ha or about 1.2% of total arable land in China. The regional power grid baseline method was used to calculate the greenhouse gas emission reduction. Results indicated that CQ emission reduction from hydropower development was increasing rapidly since 1949 and reached 5.02×108 tons of COe emission in 2010, with an accumulative total of 6.221×109 tons of CQ emission during the period 1949-2010.

Carbon Productivity Analysis to Address Global Climate Change

Developing low-carbon economy and enhancing carbon productivity are basic approaches to coordinating economic development and protecting global environment, which are also the major ways to address climate change under the framework of sustainable development. In this paper, the authors analyze the annual rate of carbon productivity growth, the differences of carbon productivity of different countries, and the factors for enhancing carbon productivity. Consequently, the authors clarify their viewpoint that the annual rate of carbon productivity growth can be used to weigh the efforts that a country takes to address climate change, and propose policies and suggestions on promoting carbon production.

Thermodynamic Analysis and Experimental Investigation into Nonflame Combustion Technology(NFCT) with Thermal Cyclic Carrier

The utilization of fossil fuels causes serious negative impacts on the environment and human life. To mitigate greenhouse gases and other pollutants, a novel combustion process-the nonflame combustion technology with a thermal cyclic carrier of molten salt is introduced. In this technology, a whole combustion is divided into two steps, i.e., the section of producing oxide and the section of combustion. In the first step, oxygen is separated from air, and pure N_2 is simultaneously formed which is easily recovered. In the other step, the fuels react with lattice oxygen in the oxides formed in the first step, and at the same time, thermal energy, CO_2 and H_2O vapor are produced. It is noted that the CO_2 is easily separated from water vapor and ultimately captured. Theoretically, there are no environmental-unfriendly gases such as CO_2, NO_x and SO_2 discharged in the whole combustion process. Some metal oxides scattered into molten salts play the roles of oxygen carriers in the combustion system, and they can constantly charge and discharge oxygen element from air to fuels during the combustion process. A nonflame combustion system with Li_2CO_3+K_2CO_3+Na_2SO_4 as the molten salt system, CH_4 as the fuel and CuO as the catalyst was experimentally investigated. The experimental results show that the combustion process proceeded as it was theoretically analyzed, and CO_2 with a high volume fraction of 77.0%_95.0% and N_2 with a high volume fraction of 91.9%_99.3% were obtained. The high concentration of CO_2 is favorable for capturing and storing subsequently. Therefore, the potential of reducing CO_2 emissions of this nonflame combustion technology is huge.

Adsorption of methane on biochar for emission reduction in oil and gas fields

To contribute to the reduction of methane emissions,using low-cost biochar as adsorbents for capturing and storing methane in oil and gas fields is investigated.This work presents results of methane adsorption on four biochars made from forestry wastes in comparison with the results of three commercial activated carbons.Although the adsorption capacity of the biochars is lower by over 50%than that of the activated carbons,thelow-cost and potential environmental benefits provide the incentive to the investigation.Moreover,it is shown that biochar can store more methane than vessels of compressed gas up to the pressure of 75 bar,suggesting the possibility of avoiding high-pressure gas compression and heavy vessels for cost savings in oil and gas fields.The thermodynamic and kinetic behaviors of the adsorption are studied and implications for the targeted application are discussed.

Research and Experience Reference on London’s Response to Climate Change in the Twenty-first Century

London’s approaches to tackling climate change after the 21st century are multifaceted and relatively systematic.The aim of this research paper is to analyse London’s actions in response to climate change and to draw out what valuable lessons London has for the world in terms of its response to climate change.This paper provides an in-depth analysis of London’s policies and actions on climate mitigation in the areas of“greenhouse gas emissions”and“energy infrastructure”,and climate adaptation actions in the areas of“city green belt and urban afforestation”,“UHI and thermal crisis management”and“water supply infrastructure and sustainable drainage”.It then examines the positive aspects of these actions to determine what London has to say about climate change to the rest of the world and other cities.This paper also discovers that to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate change,London has not only established carbon reduction targets,but also created a large academic research network,represented by the LCCP.At the same time,London has developed a scientific climate change adaptation planning framework(P2R2)that focuses on four key areas:Economic,environmental,health,and infrastructure sectors,and three types of risks:Flooding,heat,and water supply,and emphasizes the dynamics and flexibility of each adaptation strategy.