immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Emissionsreduktion

  • Nitrogen oxide reduction with wood heating

    Nitrogen oxide reduction with wood heating

    Heating with wood has lost acceptance in recent years, as it releases pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides in addition to greenhouse gases. In particular, the combustion of wood waste with a high nitrogen content, such as chipboard residues, produces high levels of NOx. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a technology that reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 80 % and thus lowers the environmental impact of wood heating systems.

    Fuel staging for clean combustion
    The new method centres on the principle of fuel staging. The fuel is burnt in two zones.

    • The main combustion of solid wood residues takes place in the primary zone.
    • In the secondary zone, an additional fuel creates a reduction zone in which nitrogen oxides are broken down using chemical processes.

    Natural gas is currently used as a reduction fuel, but researchers are working on biogenic alternatives such as wood dust to replace fossil fuels in the long term.

    Significant NOx reduction in tests
    The tests were carried out in a 250 kW combustion plant that burnt chipboard residues. Without measures, NOx emissions were 1,955 mg/m³, but thanks to fuel staging, they were reduced to 361 mg/m³ – well below the limit value of 370 mg in the 44th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV). These values show the potential of the new technology, which can be used in medium-sized combustion plants between 100 kW and 2 MW.

    Retrofitting and new standards
    As well as being used in new plants, the technology also offers a flexible retrofit option for existing combustion plants. This opens up sustainable prospects for the wood processing industry in particular, which wants to utilise wood waste efficiently. The technology could also prepare smaller biomass plants for future limit values, as the 1st BImSchV does not yet specify any NOx limit values for small plants.

    Market readiness and further development
    The Fraunhofer team is working with industrial partners to further optimise the technology and make it ready for the market. The aim is to develop a system that works completely without fossil fuels and further increases the efficiency of emission reduction.

    The new technology for nitrogen oxide reduction when burning wood is a significant step towards environmentally friendly heating solutions. With its flexibility for retrofitting and the prospect of biogenic fuels, it offers a forward-looking solution for the wood industry and biomass plants.

  • Containment of HFC-23 emissions

    Containment of HFC-23 emissions

    Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are among the most potent greenhouse gases, and HFC-23 is the most potent of them all. One kilogram of HFC-23 causes the same warming in the atmosphere as 12,000 kilograms of CO₂ and remains in the atmosphere for around 200 years. As part of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, over 150 countries have committed to drastically reducing emissions of HFC-23. The main sources of this gas are the industrial production of coolants and polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE), better known as Teflon.

    Since 2020, Teflon manufacturers have been required to destroy HFC-23 before it can be released into the atmosphere. The reported emissions show progress. according to official figures, only 2,000 tons of HFC-23 were released worldwide in 2020. However, actual measurements indicate around 16,000 tons, which shows a significant discrepancy.

    New findings from tracer gas measurements
    In order to explain this difference, researchers from Empa, the University of Bristol and TNO investigated HFC-23 emissions from a Teflon factory in the Netherlands. Their results, which were published in the scientific journal Nature, are based on an innovative method. The researchers released a tracer gas that does not occur in the atmosphere and is rapidly degraded. They recorded the concentrations of HFC-23 at a distance of 25 kilometers and compared them with the tracer values. In this way, they were able to precisely calculate the actual emissions from the factory.

    The results show that the factory’s emissions are higher than the reported figures, but still low. “The containment measures are working well, but there is potential for optimization,” explains Martin Vollmer from Empa. Co-author Kieran Stanley from the University of Bristol summarizes: “The results are encouraging and show that emissions of HFC-23 can be significantly reduced with the right measures.”

    Global challenges in the reduction of HFC-23
    The study makes it clear that the containment of HFC-23 is technically possible, but is not consistently implemented everywhere. “The high emissions measured in the atmosphere indicate that the measures reported do not always correspond to reality,” warns Vollmer. The researchers are calling for independent reviews of emissions from the production of fluoropolymers and refrigerants in order to close the gaps in our understanding of the sources of emissions and ensure that international climate agreements are adhered to.

    Next steps in research
    In October 2024, a further study will be carried out in Seoul to measure emissions of halogenated substances in the South Korean capital. This method could also be useful for monitoring other greenhouse gases. “Through continuous monitoring and precise measurements, we can better identify the sources of emissions and make emission reduction measures more effective,” says Arnoud Frumau from TNO.

  • Recycled cement is best suited for CO2 mineralization

    Recycled cement is best suited for CO2 mineralization

    Cement recycling is a cheap and efficient way to reduce emissions if the cement is permanently mineralized with emitted and atmospheric CO2. Of the ten technologies examined in a study, the one that uses recycled cement paste from demolished concrete from infrastructure and buildings is the most effective and economical. It has the potential to reduce emissions from cement production by around 15 percent. This would have corresponded to a total of 0.8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

    This is the conclusion of a study led by researchers from Imperial College London, in which scientists from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology(Empa) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL) are also involved.

    According to a report by Empa, building materials are responsible for around 13 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of this comes from the production of concrete and steel. “Our findings suggest that CO2-mineralized cement could be a leading technology to help us decarbonize the sector,” lead author Rupert J. Myers is quoted as saying in the report.

    According to co-author Ellina Bernard from the Empa Laboratory for Concrete and Asphalt, a broader application of CO2 mineralization using old concrete or other calcium-based industrial waste is limited by the amount of material to be carbonated. “However, CO2 savings of 15 percent in the production of building materials are not negligible.” Further work must now be done to optimize CO2 capture and recycling technologies and to reduce costs.

  • Sika sets ambitious emission reduction targets

    Sika sets ambitious emission reduction targets

    The Science Based Targets Initiative has validated Sika ‘s short and long-term emission reduction targets, the globally active speciality chemicals group for the construction and automotive industries from Baar announced in a press release. Sika aims to reduce emissions in Scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 30.4 per cent by 2032. By 2050, direct and indirect emissions should have fallen by 90 per cent. At the same time, the Group is sticking to its growth strategy.

    Sika has taken a number of measures to achieve its targets. For example, material efficiency and the circular economy are to be improved through education and skills development. Sika aims to reduce emissions along the value chain through partnerships with key suppliers, among other things. In addition, the focus is on the rapid use of alternative energy sources and the development of new technological solutions for construction and industry.

    “By actively working with our partners, suppliers and customers, we are promoting industry initiatives to mitigate climate change and open up new business opportunities,” Patricia Heidtman, Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer at Sika, is quoted as saying in the press release. “This strengthens our conviction that we are on the right track and offer sustainable solutions that meet today’s needs without jeopardising the future.”

  • Switzerland Innovation Park Biel introduces advanced CO₂ emissions management

    Switzerland Innovation Park Biel introduces advanced CO₂ emissions management

    At a time when reducing CO₂ emissions is a top priority, Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (SIPBB) is launching a pioneering solution on the market. With the introduction of this technology, SIPBB is setting new standards in emissions management. This software uses real data instead of industrial averages to calculate the carbon footprint of products, enabling companies to reduce their emissions in a targeted manner.

    The implementation in the SIPBB offers industrial companies the opportunity to precisely quantify and verify the CO₂ values of each product. This is a crucial step in meeting the challenges of digital transformation and strict climate targets. Two specific use cases have been realised that show how the tool effectively links companies’ emissions with those from their supply chain to enable an accurate determination of their true carbon footprint.

    The SIPBB’s Swiss Smart Factory in Biel offers interested parties the opportunity to test the application and effectiveness of the Siemens solution under real-life conditions. Dr Dominic Gorecky, Director, explains: “Customers can directly experience how the technology not only generates verifiable CO₂ certificates, but also creates the basis for sustainable production processes.” A practical example of this is drone production, which demonstrates how the tool enables sustainable production from conception to the supply chain.

    In addition, interested industrial companies can book Marketplace services for various use cases and follow the certification process and data management. Stefan Schnider, Country Head of Siemens Digital Industries in Switzerland, emphasises: “The ‘Sustainability Journey’ is an integral part of our offering in the Swiss Smart Factory and is offered as a half-day workshop.”

    Connecting the operating technology in production and the IT systems to SiGREEN is essential to ensure an efficient flow of data and automated collection of CO₂ emissions at product level. The necessary expertise in data integration is provided by NTT Com and NTT DATA, who are long-standing partners in the field of IT/OT convergence.

    This SIPBB initiative, developed in close cooperation with Siemens Switzerland and other partners, marks an important step forward in the endeavour to reduce industrial emissions and helps Switzerland to make further progress towards its ambitious climate targets. A detailed presentation of the project is planned for the second half of 2024.