Environment

Australia’s first road made using recycled coffee cups

A suburban road in Penrith has become the first in Australia, to include recycled coffee cups in its construction. The fibres in the cups are a valuable additive that helps create a superior, more durable product, quieter and safer than regular asphalt. The more sustainable asphalt, known as PAK-PAVE™ Roads, has been developed by State Asphalts NSW in conjunction with Closed Loop Environmental Solutions who operate the Simply Cups paper cup recycling program. The development of PAK-PAVE™ Roads was facilitated through the Commonwealths Cooperative Research Centres Program Grant, involving the University of NSW and has been sanctioned by the NSW EPA and Transport NSW. The pilot project for PAK-PAVE™ Roads will take place along a section of Jamison Road at South Penrith, to be followed soon after by a second at Swallow Drive, Erskine Park. These two projects will utilise over 135,000 recycled paper cups including coffee cups, which is 85% of the paper cups collected for recycling in the Penrith LGA in 2022. In addition to the recycled paper cups, the two PAK-PAVE™ Roads will utilise other recycled materials including the equivalent of 1.2 million glass stubbies, together with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement, Steel Furnace Slag. Collectively, these materials will comprise more than 50% of the materials used. Sustainability benefits of the PAK-PAVE™ Roads include: Using recycled paper cups as a beneficial additive Improved pavement durability and crack resistance Improved wet weather skid resistance and reduced noise levels from surface texture Improved durability of Stone Mastic Asphalt allows thinner surfacing of roads; where thickness can be reduced the cost per m2 of pavement is also reduced Less raw materials are required 24% reduction in carbon footprint These PAK-PAVE™ Roads in Penrith are true examples of the circular economy in action, where items that were once destined for landfill have been […]

Women breaking down barriers in engineering

Engineering has long been a male-dominated field, but in recent years, women have been breaking down barriers and making significant contributions to the industry. Australian owned and operated Humiscope, who specialise in controlling indoor environments through energy-efficient solutions, is one example of this progress. However, despite the increasing number of women joining the engineering industry, there is still a significant gender gap. According to the latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only 14% of engineers in Australia are women. This is a concerning figure, particularly when compared to the number of women studying engineering at university. In 2020, 22% of bachelor\’s degree students in engineering were women, which suggests that there is a significant drop-off in the number of women pursuing engineering careers after graduation. There are several reasons for this disparity. One factor is the lack of female role models in the industry. When young women don’t see themselves represented in the field, they may be less likely to consider engineering as a career. Another is that many people are unaware of the myriad industries in which engineering can be applied and the diverse avenues that can be undertaken when studying engineering. In celebration of World Engineering Day, Humiscope champions the importance of recognising women in the field of engineering and wants to showcase the three female engineers on its team. Ladan Bage, a mechanical engineer with a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, works on several large projects for Humiscope. Ladan offers practical mechanical designs while always considering a client’s requirements. She specialises in drafting, documentation, mechanical design, reverse engineering, manufacturing, and its supervision. Ladan works closely with Paula Andrea Gil who is a drafts(wo)men, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Drafting and Design and over six years’ hands-on experience. Highly skilled in BIM modelling, Paula […]

Siemens partners with Swinburne University to accelerate energy transition to net zero

Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub aims to create the most advanced future energy grid laboratory of its kind in Australia accessible to students and industry $5.2 million to be invested into Hub, set to open in late 2023 Hub to leverage digital twin of Australia’s energy grid with Siemens simulation software such as PSS E, PSS SINCAL, SPECTRUM Power and DEOP X Joint project between industry and research to accelerate path to net zero Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology have agreed to set up the most advanced future Energy Transition Hub of its kind in Australia at the University’s Hawthorn campus in Melbourne. Featuring some of the most advanced digital energy technology from Siemens and the technical, R&D and teaching expertise of Swinburne, the $5.2 million Hub aims to build a future energy grid laboratory accessible to students and industry. When fully operational, the Hub will also offer researchers and industry the opportunity to work on solutions for greener, more efficient future energy systems using Siemens Xcelerator, a new open digital business platform and marketplace. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Karen Hapgood, stated, “Australia’s ambitious carbon reduction targets need a multi-pronged approach by industry, research and government. The new Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub will be working on new technologies to improve energy efficiency, supply, integration, storage, transport and use, as well as how we can improve existing technologies and frameworks. We need change fast, and the Siemens-Swinburne team will focus on taking ideas to market – where they can make the most impact as quickly as possible.” The Hub will enable users to leverage digital twins of energy grids, map scenarios, research new findings, develop original and creative hypotheses, and test results. It will be home to a digital twin of Australia’s energy grid that commercial research teams can […]

New-Process-PIC-Dr-Md-Mokhlesur-Rahman-and-Akhil-Nelson

New process extracts silicon from solar panels to build better batteries

Researchers have developed a sustainable and highly lucrative way to address two big issues in the clean energy transition, reclaiming one of the most valuable elements from end-of-life solar panels and reconfiguring it to build better batteries. More than 100,000 tonnes of end-of-life solar panels are estimated to enter Australia’s waste stream by 2035. Scientists from Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) have successfully tested a new process that can safely and effectively extract silicon from old solar panels, then convert it into a nano material worth more than $45,000 per kilo. This nano-silicon is then mixed with graphite to develop a new type of battery anode shown to increase lithium-ion battery capacity by a factor of 10, a critical breakthrough in energy storage technology. Lead researcher Dr Md Mokhlesur Rahman said that for Australia (and the world) to address the enormous issue of solar panel waste and develop a successful recycling program to divert it away from landfill, scientists must find a way to harvest and repurpose the panels’ most valuable components. “Solar panel cells are fabricated using high-value silicon, but this material cannot be re-used without purification, as it becomes highly contaminated over the 25 to 30 years of the panel’s life,” Dr Rahman said. “We have developed a process that returns silicon collected from used cells to greater than 99 per cent purity, within a day and without the need for dangerous chemicals. This thermal and chemical process is far greener, cheaper, and more efficient than any other technique currently on the market.” But it’s the next step that’s the real game-changer. The Deakin process then takes this regular-sized purified silicon and reduces its size to nanoscale using a special ball-milling process. Again, without the need for toxic chemicals. “We are using that nano-silicon to develop […]

Reducing plastic waste at Christmas

A world-first open platform to help reduce plastic waste and encourage sustainable solutions is being launched in time for the biggest waste dump of the year – Christmas. With approximately 30 per cent more waste produced at this time of year, now is the perfect time to start. I’M PLASTIC FREE www.implasticfree.com is a free platform to find eco services and products for consumers and businesses and provides up-to-date independent research – no greenwashing – and information for living more sustainably and ethically. Its values are simple: all materials and products are treated with value, and the circular economy is an integral part of our everyday life. ‘If every person made one or two easy changes using eco-friendly materials instead of single-use plastics, the impact would be enormous,’ says founder, Simona Paganetto. ‘Reuse and repurpose are first so there’s no waste, but when it’s time to replace your item, we provide a platform that makes finding and choosing an alternative easy.’ At Christmas this can really add up. Australians use an average of eight metres of paper for Christmas gifts. That might not sound like much, but it adds up to around 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper. Enough to circumnavigate the globe four times. ‘We’re talking about something that is just ripped away and discarded, and if it’s got any type of foil or shine on it, it can’t be recycled,’ says Simona. ‘Don’t forget the ribbon and tinsel too, which are made from plastic.’ A different approach can make a huge difference. ‘Firstly, reusing paper, ribbon and tinsel is great,’ she says, ‘but if you don’t have any to reuse, there are many alternatives.’ I’M PLASTIC FREE has a handy Christmas checklist to help. ‘If every Australian family wrapped just a quarter of their presents in reused or alternative-paper […]

How digital technologies will help sustain the health of construction projects

Rob Bryant, EVP of APJ at InEight Project health is constantly buffeted by risk events from all sides. And projects in Australia are being crippled by a trifecta of weather, supply chain disruption and increasing input costs. Working through another La Niña season, the wet weather will loom over the construction sector as projects will once again be delayed and subsequently run over budget because of persistent and unusual weather. Hence, it is no surprise the latest InEight Global Capital Projects Outlook reveals there is a 11% higher concern over climate change from 2021 to 2022. Managing risk, improving efficiency, and determining more predicable outcomes are all strategies to help reign in those factors and bring about a sense of wellbeing in a project landscape that is littered with chaos mines. Developments in digital technologies enable solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI) and enhancements to Critical Path Method (CPM) provide timely forecasts, reliable predictions, and effective risk management in the face of changing factors, whatever the weather. How can AI support risk management Although AI is not some magic tool whereby a contractor pushes a button and generates a schedule, it can be leveraged and manipulated to provide more realistic, dependable suggestions. In effect, it improves the planning process by enabling a computer to mimic the way a human makes decisions. An inference engine is a component of the AI system that applies logical rules to the knowledge base to deduce new information. When a project owner asks for a suggestion, the inference engine requests inputs in order to understand the context, such as the type of project, location, quantities and other variables. It then uses those variables to understand context, interrogate the knowledge library and provide suggestions. To fully capitalise from the benefits of AI, project leaders are provided […]

Decarbonise while you Digitalise

Nathan Knight, Hitachi Vantara’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, makes the case for a coordinated approach to decarbonisation and digitalisation. Imagine that manufacturers have a character on each shoulder, one with the word PROGRESS emblazoned across its chest, and the other, SUSTAINABILITY. When deciding where to invest precious resources like time, expertise and money, they can feel like two competing priorities. “Pick me,” says Progress. “More digital services, more automation, more cloud, more diversification, more data analytics, more!” The other voice pleads, “But what about me? You have to consider the planet, responsible resource management, diversification of your staff and your supply chain. You have to reduce your emissions.” Sustainability’s voice is getting louder and more insistent. In the pursuit of digitalisation in the name of progress and competitive edge, the two do not have to be at odds with one another. In fact digitalisation is a powerful tool that can help manufacturers achieve the critical sustainability goal of decarbonisation. Many Eyes on the Manufacturing Sector Australia strengthened emissions reduction targets with the goal of net zero by 2050. According to Grattan Institute, decarbonising Australian industry is an “industrial revolution against a deadline” and the scale and pace of change required is unprecedented. The think tank has called for government policy change, stricter emissions limits and a focus on decarbonising heavy manufacturing and mining, which reportedly produce a third of Australia’s carbon emissions. The heavy industry sector collaborated with decarbonisation experts to form the Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative (ETI), which says that regional Australia’s industrial economy could cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% and become centres for multibillion-dollar investments in renewable energy. It would take an unprecedented transformation of the energy system, they say. Acknowledging that the agriculture, mining, manufacturing, data centre and other sectors […]

Four easy ways to make your office greener

As more businesses choose to go green and be environmentally responsible, the process can seem a little overwhelming given the plethora of greening solutions. Below are four easy ways to go green in the office, and save money and achieve efficiencies in the process. 1.Eliminate the printing of forms We are all too familiar with filling in office forms. Typically, these are often supplied in a paper format, and completed and signed manually before being returned to their point of origin. The process is both time and resource intensive. According to the National Waste Report 2020, prepared for Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment by Blue Environment Pty Ltd, 5.9 Megatonnes of paper and cardboard waste was generated between 2018-2019 in Australia.1 Paper manufacturing leads to deforestation, increased carbon emissions and climate change. The use of paper can also be operationally expensive for firms. Apart from the cost of the paper itself, once the completed paper forms have been processed, they are usually assigned to the inevitable – filing cabinets and storage facilities – which add to operational costs. Software solutions however, can eliminate the need for paper forms and help your office go green. Common software programs such as Microsoft’s Word allow you to quickly and easily create digital forms. Better still, software solutions such as Kofax Power PDF, let you convert the form into a PDF for greater flexibility and collaboration. Power PDF even converts images into fillable PDF forms. Colleagues can then easily access the PDF form to quickly complete details, highlight data, or leave comments. And the software’s inbuilt digital signature capability lets businesses capture signatures electronically. What’s more, the forms can then be filed electronically and also integrated directly into document management systems. This negates the need for filing cabinets and physical storage […]

RS PRO launches energy efficiency products for manufacturers

RS is again expanding its Australasian RS PRO range with the addition of products that deliver improved energy saving and efficiency. Due to the popularity of these products they are being fast-tracked to market and will launch in September. The product range is tailored to reduce energy consumption from building facilities and the production line, from solar panel solutions, smart lighting options and high-efficiency power supplies. “We’re helping our customers embrace energy efficiency with the RS Pro brand,” says Scott Philbrook, Managing Director RS ANZ. “Both production line and facilities products are part of this launch. From energy meters, power supplies and lighting right down to PPE and Tool Kits that deliver improved energy savings and efficiency are included.” Each RS PRO product is backed by the RS Seal of Approval, which represents industry standards for audit, inspection, test, and certification. This, combined with longer than average warranties reflects RS Components confidence in the quality and longevity of their products. According to Scott, the expansion in the range is meeting demand in the market for affordable options for engineers looking for a choice. “Every corner of the manufacturing environment is being pressured by energy costs and this is an opportunity for our customers to have variety in their product selection,” he explained. RS has supreme confidence in the RS PRO brand and has invested heavily in expanding these product ranges and anticipates a favourable response and uptake in both the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Clean energy conference to tackle renewables, hydrogen

Global companies will gather in South Australia later this year to discuss how industry can transition to clean energy. Future Energy Week will bring about 400 delegates from national and international companies, governments and academia for the event in November. It’s the second year the Tonsley Future Energy Consortium has hosted the event, which is hosted at the Tonsley Innovation Hub in Adelaide, South Australia. On the table for discussion are topics around hydrogen energy, the future of mobility, food, energy and water and the “energy trilemma”, which refers to making energy affordable, sustainable and reliable. The Tonsley Innovation Hub is a 6.1-hectare site in Adelaide’s inner south that houses a wide range of companies wanting to rethink the traditional thinking around manufacturing. The energy consortium formed four years ago and comprises industry, government and education sectors to promote collaboration. The two-day event will involve keynote speeches and some panel and workshop sessions to allow delegates to collaborate. Engineering companies with national and international footprints, such as SAGE Automation and AZZO, will be represented at the forum. Founder and event director Quentin Roberts said Future Energy Week is not just another “talkfest”. Roberts said it was an opportunity for companies big and small to discuss some of the challenges facing the energy sector. Last year, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, Dr Angela Wilkinson, made a keynote address, and Roberts hopes the global forum will again take part. “They can get involved in helping to shape the future as well,” Roberts said. “We need that transition to clean energy to happen sooner rather than later, and this is really like a catalyst for that action to occur. “It’s important to create these spaces to have the dialogue because there might be challenges we need to try and meet, but […]

«‹ 3 4 5 6 ›»

News Ticker

Environment