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New Ocean Carbon Removal Tools Developed

Posted on June 21, 2023June 21, 2023 by dishanth

What is Ocean Carbon Removal?

Ocean carbon removal is a process that aims to remove excess carbon dioxide from our oceans. As we all know, the ocean plays a critical role in regulating our planet’s climate by absorbing large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. However, this absorption has a limit, and as we continue to emit more and more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the ocean’s ability to absorb CO2 is reaching its threshold.

The process of removing carbon dioxide involves capturing it directly from seawater or indirectly through biological processes, such as photosynthesis carried out by marine organisms like phytoplankton. Once captured, it can be stored permanently in deep-sea sediments or used for various industrial purposes.

Ocean carbon removal has gained significant attention recently due to its potential for reducing atmospheric CO2 levels and mitigating climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. Additionally, this solution can generate ocean-based carbon credits, which provide financial incentives for companies investing in sustainable practices that reduce their carbon footprint.

Ocean carbon removal offers promising solutions for mitigating climate change while protecting our oceans’ health but also requires careful evaluation of its environmental risks and economic feasibility before implementation at scale.

The company Planetary Technologies has released an innovative ocean-based carbon removal protocol. The protocol aims to provide a standard for measuring and verifying the effectiveness of ocean-based carbon removal projects.

The technology adds a mild alkaline substance to the ocean, which reduces acidity and converts dissolved carbon dioxide into a salt that remains dissolved in the ocean for up to 100,000 years. This process allows for more atmospheric carbon dioxide to be absorbed by the ocean.

The company has been testing its technology in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S. and claims it could remove up to 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2028 while restoring marine ecosystems. The publication of the protocol is a major step forward for the nascent market for marine carbon removals.

How does it work?

Ocean carbon removal is a process that involves removing carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere and storing it in the ocean. The process works by using natural or artificial processes to convert atmospheric CO2 into dissolved bicarbonate ions, which then sink and become trapped in deep-ocean sediments.

Natural processes include photosynthesis by marine organisms such as phytoplankton, while artificial methods involve injecting CO2 directly into seawater or using specialized equipment to capture CO2 from the air.

One of the key benefits of ocean carbon removal is its potential to mitigate climate change. By removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere, we can slow down global warming and reduce its impacts on our planet.

However, there are also concerns about how this technology might impact marine ecosystems. Injecting large amounts of CO2 into seawater could alter pH levels and affect marine life while capturing too much atmospheric CO2 could disrupt natural carbon cycles.

Ocean carbon removal has enormous potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. However, careful planning and monitoring will be necessary to ensure that these technologies are deployed safely and sustainably.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of ocean carbon removal are numerous and far-reaching. One of the primary benefits is that it provides a solution to one of the biggest challenges facing our planet today: climate change. By removing carbon from the atmosphere, we can slow down global warming and reduce its devastating effects.

In addition, ocean carbon removal has a lower environmental impact than other methods, such as land-based solutions or direct air capture. This is because oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, making them an ideal location for large-scale carbon sequestration projects without disturbing natural habitats or ecosystems.

Another benefit is that it can create new economic opportunities in coastal communities through jobs related to monitoring, maintenance, and technology development. Furthermore, companies can earn ocean carbon credits by participating in these programs, encouraging investment in sustainable practices while funding future initiatives.

Ocean carbon removal helps protect marine life by reducing acidification levels caused by excess CO2 emissions. Acidification harms many marine species, including coral reefs which support millions of people worldwide through fishing and tourism industries.

What are the Concerns?

Despite the numerous benefits of ocean carbon removal, there are also concerns that need to be addressed. One of the primary concerns is the potential environmental impact on marine ecosystems. Large-scale ocean carbon capture technologies deployment may interfere with fish habitats and disrupt food chains.

Another concern is the lack of regulatory frameworks for validating and verifying the efficacy of ocean carbon credits. With no established standards in place, it becomes difficult to ensure transparency and accountability in measuring how much carbon has been removed from oceans.

Additionally, some experts warn that relying on carbon removal could divert attention away from more pressing climate solutions, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions at their source. Without a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, we risk overlooking other important factors contributing to global warming.

As we continue exploring ways to reduce our impact on the planet’s environment, it’s essential we address these concerns head-on by conducting thorough research and creating clear regulations around monitoring the effectiveness of this promising new technology.

A Piece of the Big Picture

The release of Planetary Technologies’ ocean-based carbon removal protocol is a significant milestone in the fight against climate change. The ability to remove carbon dioxide from our oceans not only helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also has positive effects on marine life and ecosystems. While there are concerns about potential environmental impacts and costs associated with this technology, it is important to continue exploring innovative solutions like these to address global warming.

Furthermore, individuals can get involved by supporting research efforts or advocating for policies that promote ocean-based carbon capture and storage projects. Ultimately, reducing our carbon footprint requires collective action at all levels – from governments and businesses to individuals.

By working together towards a sustainable future, we can protect our planet’s health while creating new opportunities for economic growth and innovation. Ocean carbon removal is just one piece of the bigger picture, but an important one in our journey towards a greener tomorrow.

Source Happy Eco News

Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage for Renewables

Posted on May 26, 2023 by dishanth

It’s Not All About Energy Generation

When the topic of decarbonization comes up, oftentimes, we think of transportation or energy generation. These issues are important, as vehicle emissions are a major problem, as well as emissions from fossil fuel power generation. However, while important, these issues only partially show the roadblocks to moving towards a green future.

Another component that needs to be addressed in the conversation is energy storage and efficiency in renewable energy.

Wind and solar energy are important and rapidly developing technologies but are dependent on weather conditions that vary from month to month and from year to year. In colder months, when houses need to heat, that is when significantly less sunlight is present, thus driving down the available energy to heat them.

This is why energy storage is crucial to the conversation regarding renewable energy, but other solutions might mitigate this problem if properly implemented. This is how aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) could help assist in cooling and heating buildings, reducing the reliance on other renewable energy sources.

How About Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage?

Energy storage is a difficult topic to address, as the technologies required to implement large-scale grid energy storage require, ironically, a lot of energy. This isn’t helped by the fact that hydrogen energy storage systems right now lose a significant amount of the energy stored.

This is why reducing the grid energy demand is important to implement renewable energy systems successfully. Aquifer thermal energy storage is an interesting form of renewable energy specific to the heating and cooling of buildings because it ties in directly with the seasons that affect solar energy so much.

It works by utilizing two wells connected to the same groundwater reservoir. Cold groundwater is pumped up to cool the building during the summer, then stored. The same process happens in winter but in reverse. Warm groundwater is pumped up into the building, then stored.

Aquifer thermal energy storage systems can also store excess heat from industrial operations, similar to the geothermal systems being deployed in decommissioned oil wells. This process can help bridge the gap between the seasonal availability of renewable energy while at the same time decarbonizing the heating and cooling sector.

This system is also useful because it can make energy infrastructure more resilient by reducing the demand currently placed upon it by heating and cooling. According to a study in Science Direct, Aquifer thermal energy storage systems could reduce reliance on fossil fuels for energy by up to 40%.

New Tech can Help but not Solve Inherent Limits

The importance of renewable energy in the transition to a greener world cannot be understated. However, it is also important to recognize that there are limitations to the technology currently available.

Going forward, there are certainly ways that renewable energy, specifically solar, can become more efficient; the issue of seasonal availability will always be there. This is why alternative methods of addressing needs like heating and cooling are as important.

The issue of energy storage is also important because bridging the gap between availability and need is necessary for making renewable energy a viable alternative to our current fossil fuel energy generation system.

Source Happy Eco News

Berrow-Zeice Hydrogen; Clean Retrofits for Diesel

Posted on May 24, 2023May 26, 2023 by dishanth

Berrow-Zeice Hydrogen System is Emissions Free

Steve Berrow, who is located in South Wales, has expressed his elation about Innovate UK’s involvement in the project. He claims that the Berrow-Zeice hydrogen system, with its zero-emissions technology using hydrogen, is a “thing of great beauty.” Integrating the fuel system into a conventional combustion engine can provide an emissions-free solution, significantly reducing carbon emissions. The system’s practical applications are enormous, making it a game-changer in the field of hydrogen fuel technology.

Unlike a hydrogen fuel cell, which is a device that converts hydrogen into electricity that can then be used to power an electric motor, the Berrow-Zeice hydrogen fuel system is a unique hydrogen-powered fuel system that can be applied to any petrol or diesel engine. It takes in no air and delivers no exhaust resulting in zero emissions, making it a game-changing emissions-free system. The technology ensures greater efficiency for drivers than other current zero-emission offerings and has the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly.

This innovation can potentially revolutionize the over 2 billion internal combustion engines currently in use worldwide, creating several multitrillion-dollar revenue streams by converting current rolling stock to this emissions-free system. The system’s potential to be applied to the 2 billion plus internal combustion engines already in existence presents a massive revenue stream opportunity for investors.

Innovate UK’s substantial grant further validates the patent-pending innovation, providing increased confidence for potential investors. Overall, the potential for the Berrow-Zeice fuel system to create a massive reduction in carbon emissions while providing a more efficient and cost-effective solution for drivers presents a compelling investment opportunity.

Most current zero-emission vehicles run on either lithium batteries or hydrogen cells, both of which have negative environmental consequences when manufacturing new automobiles. In addition, there is the issue of “electric stress” caused by batteries and the high cost of hydrogen cells for consumers.

The BERROW-ZEICE system offers a “100% fuel burn” to the engine, which provides greater efficiency for drivers than other current zero-emission solutions, potentially reducing carbon emissions worldwide. This technology will significantly impact public health and the environment by reducing the harmful effects of emissions like Carbon dioxide (CO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Particulate matter (PM), and other unburned toxins in the breathable environment.

For more information on Berrow-ZEICE, visit their website at www.berrow-zeice.com.

Innovate UK is a UK-based innovation agency that provides financial and advisory support to clean technology startups and other innovative businesses. The agency has supported the Berrow-Zeice hydrogen fuel system with a substantial grant, which will facilitate the conversion and commercialization of a large power generator, paving the way for a wider commercial rollout across static and mobile applications.

Innovate UK’s support for Berrow-Zeice underscores its commitment to fostering the growth of the clean technology sector and driving economic growth by supporting innovative ideas and solutions. By connecting businesses with partners, customers, and investors that can help them turn their ideas into successful products and services, Innovate UK plays a crucial role in helping to realize the potential of new technologies that can address global challenges such as climate change and air pollution.

Source Happy Eco News

Etihad Airways plans to use sustainable fuel made from CO2

Posted on May 19, 2023May 19, 2023 by dishanth

UAE-based airline Etihad Airways has partnered with Twelve, a carbon transformation company, to promote sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from CO2 and renewable energy.

Twelve combines renewable energy and water to convert CO2 into vital chemicals and materials derived from fossil fuels. This innovative formula reduces lifecycle emissions by 90% compared to traditional fossil-based fuels and is compatible with current aircrafts.

Etihad’s sustainable mission

The new partnership aligns with Etihad’s sustainability goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and converting waste into fuel, with a target of diverting 75% of waste from landfills by 2025. The collaboration is driven by the growing demand for SAF among various airlines.

In 2019, the airline introduced the Etihad Greenliner Program, which allocated a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner to focus on sustainability initiatives. The programme aims to identify and tackle key sustainability challenges through partnerships with Boeing and engine manufacturer GE.

SAF aligns with Etihad’s commitment to driving innovation and transforming the aviation industry towards sustainability, and the new partnership reinforces Etihad’s mission and sustainability efforts.

“Etihad Airways is working hard on its sustainability strategy and deploying a range of initiatives across the spectrum of sustainability to achieve that,” Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer at Etihad said. “Collaborating with sustainable aviation fuel makers like Twelve to advance products like E-Jet fuel is an important part of that drive.”

A long-term solution for addressing aviation emissions

Twelve has developed a low-carbon jet fuel, E-Jet fuel, produced using carbon transformation technology, which has been tested and verified by the US Air Force.

By joining forces, the two businesses aim to plan international demonstration flights to promote SAF in the global market.

Twelve’s CEO, Nicholas Flanders, describes the partnership as an “honour” while highlighting the company’s progress towards a supply of drop-in jet fuel made from air and not oil.

Flanders continues: “Our E-Jet fuel allows airlines like Etihad to reduce emissions by up to 90% with their existing aircraft fleet, which will be critical to achieving the United Nations’ 2050 net-zero emissions target in aviation.”

Source Sustainability

4D-Printed Seeds That Can Study the Soil

Posted on May 19, 2023May 25, 2023 by dishanth

Soil plays an important role in keeping our planet healthy. Soil filters our water, provides plants with nutrients, and provides a home for billions of organisms. Moreover, the soil is an important ingredient for growing food, and it protects us against flooding and combats drought. Because soil is made in part of broken down plant matter, they contain a lot of carbon that the plants took in from the atmosphere. The capacity of carbon that soil can hold depends on climate, temperature, rainfall, soil type and depth.

Soil is under threat due to rising temperatures and biodiversity loss due to climate change. Half of the topsoil in the world has been lost in the last 150 years due to erosion. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation and soil salinity. Soil nutrient loss is recognized as among the most critical problems at a global level for food security and sustainability.

Because many of the effects of climate change on soil happen underground, it can be difficult to study the impacts. Scientists from the Bioinspired Soft Robotics Lab in Genoa, Italy, have developed a solution to this problem. They have designed the first 4D-printed seed-inspired soft robot. The robotic seed mimics the movement and performance of a natural seed. The seed is said to help act as a sensor for monitoring pollutants, CO2 levels, temperature and humidity in the soil.

The structure of the South African geranium inspires the artificial seed. The seeds can change shape in response to how humid their environment is. The seed can autonomously move around a terrain surface and penetrate the soil. Here, the seed can explore the soil and penetrate inside fractures, extracting energy from the environmental humidity changes. The seeds can find a home for themselves by expanding and shrinking due to changes in the water content of the air.

The seed was created using 4D printed structures as they can create dynamic morphological changes under environmental stimuli. Additionally, these structures can be programmed to reshape and perform work for any type of scenario. The seed is also strong enough to lift about 100 times its own weight. The seeds are made out of biodegradable polymers, which are activated using oxygen plasma to increase water-attracting abilities. The scientists chose these materials because they absorb and expand when exposed to humidity.

This invention could be a battery-free wireless tool for environmental topsoil monitoring. It could be a low-cost system to collect soil data across remote areas without monitoring data. It is also a relatively non-invasive way to study and monitor the soil. And the role of biodegradable materials and eco-friendly processing is fundamental for sustainable and green robotics to avoid the dispersal of new waste in natural environments. This study could be an inspiration for other researchers looking to study hard-to-reach areas that are at risk due to climate change.

Source Eco Hero News

Hydrogen’s potential in the net-zero transition

Posted on May 11, 2023May 11, 2023 by dishanth

Hydrogen as a climate solution is generating a lot of excitement right now. Approximately $10 billion worth of hydrogen projects are being announced each month, based on activity over the past six months. Policy packages such as the recent Inflation Reduction Act in the United States and the Green Deal Industrial Plan in Europe support hydrogen production and use. According to McKinsey research, demand is projected to grow four- to sixfold by 2050. Hydrogen has the potential to cut annual global emission2050s by up to 20 percent by 2050.

Today, most hydrogen is produced with fossil fuels. This type is commonly known as grey hydrogen, which is used mostly for oil and gas refining and ammonia production as an input to fertilizer. To maximize hydrogen’s potential as a decarbonization tool, clean hydrogen production must be scaled up. One variety of clean hydrogen is known as green hydrogen, which can be made with renewables instead of fossil fuels. Another variety, often called blue hydrogen, can be produced with fossil fuels combined with measures to significantly lower emissions, such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Clean hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize industries including aviation, fertilizer, long-haul trucking, maritime shipping, refining, and steel.

Total planned production for clean hydrogen by 2030 stands at 38 million metric tons annually—a figure that has more than quadrupled since 2020—but there is a long way to go to meet future demand. According to McKinsey analysis, demand for clean hydrogen could grow to between 400 million and 600 million metric tons a year by 2050.

To scale clean hydrogen, three things must happen. First, production costs need to come down so that hydrogen can compete on price with other fuels. One way to keep costs down is by producing hydrogen in locations with abundant, cheaper renewable energy—where the wind blows or the sun shines. While renewables development has accelerated in recent years, a lack of available land could become an issue for the deployment of renewables and could limit location options for green-hydrogen producers. Constructing plants for both renewable generation and green-hydrogen production has become more expensive recently because of increased material and labor costs and constrained supply chains.

“Approximately $10 billion worth of hydrogen projects are being announced each month, based on activity over the past six months.”

Second, building up infrastructure, particularly for transportation of hydrogen, will be key. The most efficient way to transport hydrogen is through pipelines, but these largely need to be built or repurposed from current gas infrastructure. Investment is critical in this and other areas across the value chain, including electrolyzer capacity (electrolyzers use electricity to produce green hydrogen) and hydrogen refueling stations for hydrogen-powered trucks.

Third, more investments will be needed to help advance this solution. Our work with the Hydrogen Council, a CEO-led group with members from more than 140 companies, has shown that achieving a pathway to net zero would require $700 billion in investments by 2030. Despite the recent momentum, McKinsey research last year showed a $460 billion investment gap. Additionally, many announced projects still need to clear key hurdles before they can scale. Producers of clean hydrogen, for example, are looking to address the commercial side of investment risk by solidifying future demand, often in the form of purchase agreements.

A set of actions can help accelerate the hydrogen opportunity, to realize its decarbonization potential and the growth opportunity for businesses. Progress will likely require collaboration among policy makers, industries, and investors. Policy makers can continue supporting the hydrogen economy through measures such as production tax credits or by setting uptake targets. These actions should help boost private investors’ confidence in the future markets for hydrogen and hydrogen-based products. Industry can increase capacities, such as by ramping up production of electrolyzers, and build partnerships through the value chain. Investors can help industry by structuring and financing new ventures, as well as by developing standards for how hydrogen projects can be assessed and how risks can be managed.

As the energy transition unfolds, hydrogen will increasingly be a consideration for both businesses and governments. While the challenges to scaling hydrogen are real, so are the opportunities.

By Markus Wilthaner

Source McKinsey & Company

Crocs pushes net-zero target back from 2030 to 2040

Posted on May 5, 2023May 5, 2023 by dishanth

Crocs, which is based in the US and sells shoes globally, posted the updated climate in its latest environmental, social and governance (ESG) report late last week.

The report states that Crocs’ initial commitment to net-zero across by 2030, made in 2021, was “neither fast nor vast enough”.

Nonetheless, it has amended the commitment to net-zero across all emissions scopes by 2040. The report states that, when the initial 2030 goal was announced, Crocs had not completed its acquisition of HEYDUDE nor had it completed a comprehensive baseline of its greenhouse gas emissions.

The acquisition pushed Crocs’ baseline emissions up and the baselining activity revealed a higher-than-expected starting level of emissions.

Crocs estimated its value chain emissions in 2021 at 538,037 tonnes of CO2e. The estimate for 2022 is 45.5% higher at 782,774 tonnes of CO2e. At least 193,000 tonnes of these 2022 emissions are attributable to the HEYDUDE acquisition.

Crocs’ report states that the new 2040 goal is “still ambitious” but “more credible and realistic”.

A commitment to halve the carbon footprint of each pair of Crocs Classic Clogs between 2021 and 2030 has been retained, and extended to the HEYDUDE ‘Wendy’ and ‘Wally’ models. Increasing the share of bio-based content within shoes to 50% by 2030 will play a key role in reducing associated carbon. At present, the proportion is just 2.2%. An interim target has been set to reach 20% by the end of 2023.

Some commentators have questioned whether this approach is enough, and whether the brand should, instead, be looking at selling fewer pairs of shoes that last for longer. Crocs solar some 115.6 million pairs of shoes in 2022, up from 103 million in 2021.

Circular economy thought-leader Paul Foulkes-Arellano wrote on LinkedIn of a “lack of genuine commitment” from the footwear sector on climate and circularity, followed by “backtracking”.

Source edie

Sustainable Housing that can be Recycled

Posted on May 4, 2023May 4, 2023 by dishanth

Building a house from the ground up can be environmentally damaging. Buildings have a significant carbon footprint, with over 41% of global energy consumption attributed to buildings and structures. Buildings and materials also produce dangerous emissions that pollute our air, and the construction industry alone generates more than 170 tons of debris annually. There is also the issue of landfill waste, excessive use of water and noise pollution caused by the construction of buildings and houses.

SPEE Architecten, an architecture firm in the Netherlands, may have found a sustainable solution for building houses. Their projects focus on innovation and sustainability and creating healthy elements for both the residents and the environment. The architects created their newest project Speehuis House to create a site that minimally impacts the surrounding trees and wetlands with a structure that could be dismantled and recycled.

The house was built in a wooded area adjacent to a wetland area. The house’s form, size and layout are tailored to the needs of a family with three and adjoins SPEE Architects’ office premises. Large, strategically-placed windows offer a lot of natural light to the inner spaces and views of the outdoors. The entire house is made of circular and biobased materials. For example, the exterior walls and sloping roofs are made from untreated, high-density, biobased bamboo slats.

The team used Bamboo X-treme beams which consist of more than 90% of thermally modified bamboo strips. Bamboo absorbs a lot of CO2 during its growth, which remains stored throughout the product’s lifespan. Bamboo X-treme is extremely durable, dimensionally stable, and harder than most types of wood. When the bamboo fibers and resin are compressed at high temperatures, the natural sugar in the bamboo caramelizes, rendering it rot-resistant. These materials can be conveniently dismantled, adapted and recycled as need be.

Most of the home’s shell, including the stairs, interior doors, desks and cabinets, is made from cross-laminated timber that was chosen to avoid using concrete. The entire shell was prefabricated in less than a week. The wood was sourced from responsibly managed forests and was selected to create a natural and healthy indoor environment and a carbon sink. The architecture team estimates that over 93 000 kg of CO2 is stored within the building. In comparison, the same building built in concrete would produce 46,694 kg of CO2.

The home that SPEE Architecten has built shows us a future of what the construction industry can look like and how we can live more sustainably. The design is spacious and tasteful and allows for comfortable living without causing harm to the environment. If more architecture firms transitioned to building homes like the Speehuis House, the environmental impact from the construction industry would decrease substantially.

Source Happy Eco News

Net Zero or Carbon Neutral? What’s the difference?

Posted on April 28, 2023 by dishanth

PAS 2060, a Publicly Available Specification that has been used as a guideline for demonstrating carbon neutrality, makes it clear that carbon neutral should be used to mean all scopes not just scope 1 & 2 (fuels burned on site and in vehicles and electricity consumption). However there has been a growing habit over recent years to use “carbon neutral” to mean just operational emissions – ignoring the value chain (scope 3) even though for most companies between 70 and 95% of their emissions are from the value chain.

To be truly carbon neutral, a company needs to reduce emissions from all sources as much as possible and then offset or actively remove the remainder.

Net Zero uses the same concept but at a larger scale, aiming for emissions from all sources to be reduced as much as possible and the remainder mitigated through removals from the atmosphere. These could be through supporting natural systems which sequester carbon (forest, peat, wetlands, seagrass, etc) or through technology like carbon capture and storage and buried solid carbon sinks.

The ISO 14068 standard will be a certifiable standard that ensures that emissions from all scopes are considered. (Click here to request a link to a recording of our ISO 14068 webinar or a copy of a factsheet.)

As time goes on, we need to be more cautious about avoided emissions (like technology sharing to reduce dependence on wood burning for example) as that prevents emissions that would otherwise have happened but doesn’t actively remove anything. So, it’s more like moving a share of emissions from one emitter to another, but on a global scale we need to be keeping total emissions to a minimum not just reducing in one place and emitting in another. It’s really important to support low carbon international development, but I think we’ll see a change in attitude to the value of avoided emissions in offsetting in future. A simple 2 tonnes avoided per 1 tonne allocated offset credit (for avoided emissions projects only) would work for example, as for every tonne emitted in location A, 2 tonnes are prevented in location B ensuring the overall emissions are net zero.

In short, a company that is carbon neutral is also net zero (calculated on a year-by-year basis), as in both cases the tracking of carbon emissions and removals need to match.

Source edie

Decarbonizing Aluminum; a Low-Carbon Future for a Versatile Metal

Posted on March 28, 2023March 28, 2023 by dishanth

What is aluminum, and what is it used for?

Aluminum is a silvery-white, soft, nonmagnetic metal. It has good electrical and thermal conductivity and is used in many products, from cars and airplanes to packaging, foil and cans. It is a highly versatile metal, but many people don’t realize that it’s also one of the most carbon-intensive metals to produce.

Because it is used in so many diverse applications, the aluminum industry has a big environmental footprint. Aluminum production emits about 1% of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Most of these emissions come from using fossil fuels to make aluminum oxide (alumina), which is then reduced to aluminum metal in smelters.

The aluminum industry is working on ways to reduce its emissions. One promising technology is “carbon-free” or “green” aluminum production. This process uses renewable electricity – instead of fossil fuels – to produce alumina, which can then be turned into aluminum metal using existing smelting technology.

Several companies are already using or testing this technology, including Rio Tinto, Alcoa, Hydro and China’s Chalco. These companies are betting that carbon-free aluminum will be in high demand from industries and consumers who want to reduce their emissions footprints.

Why is aluminum production carbon-intensive?

There are two main reasons why aluminum production is so carbon-intensive. First, alumina, the raw material used to produce aluminum, is derived from bauxite ore, typically found in tropical regions. The process of mining and refining bauxite ore releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Second, smelting alumina to produce aluminum metal emits significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Smelting is responsible for approximately two-thirds of the total emissions associated with aluminum production.

How will the industry decarbonize aluminum?

The most common method of producing aluminum involves the electrolysis of alumina in a high-carbon anode, which results in significant emissions of greenhouse gases. The industry is developing low-carbon technologies to reduce or eliminate these emissions.

Another promising technology is using renewable energy to power the electrolysis process. This would significantly reduce the carbon footprint of aluminum production. Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power can all power these processes while significantly reducing or eliminating emissions.

Recycled aluminum requires less energy to process and emits far less carbon dioxide than virgin alumina.

Each of these options comes with its challenges, but the aluminum industry is committed to finding ways to reduce its environmental impact. For example, Rio Tinto is investing in research into new smelting technologies that could significantly reduce emissions. Alcoa is working on a project to power its operations with renewable energy from forest biomass waste.

Will the quality of low-carbon aluminum be lower?

Decarbonized aluminum is made using low-carbon methods, which results in a lower carbon footprint. However, some worry that this type of aluminum will be of lower quality than regular aluminum.

No evidence suggests that decarbonized aluminum is any less strong or durable than regular aluminum. In fact, it may even be of higher quality due to the extra attention to the manufacturing process and modern innovations in the process. Low-carbon methods often result in a cleaner and more pure product.

A study by the International Aluminum Institute found that, when using best practices, there was no significant difference in the quality of low-carbon aluminum and regular aluminum. The study found that, in some cases, low-carbon aluminum had superior properties.

This is because environmental regulations are becoming more stringent, forcing producers to innovate and find ways to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising on quality.

Source Happy Eco News