Product development
Shenzhen City Switching to an ‘Electric Mobility.’
Published
3 years agoon
By
adminIn 2017, Shenzhen became the first city in the world to electrify all public buses with a view to cutting emissions, reducing noise pollution and improving air quality. The initiative also helped to further develop electric mobility. The adoption of new service models incentivises manufacturers to design vehicle components so that they are maintained and kept in use, retaining value. There are now over 16,000 electric public buses (e-buses) on the road.
In addition, the city has engaged heavily in urban infrastructure, incorporating more than 500 bus charging stations and 5,100 bus charging points.
While e-buses have replaced fuel vehicles ??which were estimated to be contributing towards 20% of the city?? air pollution – further development is underway to increase the provision of renewable energy sources in line with circular economy principles. Work is also underway to improve battery technologies to encourage their reuse, charging speeds and suitability for a wider range of vehicles.
TIME FRAME
In 2009, Shenzhen was selected by the national government as one of 13 electric vehicle pilot cities. In 2017, the city became the first in the world to reach a goal of 100% electrically run buses. Further work is ongoing, including on opportunities to expand the programme to other vehicles such as taxis.
FOCUS AREAS
The focus has been on the mobility sector as a whole, including infrastructure, electric vehicle technology, and business models.
FINANCE
This public mobility initiative has been supported by a combination of national government funding and subsidies from the Finance Commission of Shenzhen Municipality.
The project financing has also made use of, and benefited from using, cost-effective service models. whole, including infrastructure, electric vehicle technology, and business models.
CORE TEAM AND PARTICIPANTS
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Directly overseen by the Shenzhen Mayor, various departments within the municipality are involved in the implementation:
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The Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, which receives direction from the National Development and Reform Committee of China and coordinates local implementation
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Urban Planning, Land and Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, which identifies suitable developed and underdeveloped land and oversees locations of the charging points and stations
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District government, which supports the provision of land permits for the charging points and charging stations
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Transport Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, which facilitates e-bus movement by granting preferential road access
OUTCOMES TO DATE
In 2011, two years after being selected as an electric vehicle city pilot, Shenzhen hosted the Summer Universiade, a world student games event, at which 200 e-buses and 300 e-taxis were deployed. The first fully electrified bus route was launched in 2012.
Starting in 2015, bus companies have been able to rent e-buses and batteries from manufacturers through service models, relieving the bus companies of large upfront investments and the need for technological expertise, thereby increasing the uptake of vehicles.
The national piloting scheme has encouraged the development of the electric vehicle industry in China, which was estimated to be worth CNY 100 billion in 2017. Many companies across the value chain have also benefited from this development. For example, BYD, the largest Chinese electric vehicle producer headquartered in Shenzhen is now selling e-buses to 300 cities in Japan, Europe, the USA and other countries globally.
The lessons from the pilot are being extended to other mobility forms. Shenzhen now has electrified 16,000 buses and 23,000 taxis in the city.
THE JOURNEY ORIGINS
The development of this initiative is heavily driven by local and national policy with a view to cutting emissions, reducing noise pollution and improving air quality – in addition to managing current overcapacity of electric power. The Shenzhen New Energy Industry Development Plan 2009-2015, the Shenzhen New Energy Industry Development Policy and the 13th Five-Year Plan for Strategic New Industry Development, together reinforce the priority of developing this sector.
THE ROUTE TO A CITY-WIDE E-BUS SYSTEM
Shifting to a 100% electric vehicle system creates opportunities and potential for additional revenue streams. As organisations make use of new business models that improve material management and costs, and receive public financial support, it encourages the initiative to scale, and infrastructure and technologies to develop.
Vehicles
Prior to 2016, an e-bus was priced at approximately CNY 1.8 million. Through the use of service models, third-party financial institutions purchase the assets and rent them to bus operating companies who are thus relieved of large upfront capital investments. For example, eight-year rental agreements are arranged through a third-party financial institution which, for a limited time period, take on the financial risk if the vehicle or components fail. Shenzhen Eastern Bus Company (a state-owned organisation) and Shenzhen Western Bus Company Ltd (a public-private organisation) have both rented e-bus services from locally headquartered BYD and other manufacturers via third-party financial institutions such as China Development Bank Leasing and China Construction Bank Financial Leasing. In such service models, manufacturers remain responsible for maintenance and repair of the key components, keeping them in use. It also incentivises circular designs for durability and reuse.
Bus manufacturers are also provided with national government subsidies, which are matched by the city government. In the case of Shenzhen, bus manufacturers can apply for approximately CNY 500,000 from each, totalling around CNY 1 million to be deducted from the price. As the electric vehicle industry matures, the national and municipal subsidies have reduced and will eventually cease.
Batteries
At the end of their usable life, batteries will be sent to government approved recyclers with a view to extracting useful materials, such as rare earth elements. This practice is expected to grow with the development of Extended Producer Responsibility policies which are due by 2020.
Many electric vehicle batteries are estimated to start reaching end of life status in 2019, which will increase the quantity of batteries available for recycling, in turn augmenting the demand for the required recovery skills and technologies. Material sourcing, design for multiple use, and design for recycling are amongst the circular economy priorities for the EV industry.
Electric charging technology and infrastructure
The technology and infrastructure required for charging vehicles involves large capital investment. In addition to government subsidies, new partnerships have been key. Shenzhen Eastern Bus Company, for example, partnered with charging point manufacturing businesses, which post-construction, are also responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of charging points. Charging point manufacturers receive a service fee through units of electricity used, which facilitates further development of the infrastructure. The Shenzhen Eastern Bus Company?? e-bus versus charging point ratio reached 2:1 as at the end of 2018.
One charge will sustain an e-bus for a full day, meaning that charging can take place at night when buses are not in use and when demand on the grid is less.
Rapid charging technology is under development to increase charging speeds that improve bus turnaround rates. Regulations are also applied to ensure new charging facilities complement population size and land availability.
MEASURING PROGRESS
Combustion engine buses used to contribute to 20% of air pollution, but through the transition it is now estimated the city will see an annual reduction of 4.316 million tons of particulate matter. In addition, the average GHG emissions per e-bus kilometre is 40% less than a diesel vehicle, which,as of 2017, had reduced carbon emissions in the city by 0.63 million tons.
A further benefit is that the e-buses produce less noise and heat, thereby contributing to a reduction in urban noise pollution and heat island effects.
At present, renewable energy sources only makeup approximately 1% of the total energy mix in the initiative and further development is required to increase this. China?? 13th Five-Year Plan also highlights the overall requirement for a shift from fossil fuels. The partners in the initiative are also looking at metrics to capture the material benefits resulting from the increased focus on remanufacturing and public transport use.
REFLECTIONS
Policy providing a mandate for change.
A combination of national- and city-level policy measures have created the enabling conditions for an electric mobility system in the city to develop. This includes the
national government?? ambition to expand the electric vehicle sector, China?? 13th Five-Year Plan, the Strategic New Industry Development Plan, the Shenzhen New Energy Industry Development Plan 2009-2015, Shenzhen New Energy Industry Development Policy, and Shenzhen?? status as China?? first Special Economic Zone, permitting Shenzhen to have bespoke trading and business rules to stimulate economic activity and innovation.
Enabling innovation through the use of new business models and financial support.
Financial support from national subsidies and match funding from the city government has enabled the initiative to grow enough to become self-supporting. In addition, the provision of e-buses on a rental basis has also alleviated initial capital outlays, mitigated against potential ongoing financial risks for the bus companies, and supported the refurbishment and reuse of components and parts.
Development of the broader electric vehicle industry has also been encouraged through the pilot. For example, incentives such as free licence plates for e-vehicle drivers and the removal of a passenger levy for fuel in e-taxis. Improvements in urban air quality and reduced noise are also bringing broader environmental, health, and productivity benefits to the city.
In a circular economy, power is generated through renewable resources and materials are kept in use. Research to increase the percentage of renewable energy provided to the charging poles is underway, as is the research to improve the circularity of battery technology.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Website: www.english.sz.gov.cn
This case study has been developed in partnership with ICLEI East Asia. This case study is part of Circular economy in cities, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
GOVERNANCE
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Shenzhen Municipal People?? Government
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POPULATION 12.5 million
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GDP 2.2 trillion CNY
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DENSITY 5,963 per km2
Advertising or branding is never about driving sales. It’s about creating brand awareness and recall. It’s about conveying the core values of your brand to your consumers. In this context, why is branding important for cement companies? As far as the customers are concerned cement is simply cement. It is precisely for this reason that branding, marketing and advertising of cement becomes crucial. Since the customer is unable to differentiate between the shades of grey, the onus of creating this awareness is carried by the brands. That explains the heavy marketing budgets, celebrity-centric commercials, emotion-invoking taglines and campaigns enunciating the many benefits of their offerings.
Marketing strategies of cement companies have undergone gradual transformation owing to the change in consumer behaviour. While TV commercials are high on humour and emotions to establish a fast connect with the customer, social media campaigns are focussed more on capturing the consumer’s attention in an over-crowded virtual world. Branding for cement companies has become a holistic growth strategy with quantifiable results. This has made brands opt for a mix package of traditional and new-age tools, such as social media. However, the hero of every marketing communication is the message, which encapsulates the unique selling points of the product. That after all is crux of the matter here.
While cement companies are effectively using marketing tools to reach out to the consumers, they need to strengthen the four Cs of the branding process – Consumer, Cost, Communication and Convenience. Putting up the right message, at the right time and at the right place for the right kind of customer demographic is of utmost importance in the long run. It is precisely for this reason that regional players are likely to have an upper hand as they rely on local language and cultural references to drive home the point. But modern marketing and branding domain is exponentially growing and it would be an interesting exercise to tabulate and analyse its impact on branding for cement.
Concrete
Indian cement industry is well known for its energy and natural resource efficiency
Published
2 years agoon
November 18, 2022By
adminDr Hitesh Sukhwal, Deputy General Manager – Environment, Udaipur Cement Works Limited (UCWL) takes us through the multifaceted efforts that the company has undertaken to keep emissions in check with the use of alternative sources of energy and carbon capture technology.
Tell us about the policies of your organisation for the betterment of the environment.
Caring for people is one of the core values of our JK Lakshmi Cement Limited. We strongly believe that we all together can make a difference. In all our units, we have taken measures to reduce carbon footprint, emissions and minimise the use of natural resources. Climate change and sustainable development are major global concerns. As a responsible corporate, we are committed with and doing consistent effort small or big to preserve and enrich the environment in and around our area of operations.
As far as environmental policies are concerned, we are committed to comply with all applicable laws, standards and regulations of regulatory bodies pertaining to the environment. We are consistently making efforts to integrate the environmental concerns into the mainstream of the operations. We are giving thrust upon natural resource conservation like limestone, gypsum, water and energy. We are utilising different kinds of alternative fuels and raw materials. Awareness among the employees and local people on environmental concerns is an integral part of our company. We are adopting best environmental practices aligned with sustainable development goals.
Udaipur Cement Works Limited is a subsidiary of the JK Lakshmi Cement Limited. Since its inception, the company is committed towards boosting sustainability through adopting the latest art of technology designs, resource efficient equipment and various in-house innovations. We are giving thrust upon renewable and clean energy sources for our cement manufacturing. Solar Power and Waste Heat Recovery based power are our key ingredients for total power mix.
What impact does cement production have on the environment? Elaborate the major areas affected.
The major environmental concern areas during cement production are air emissions through point and nonpoint sources due to plant operation and emissions from mining operation, from material transport, carbon emissions through process, transit, noise pollution, vibration during mining, natural resource depletion, loss of biodiversity and change in landscape.
India is the second largest cement producer in the world. The Indian cement industry is well known for its energy and natural resource efficiency worldwide. The Indian cement industry is a frontrunner for implementing significant technology measures to ensure a greener future.
The cement industry is an energy intensive and significant contributor to climate change. Cement production contributes greenhouse gases directly and indirectly into the atmosphere through calcination and use of fossil fuels in an energy form. The industry believes in a circular economy by utilising alternative fuels for making cement. Cement companies are focusing on major areas of energy efficiency by adoption of technology measures, clinker substitution by alternative raw material for cement making, alternative fuels and green and clean energy resources. These all efforts are being done towards environment protection and sustainable future.
Nowadays, almost all cement units have a dry manufacturing process for cement production, only a few exceptions where wet manufacturing processes are in operation. In the dry manufacturing process, water is used only for the purpose of machinery cooling, which is recirculated in a closed loop, thus, no polluted water is generated during the dry manufacturing process.
We should also accept the fact that modern life is impossible without cement. However, through state-of-the-art technology and innovations, it is possible to mitigate all kinds of pollution without harm to the environment and human beings.
Tell us about the impact blended cement creates on the environment and emission rate.
Our country started cement production in 1914. However, it was introduced in the year 1904 at a small scale, earlier. Initially, the manufacturing of cement was only for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). In the 1980s, the production of blended cement was introduced by replacing fly ash and blast furnace slag. The production of blended cement increased in the growth period and crossed the 50 per cent in the year 2004.
The manufacturing of blended cement results in substantial savings in the thermal and electrical energy consumption as well as saving of natural resources. The overall consumption of raw materials, fossil fuel such as coal, efficient burning and state-of-the-art technology in cement plants have resulted in the gradual reduction of emission of carbon dioxide (CO2). Later, the production of blended cement was increased in manifolds.
If we think about the growth of blended cement in the past few decades, we can understand how much quantity of , (fly ash and slag) consumed and saved natural resources like limestone and fossil fuel, which were anyhow disposed of and harmed the environment. This is the reason it is called green cement. Reduction in the clinker to cement ratio has the second highest emission reduction potential i.e., 37 per cent. The low carbon roadmap for cement industries can be achieved from blended cement. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), Portland Slag Cement (PSC) and Composite Cement are already approved by the National Agency BIS.
As far as kilogram CO2 per ton of cement emission concerns, Portland Slag Cement (PSC) has a larger potential, other than PPC, Composite Cement etc. for carbon emission reduction. BIS approved 60 per cent slag and 35 per cent clinker in composition of PSC. Thus, clinker per centage is quite less in PSC composition compared to other blended cement. The manufacturing of blended cement directly reduces thermal and process emissions, which contribute high in overall emissions from the cement industry, and this cannot be addressed through adoption of energy efficiency measures.
In the coming times, the cement industry must relook for other blended cement options to achieve a low carbon emissions road map. In near future, availability of fly ash and slag in terms of quality and quantity will be reduced due to various government schemes for low carbon initiatives viz. enhance renewable energy sources, waste to energy plants etc.
Further, it is required to increase awareness among consumers, like individual home builders or large infrastructure projects, to adopt greener alternatives viz. PPC and PSC for more sustainable
resource utilisation.
What are the decarbonising efforts taken by your organisation?
India is the world’s second largest cement producer. Rapid growth of big infrastructure, low-cost housing (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna), smart cities project and urbanisation will create cement demand in future. Being an energy intensive industry, we are also focusing upon alternative and renewable energy sources for long-term sustainable business growth for cement production.
Presently, our focus is to improve efficiency of zero carbon electricity generation technology such as waste heat recovery power through process optimisation and by adopting technological innovations in WHR power systems. We are also increasing our capacity for WHR based power and solar power in the near future. Right now, we are sourcing about 50 per cent of our power requirement from clean and renewable energy sources i.e., zero carbon electricity generation technology. Usage of alternative fuel during co-processing in the cement manufacturing process is a viable and sustainable option. In our unit, we are utilising alternative raw material and fuel for reducing carbon emissions. We are also looking forward to green logistics for our product transport in nearby areas.
By reducing clinker – cement ratio, increasing production of PPC and PSC cement, utilisation of alternative raw materials like synthetic gypsum/chemical gypsum, Jarosite generated from other process industries, we can reduce carbon emissions from cement manufacturing process. Further, we are looking forward to generating onsite fossil free electricity generation facilities by increasing the capacity of WHR based power and ground mounted solar energy plants.
We can say energy is the prime requirement of the cement industry and renewable energy is one of the major sources, which provides an opportunity to make a clean, safe and infinite source of power which is affordable for the cement industry.
What are the current programmes run by your organisation for re-building the environment and reducing pollution?
We are working in different ways for environmental aspects. As I said, we strongly believe that we all together can make a difference. We focus on every environmental aspect directly / indirectly related to our operation and surroundings.
If we talk about air pollution in operation, every section of the operational unit is well equipped with state-of-the-art technology-based air pollution control equipment (BagHouse and ESP) to mitigate the dust pollution beyond the compliance standard. We use high class standard PTFE glass fibre filter bags in our bag houses. UCWL has installed the DeNOx system (SNCR) for abatement of NOx pollution within norms. The company has installed a 6 MW capacity Waste Heat Recovery based power plant that utilises waste heat of kiln i.e., green and clean energy source. Also, installed a 14.6 MW capacity solar power system in the form of a renewable energy source.
All material transfer points are equipped with a dust extraction system. Material is stored under a covered shed to avoid secondary fugitive dust emission sources. Finished product is stored in silos. Water spraying system are mounted with material handling point. Road vacuum sweeping machine deployed for housekeeping of paved area.
In mining, have deployed wet drill machine for drilling bore holes. Controlled blasting is carried out with optimum charge using Air Decking Technique with wooden spacers and non-electric detonator (NONEL) for control of noise, fly rock, vibration, and dust emission. No secondary blasting is being done. The boulders are broken by hydraulic rock breaker. Moreover, instead of road transport, we installed Overland Belt Conveying system for crushed limestone transport from mine lease area to cement plant. Thus omit an insignificant amount of greenhouse gas emissions due to material transport, which is otherwise emitted from combustion of fossil fuel in the transport system. All point emission sources (stacks) are well equipped with online continuous emission monitoring system (OCEMS) for measuring parameters like PM, SO2 and NOx for 24×7. OCEMS data are interfaced with SPCB and CPCB servers.
The company has done considerable work upon water conservation and certified at 2.76 times water positive. We installed a digital water flow metre for each abstraction point and digital ground water level recorder for measuring ground water level 24×7. All digital metres and level recorders are monitored by an in-house designed IoT based dashboard. Through this live dashboard, we can assess the impact of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and ground water monitoring.
All points of domestic sewage are well connected with Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and treated water is being utilised in industrial cooling purposes, green belt development and in dust suppression. Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) installed for mine’s workshop. Treated water is reused in washing activity. The unit maintains Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).
Our unit has done extensive plantations of native and pollution tolerant species in industrial premises and mine lease areas. Moreover, we are not confined to our industrial boundary for plantation. We organised seedling distribution camps in our surrounding areas. We involve our stakeholders, too, for our plantation drive. UCWL has also extended its services under Corporate Social Responsibility for betterment of the environment in its surrounding. We conduct awareness programs for employees and stakeholders. We have banned Single Use Plastic (SUP) in our premises. In our industrial township, we have implemented a solid waste management system for our all households, guest house and bachelor hostel. A complete process of segregated waste (dry and wet) door to door collection systems is well established.
Tell us about the efforts taken by your organisation to better the environment in and around the manufacturing unit.
UCWL has invested capital in various environmental management and protection projects like installed DeNOx (SNCR) system, strengthening green belt development in and out of industrial premises, installed high class pollution control equipment, ground-mounted solar power plant etc.
The company has taken up various energy conservation projects like, installed VFD to reduce power consumption, improve efficiency of WHR power generation by installing additional economiser tubes and AI-based process optimisation systems. Further, we are going to increase WHR power generation capacity under our upcoming expansion project. UCWL promotes rainwater harvesting for augmentation of the ground water resource. Various scientifically based WHR structures are installed in plant premises and mine lease areas. About 80 per cent of present water requirement is being fulfilled by harvested rainwater sourced from Mine’s Pit. We are also looking forward towards green transport (CNG/LNG based), which will drastically reduce carbon footprint.
We are proud to say that JK Lakshmi Cement Limited has a strong leadership and vision for developing an eco-conscious and sustainable role model of our cement business. The company was a pioneer among cement industries of India, which had installed the DeNOx (SNCR) system in its cement plant.
Concrete
NTPC selects Carbon Clean and Green Power for carbon capture facility
Published
2 years agoon
October 12, 2022By
adminCarbon Clean and Green Power International Pvt. Ltd has been chosen by NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA) to establish the carbon capture facility at NTPC Vindhyachal. This facility, which will use a modified tertiary amine to absorb CO2 from the power plant’s flue gas, is intended to capture 20 tonnes of CO2) per day. A catalytic hydrogenation method will eventually be used to mix the CO2 with hydrogen to create 10 tonnes of methanol each day. For NTPC, capturing CO2 from coal-fired power plant flue gas and turning it into methanol is a key area that has the potential to open up new business prospects and revenue streams.
Construction Costs Rise 11% in 2024, Driven by Labour Expenses
Swiss Steel to Cut 800 Jobs
UltraTech Cement to raise Rs 3,000 crore via NCDs to boost financial flexibility
India’s April-October Finished Steel Imports Reach 7-Year High
NMDC Steel Q2 loss expands to Rs 5.95 bn, income at Rs 15.35 bn
Construction Costs Rise 11% in 2024, Driven by Labour Expenses
Swiss Steel to Cut 800 Jobs
UltraTech Cement to raise Rs 3,000 crore via NCDs to boost financial flexibility
India’s April-October Finished Steel Imports Reach 7-Year High
NMDC Steel Q2 loss expands to Rs 5.95 bn, income at Rs 15.35 bn
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