Andrew and list:
1. I agree that BECS will benefit, but want to urge inclusion of
biochar in the list of beneficiaries. Google for “biochar Hope Mine” to see a
very successful application of biochar in recovering mine land.
2. There have also been arguments against biochar by its few opponents
because recovering land using biochar would cause increased fossil use. I
think this view to be misguided.
Ron
On Nov 12, 2014, at 11:50 PM, Andrew Lockley <[email protected]> wrote:
> Poster's note : scale limited but interesting. Plenty of opportunity for BECS
> use.
>
> http://m.miningweekly.com/article/biogas-power-generation-has-huge-potential-for-postmining-land-use-2014-11-07-1
>
> Biogas power generation has huge potential for postmining land use
>
> 7th November 2014 BY: CHANTELLE KOTZE
>
> Global climate change and the need for sustainable land rehabilitation in the
> mining industry are prompting mining companies to reassess their approach to
> postmining land use to ensure that they leave a positive legacy, notes carbon
> advisory firm Promethium Carbon directorRobbie Louw.
>
> The importance of end land use and mine closure planning in South Africa has
> become increasingly important through substantial regulation and legislation
> requiring mining land to be left in an improved state.
>
> While this legislation has resulted in benefits, such as the protection of
> groundwater and ecosystems, it has also imposed stringent requirements for
> postmining land use, says Louw.“
>
> Land that has been subject to mining activities can often not be used in the
> short term for one of its most important functions – agriculture – as it is
> known to have low soil fertility and is often contaminated by acid mine
> drainage. This means that mining companies are typically restricted to
> rehabilitating their land to grasslands or vegetated landscapes with little
> beneficial use,” he explains.
>
> Despite this challenge, some mining companies are using innovative approaches
> that simultaneously combine renewable energy with biogas and land
> rehabilitation.
>
> Carbon adviser at Promethium Carbon Katie Ross acknowledges the challenge,
> but believes that there is significant potential to develop alternative
> postmining land uses in the mining sector.“
>
> Mining companies can consider several postmine land uses, such as the
> creation of carbon sinks and transforming rehabilitated mine land into energy
> crop plantations for a renewable biogas production system to supply other
> industries,” she says.
>
> These projects also have co-benefits, such as soil remediation, carbon
> credits, reduced mine-closure liability, reduced potential exposure to carbon
> tax and job creation.Time to Change
>
> Energy is becoming an increasingly expensive resource; carbon emissions are
> becoming constrained and companies are realising that time and money need to
> be invested in more radical abatement efforts.
>
> These efforts are, however, challenged by the need to meet several other
> objectives, such as the supply of low-cost energy and reduced mine closure
> liabilities, says Ross. She points out, however, that initiatives, such as
> renewable- energy generation from methane and process waste streams, are
> excellent ways of meeting these objectives.
>
> With carbon tax set to be implemented in South Africa from 2016, carbon
> abatement projects will have additional incentives beyond cost savings. Ross
> notes that carbon tax, coupled with an 8% electricity tariff increase in the
> country over the next five years, means that carbon and energy savings are
> not only environmental considerations but also business imperatives.Energy
> company Uhuru Energy managing and technical director
>
> David Sonnenberg, who is also a proponent for biogas generation in the mining
> industry, believes that three aspects of biogas projects make them a viable
> end land use option in Africa.Firstly, biogas projects are typically
> large-scale, which makes them more viable as the biomass-to-energy ratio is
> lowered.
>
> Secondly, the industry needs a viable technology that can be adapted to
> conditions in Africa. The use of locally manufactured materials is also vital
> in lowering costs. For example, a spatially efficient plant lowers basic
> capital and costs.
>
> Lastly, using bespoke crops that produce high yields of biogas can improve
> the yield of biogas, says Sonnenberg.
>
> Challenges
>
> Sonnenberg believes that investment in the biogas sector is being deterred by
> a lack of incentive schemes that will make establishing such projects more
> affordable. Until recently, only nongovernmental organisations, European
> governments and climate mitigation agencies provided support for biogas in
> South Africa.
>
> There is also an overriding fear of using food crops for biogas production in
> South Africa, he says, which Sonnenberg attributes to a lack of understanding
> and awareness among the general public, which hinders opportunities in and
> the development of the sector.
>
> This also includes a lack of support from rural communities to supply this
> energy.
>
> Meanwhile, Ray Lombard, business development director of Clarke Energy, a
> distributor and service provider for US industrial group General Electric
> Power & Water, attributes the highly technical nature of biogas production to
> South Africa and Africa’s lack of interest in it. Nevertheless, Lombard says
> South Africa is attracting international specialists in biogas production,
> which means there is hope for the future.Another significant challenge is the
> lack of spark spread in the country inhibiting the viability of establishing
> biogas projects. However, Lombard notes that the higher the electricity
> price, the larger the spark spread will become and the more viable biogas
> production will become.
>
> He notes that South Africa lacks the necessary transmission and distribution
> infrastructure to help put electricity back on State-owned power utility
> Eskom’s national grid, which may not bode well for alternative industries
> wanting to put electricity back onto the grid.
>
> Biogas Opportunities
>
> Biogas development can be used at mines for baseload electrical power as a
> fuel for vehicles and haul trucks, and as energy for the on-site
> beneficiation of minerals.Besides creating sustainable local jobs, biogas
> development can also promote skills development and provide an opportunity
> for mining companies to develop local communities as part of its corporate
> social initiatives.
>
> Sonnenberg believes South Africa has significant biogas potential, owing to
> the many square kilometres of unused marginal and mining land, and the high
> unemployment in rural areas.He says damaged land can not only be
> rehabilitated but can also become income-generating assets for local
> communities, in addition to suppressing dust and reducing the land’s carbon
> footprint when used for biogas development.
>
> Lombard adds that, while there is currently not enough support in Africa to
> make large-scale biogas production a reality, he believes that smaller-scale
> biogas production plants can be established at the wastewater treatment
> works, mines or manufacturing facilities of several African countries, in
> remote locations as well as in urban areas.
>
> Leader of the PackGold mining major Harmony Gold Mining Company’s (Harmony’s)
> novel approach to rehabilitating mining land entails following environmental
> best practice to reduce negative long-term operational impact, while also
> remaining cognisant of climate change, says CEO Graham Briggs.Harmony has
> developed a long-term land rehabilitation strategy comprising two elements.
>
> The first pertains to the creation of carbon sinks on mining-affected land,
> as the proper restoration of former mined land could capture large quantities
> of atmospheric carbon dioxide.Instead of following standard rehabilitation
> practices, such as grassing, Harmony plants species – such as sweet sorghum,
> sugar beet and giant king grass – which are known for their high carbon
> sequestration potential.Briggs says Harmony is finalising a plan to establish
> a carbon sink on the tailings. “Should the regulator accept this as a viable
> rehabilitation strategy, a vast amount of our landholding will be available
> for carbon sequestration.”
>
> “In future, we might also use our sequestration projects to generate carbon
> credits, which could be used to offset South Africa’s proposed carbon tax,”
> he adds.The second element of Harmony’s rehabilitation strategy is to plant
> energy crops on mine-impacted land that has zero economic value.
>
> Once harvested, these crops will be converted into renewable energy, in the
> form of biogas, through an anaerobic digestion process.
>
> The biogas will be used to replace fossil fuels in Harmony’s metallurgical
> plants.The implementation of the first phase of this R47-million bioenergy
> project, which was launched in September, can replace 71 000 GJ of fossil
> fuel, securing 11 permanent jobs.
>
> The first phase, which is earthworks, is in the implementation stage and
> involves rehabilitating the surface of the land. This will be followed by
> soil conditioning for crop cultivation and the growth of the different crops,
> refurbishment of the plant equipment and installation of the anaerobic
> digester.
>
> Once the plant is fully operational and the concept has been proven, Harmony
> will ramp up the plant to 185 000 GJ, at a cost of about R140-million, over
> an 18-month period. This phase could create about 200 direct and indirect
> jobs.
>
> Harmony is planting energy crops on 100 ha of mine-impacted land, in the Free
> State, for the proof-of-concept project and an additional 250 ha for the ramp
> up of the plant.
>
> Future Biogas Opportunities
>
> Uhuru Energy is undertaking a feasibility study and hopes to start producing
> liquefied biogas (LBG) as an alternative cofuel to diesel on a 60:40
> LBG/diesel ratio at the first mining site in South Africa by the end of 2015.
> This project aims to reduce the miner’s fuel costs by 30% and to
> substantially lower its carbon emissions.
>
> The company is also undertaking feasibility studies and working with catalyst
> companies to manufacture small-scale catalyst systems to turn biogas to
> biomethanol and biohydrogen for use in fuel cells in rural areas.
>
> To achieve these objectives, Sonnenberg believes it will take only 250 ha to
> replace ten-million litres of diesel a year, or 1 500 ha to create 60 MW of
> baseload electricity.
>
>
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