Circular Economy
The paper discusses the successful commissioning of an innovative Heat Pipe Condensing Economiser (HPCE) at Alufluor AB in Sweden, an aluminium fluoride producer. The HPCE enables the recovery of heat, water, and materials from exhaust streams, a process previously thought unviable. The system allows Alufluor to heat all their washing water with recycled energy. This breakthrough in the chemical process industry, regarded as a disruptive innovation, resulted from over three years of engineering, planning, and investment, including facility modifications and pipeline installation. The HPCE has been operational since August 1st, with a 650kW average capacity from the company's exhaust stream. Professor Hussam Jouhara of Brunel University London suggests that while all industries could potentially adopt the technology, the chemical industry, due to its stringent regulations, stands to benefit significantly. The HPCE's design features—such as safety, modularity, and flexible geometry—underscore its adaptability.
Read Full articleEvent: AI & Digital Platfrom enabling the Circular Economy Transition
CircularPSP, a Horizon Europe-funded project, unites eight cities to transition to a Circular Economy, addressing sustainability by investing €5.64 million in R&D. It fosters municipal innovation through AI, collaboration, a follower network, and hosts events discussing circularity challenges and solutions.
Read Full articleJuly Quiz OPEN - EnerWhizz: The Electrifying New Mobile Quiz from EEIP
EnerWhizz, launched by EEIP, is a mobile quiz game promoting energy innovation knowledge through fast-paced yes-or-no questions. Top scorers win monthly prizes. The game, based on the EU-funded EENOVA project, aims to educate on energy transition technologies, policies, and best practices.
Read Full articleThe Mechanics of Ceramics: How the Industry Can Decarbonize
The ceramics industry in Europe has made significant progress in energy optimization, cutting consumption by half in 25 years. Challenges persist, including reliance on carbon-emitting methane burners and raw material imports. Innovations and regulatory measures aim to decrease emissions and resource waste, promoting sustainable manufacturing across the sector's 338,000 jobs and €27.8 billion contribution to the EU economy.
Read Full articleTop Circular Economy Trends & Innovations
This study explores the circular economy's waste-to-resource concept and analyzes startups impacting it. Key trends include waste upcycling, IoT-optimized waste management, AI-powered sorting, and blockchain for traceability. Circular economy startups are prominent in Western Europe, with growing activity in the US and Asia, particularly China and India.
Read Full articleAn Uber for heat: How a new platform can help industries reuse excess heat and meet decarbonisation goals
Mafalda Silva is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She has participated and managed multiple projects concerning energy planning and sustainability. Silva has developed a heat and cold matching platform that determines the costs and benefits related to excess heat utilization routes for the industry and end users.
Read Full articleEmissions Impacts of Alternative Fuels Combustion in the Cement Industry
The study analyzes alternative fuel impacts on U.S. cement industry emissions, finding marginal CO2 reductions and variable non-CO2 pollutant changes. Fuel types examined include waste and biomass, with a focus on CO2, SO2, NOx, and PM emissions across different replacement scenarios.
Read Full articleTransitioning industrial zones into hubs for circularity
The Horizon-Europe IS2H4C project, coordinated by Devrim Murat Yazan, University of Twente, and funded with 23.5 million euros, aims for systemic industrial symbiosis across Europe, targeting zero emissions and sustainable practices in various industries through innovation and the collaboration of 35 partners.
Read Full articleDecarbonisation of industrial heat: The iron and steel sector
Achieving deep decarbonisation by 2050 is only possible through new production processes. Electricity demand of the sector could increase three-fold by 2050. The production of steel from recycled scrap increases by a range of +30% to +70% versus.
Read Full articleWater & energy reuse: from waste to resource
Alufluor collaborated with the EU's iWAYS project to optimize resource recovery, focusing on reducing emissions and recycling. The initiative introduced technologies to conserve water and energy. The partnership aims to enhance sustainability in European industries without compromising economic progress.
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