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Tag: Portland cement

Holcim Orders 1000 Volvo FH Electric Trucks

Posted on by dishanth
Holcim Orders 1000 Volvo FH Electric Trucks

ZURICH – In a monumental move towards sustainable logistics, Holcim Group, one of the world’s largest cement manufacturers, has placed a groundbreaking order for 1000 Volvo FH electric trucks. This landmark deal marks the largest sale of electric 18-wheelers to date, signaling a significant shift towards decarbonized mass haulage on European roadways. The move is a strategic step in Holcim’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions in cement logistics by 2050, according to Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch.

Driving Towards Net Zero in Cement Logistics

Holcim’s ambitious order of 1,000 Volvo FH electric trucks is a pivotal component of its broader strategy to slash Scope 3 transport carbon emissions and advance its 2050 net-zero roadmap. With the building materials industry grappling with substantial fleet pollution responsible for over a quarter of global value chain emissions, embracing e-mobility emerges as a viable solution to mitigate the outsized climate impact of freight transport.

The Volvo FH electric truck is a groundbreaking heavy-duty truck. Holcim’s colossal order now propels the commercialization of electric semi-trailers in Europe to new heights. As charging infrastructure continues to improve, major logistics players like Holcim are making strategic moves to convert their diesel fleets to electric, targeting reduced emissions and lower maintenance costs than traditional combustion vehicles.

Holcim’s substantial tender is expected to play a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of electric freight in Europe, with the potential for a quicker return on investment being an attractive proposition for other manufacturers to expedite their exploration of electric fleets.

Vehicle Automation on the Horizon

Holcim not only envisions a shift towards electric vehicles but also expects vehicle automation to play a significant role in the transition. Research and development pilots for vehicle automation are already underway in Germany, leveraging the latest Volvo FH electric truck models as a foundational platform for autonomous hardware. Holcim aims to integrate automation into its vision for decarbonized haulage, creating a seamlessly optimized material delivery system down to the turning wheels at each plant.

Germany is also developing an innovative catenary power system for electric transport trucks that will reduce fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions from the freight industry. The concept involves building overhead power lines along motorways that will connect to compatible vehicles like the Volvo FH electric truck while driving. Sensors and software in the trucks detect the cables above and automatically raise current collectors, allowing the electric motor, battery pack, and braking system to be powered by the overhead electric catenary.

This allows the trucks’ battery capacity to be smaller and lighter since they don’t need to store energy for the entire route. Instead, the catenaries continuously charge the batteries like electric trains and public transit trams, granting the trucks unlimited driving range while under the cables. Germany’s priority freight corridors between industrial hubs will be electrified first. The country allocated $73 million towards installing overhead cables on the autobahn in 2023. If the network expands as envisioned, trucking companies can utilize cleaner electric hybrid trucks for most routes without stopping and charging for long periods.

The numbers associated with this order of Volvo FH electric trucks are substantial and represent a significant leap toward sustainable practices in the building materials industry. Holcim’s strategic investment in electric semi-trucks underscores its commitment to sustainable practices and sets a precedent for the broader industry to embrace innovative solutions for a greener future.

 

 

 

 

Source   Happy Eco News

Biomimicry in Sustainable Designs

Posted on by dishanth
Biomimicry in Sustainable Designs

Biomimicry in Sustainable Design

The construction industry is very energy intensive. Steel and concrete, both popular materials in construction, are very carbon-intensive in their production. Many of the emissions from concrete production are attributed to burning fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, which heat up the limestone and clay that becomes Portland cement. There is an opportunity for the construction industry to shape a nature-positive economy from the city to the building design and material and component levels.

The Mobius Project, a greenhouse designed by Iguana Architects, uses biomimicry in sustainable design by drawing inspiration from how ecosystems in nature work. They are committed to revolutionizing food production by turning waste into locally grown, low-carbon nutritious food. The biological waste can also be turned into methane to generate electricity for the greenhouse. In their closed cycle with zero waste, one organism’s waste becomes the next’s input. The idea for the Mobius Project came from observing the oak tree, which has the potential to reuse its output resources, including materials, energy and water.

The Eden Project, designed by exploration architecture, uses biomimicry in sustainable design with a giant greenhouse inspired by the biblical Garden of Eden. It was designed to resemble soap bubbles, carbon molecules, and radiolaria. The idea was that the soap bubbles would be optimally positioned in the sun to allow for complete self-healing. They also took inspiration from dragonfly wings for the best way to assemble steel pieces, allowing for a lightweight structure that required fewer carbon emissions to transport from place to place.

Designers have also looked at lotus leaves to decrease the need for protective finishings, which are usually toxic. The lotus leaf has tiny hairs covered with a waxy coating that allows it to stay dry. Water that hits the leaf will roll off the waxy nonpolar coating. This has inspired a protective coating for external areas that will repel water and dirt, which reduces the need for maintenance. Moreover, reducing the water accumulation in buildings will reduce deterioration mechanisms in infrastructures, such as steel corrosion, sulphate attacks, freezing and thawing.

Limestone-producing bacteria can be used to extend a building’s lifespan. Certain bacteria can produce limestone, filling the gaps and cracks that affect concrete structures over time. This can reduce the need to use new concrete for repairs.

Learning from nature and imputing the way nature works into our designs and in the construction industry can make our built environments more sustainable. There’s so much we can learn from nature; the more we discover, the more we can work toward reducing our impact on the planet.

 

 

 

 

Source Happy Eco News