Cement That Takes CO2 Out of the Air

Calera Corporation aims to stop global warming and ocean acidification by pulling greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere. Essentially, the company is developing a technology capable of converting CO2 into building materials. The company is drawing carbon dioxide from its surroundings during the manufacturing of cement. Normally cement making generates massive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, by some estimates as much as 2.5 billion tons in carbon dioxide per year. But Calera is designing a new type of cement and process that would remove 1 ton of CO2 from the air per ton of cement. One of the company's goals is to have 100 plants producing up to 1 billion tons of the new cement by 2015. On Calera's website, Founder Brent Constantz states that: "Calera plants can be co-located and operated at scale with many carbon dioxide sources because the robust nature of the technology allows it to be broadly adapted to specific circumstances, providing large and long-term profitable and sustainable new business."

Calera Corporation is a privately owned company funded by entrepreneur Vinod Khosla, the founder of Khosla Ventures. It is based in Los Gatos, California.

The company on its website also states: "We understand that some people may have doubts about a technology capable of converting CO2 (a bad thing) into building materials (a good thing). However, Calera’s MAP [Mineralization via Aqueous Precipitation] technology works and we have proven it in our pilot plant, and at our demonstration plant. After reviewing our technology in depth under confidentiality agreements, many independent scientists, researchers and industry experts agree with our conclusion. Also, we have filed over 170 patents around the world with over 3,500 claims and now have patents actually granted, demonstrating novelty. Over time, as more patents are granted and the details become public, the skeptics will learn more and more about what we actually do in our process."

Sustainability through Collaboration

Environmental protection and sustainable development are high on the agenda and the world is seeing initiatives at all levels by international and national bodies, governments and businesses to address the challenges ahead.

For many years, Alstom Power has recognized the importance of the environment in the power generation business and has positioned itself as a clean power provider. Alstom Power is pursuing a global sustainability strategy based on three pillars: management of the ecological, social and economic impact of offices and sites the company owns and operates; Alstom Power’s product footprint and the management of the ecological, social and economic impact of its products from “cradle to grave” (use of raw material, transport, erection, services and end of life of products); and customers’ efforts to produce clean power.

Providing clean power solutions to China
Alstom Power’s global strategy is then applied locally in line with individual national requirements. For instance, in planning the country’s economic and social development, the Chinese government has prioritized cutting carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45% by 2020 (from 2005 levels).

Alstom Power is contributing to this goal by providing clean solutions in power generation and bringing the most advanced technologies to China. In the area of hydro, the company has fully localized its engineering and manufacturing capabilities over the last 15 years and transferred knowledge and technology to China. Around 28% of the hydro plants in China are now equipped with their technology. In nuclear, Alstom Power is working with partner Dongfang in that direction. With regard to coal, the company is developing Wuhan Boiler Company Ltd., one of the largest and most modern manufacturing sites in the world for efficient utility boilers. And Alstom Power is currently implementing a cooperation agreement with Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), the leading university in China on R&D in carbon capture and storage (CCS), for one of the most promising “new” technologies in the area of CCS. This new agreement builds upon already established agreements with HUST, to provide financial support to outstanding students and teachers.

Fighting climate change through energy efficiency
Energy efficiency in buildings is another means of reaching the Chinese government’s ambitious target. Amongst Alstom Power’s various industrial sites in China, Wuhan Boiler Company Ltd. stands out on a global level in terms of energy efficiency. The decision to construct a new manufacturing facility (210,000 m2) and a five-floor office building (15,000 m2) at Wuhan, allowing more than 1,100 persons on site at any time, provided a perfect opportunity for Alstom Power to reduce its environmental footprint. Various technical initiatives were taken to reduce the environmental impact of the site: detectors, solar-powered water heaters, etc.; system, recyclable wooden insulation panels, recyclable flooring and geothermal heat exchangers that use the earth’s constant subterranean temperature to warm or cool the air, etc.

It is expected that 6,000 tons of CO2 per year will be avoided as a direct result of these innovations.

Acting as a good corporate citizen
Naturally, Alstom Power is also emphasizing its service to the local communities. In support of the Chinese government’s decision to ban the distribution of free plastic bags, employees are actively involved in a project sponsored by the Alstom Foundation to raise environmental awareness by encouraging people to use eco-friendly green bags. The project has supported the manufacture of more than 43,000 durable cloth shopping bags. The Foundation also supports the Meili Mountains National Park Project to preserve the biodiversity of mountains at Yunnan Province. In addition, Alstom Power encourages employees to launch individual initiatives.

Alstom Power is proud of its achievements so far and is committed to continue supporting its customers, employees and the local communities in their sustainable development ambitions.

First published in the November 2010 edition of Sustain magazine by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Engines Can Turn Waste into Value

Commercial customers all over the world are discovering the new ways to capture and use gas to meet energy needs through onsite power generation, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One prime example is General Electric's Jenbacher gas engines.

In Australia, the Jenbacher gas engine business has contributed to several of the country's largest coal mine methane projects, including a power plant commissioned in 2008 operating on Jenbacher coal mine methane gas engines. The methane-rich gas coming from the mine is used to generate onsite power at Anglo Coal's Moranbah North mine in the state of Queensland, helping to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas that escapes into the atmosphere. Through the capture and use of mine gas, the Moranbah North project will deliver significant environmental benefits, reducing about 1.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year.

In Mexico, Jenbacher engines are at the heart of a newly expanded landfill gas-to-energy project, hailed by President Felipe Calderón as “a model renewable energy project” for Latin America. The 12 MW project converts gas from the Simeprode landfill near Monterrey into electricity, which is used to support the solid waste facility's operations as well as Monterrey‘s light-rail system during the day and city street lights at night.

In a sprawling commercial tomato greenhouse outside of Amsterdam, the world's first commercial 24-cylinder gas engine is in operation. The Royal Pride Holland project is made possible by two Jenbacher units, which were installed in a pilot project to demonstrate the engine's commercial viability for the horticultural industry. It highlights the increased emphasis on combined heat and power in Europe as the region increases its focus on energy efficiency.

Thousands of miles to the east, Jenbacher gas engines are at work in a far different way, using biogas created from chicken manure to generate power and heat at a large chicken farm north of Beijing.

The plant is the first of its type in China, and could pave the way for similar applications in the future. Providing 14,600 MWh of electricity per year, the project is designed to help reduce suburban electricity shortages. By using the biogas for power generation instead of coal, the new project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 95,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year.