Keep Murray River flowing – for electricity?
Anyone who’s considered the power requirements for a seawater desalination plant knows it takes a lot of energy to get salt out of water. A lesser-known fact is that energy is actually produced when freshwater mixes with the salty ocean. Now a team in The Netherlands is working to harness this energy, with the potential to generate huge amounts of power wherever large rivers meet the sea.
Writing in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the Dutch researchers claim, “mixing 1m3 of freshwater with 1m3 of salt water could yield 1.5 megajoules of energy”. (Go to: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es9004224?cookieSet=1)
Scientists discovered electrical power could be derived by adding salt water to freshwater in the 1950s, but no one had ever measured just how much energy could actually be harvested, says Dr Bert Hamelers of Wageningen University. He constructed a reverse electrodialysis stack consisting of alternating anion- and cation-exchange membranes separating thin compartments of river water and seawater, sandwiched between a cathode at one end and an anode at the other.
The flow of sodium and chlorine ions across the membranes sets up an electric current that produces energy (go to: http://mtg.tnw.utwente.nl/teaching/assign/blue/ for more detailed explanation). Mixing one cubic meter of freshwater and saltwater could yield 0.417kWh of energy, “and more than 80% of the energy could be recovered” claim the researchers. That means 0.33kWh of usable energy per cubic meter of riverwater entering an ocean.
Considering the average discharge of the River Murray (pictured) is 767m3/s, if the researchers are correct then a 1MW power plant could be built at the mouth of Australia’s biggest river (also assuming plans to get the river flowing again eventually pay off).
But Australia is the driest inhabited continent. The output of the Amazon River, for example, is 219,000m3/s – about 18.9GL a day – which is more than 280 times more water greater than flowing from the Murray (even in a good year!).
The most likely test site for the technology, however, is the 75-year old Afsluitfijk dike in the north of The Netherlands. Hamelers says a reverse electrodialysis plant at this location could possibly generate 300MW of electricity. A kilowatt-scale pilot project at the site is expected to launch by the end of this year. Story sourced from Environmental Management News (http://www.environmentalmanagementnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=980443)
The Crisis of Credit visualised
Ever wondered how the great GFC (Global Financial Crisis) occurred?
A video has been produced by Jonathan Jarvis as part of his thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
To see the video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oosq3TPgHH0. Information about this video was provided by Martin Dolan of the Results in Business Institute (www.ribi.biz)
Sweden – to ban phosphates in dishwasher detergents
In its upcoming maritime policy bill, the Government intends to introduce a ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents for private use. The aim is that the use of phosphates in detergents and cleaning agents should be reduced and eventually replaced altogether with more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
The Government wants to introduce a ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents for private use from July 1, 2011. The ban, which is part of the maritime policy bill that the Government will soon present to the Riksdag, means that it will not be permitted to manufacture or market dishwasher detergents with a phosphorus content of more than 0.5 per cent by weight. A ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents will mean a further reduction in phosphorus emissions of 20 tonnes pa.
Sweden's Minister of the Environment Andreas Carlgren said "This is a very cost-effective measure to reduce Sweden's phosphorus emissions in aquatic environments. The reduced phosphate emissions in Sweden from detergents and cleaning agents will have a positive effect on the eutrophication situation, primarily in the Baltic Sea. It will also help us achieve the environmental quality objective Zero eutrophication". Eutrophication is a process where water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth (eg algae).
The Government has introduced a ban from 1 September 2008 on retail sales of laundry detergents containing phosphates. This measure means that phosphorus emissions in aquatic environments are estimated to drop by 30 tonnes per year.
Current phosphorus emissions from detergents and cleaning agents come from private waste water systems that lack treatment capacity for phosphorus. Phosphorus emissions from sources such as detergents and cleaning agents contribute to eutrophication in lakes and seas. Larger Swedish waste water treatment plants remove at least 95 per cent of phosphorus. However, there are a number of smaller treatment plants that do not achieve this level of phosphorus removal.
A ceiling of 0.5 per cent by weight is to be set to accommodate phosphate residues from manufacturers who produce detergents both with and without phosphates on the same production lines. By permitting 0.5 per cent phosphorus levels, manufacturers can continue to use phosphates in their products.
This Story was sourced from the Resource Recovery Forum (www.resourcesnotwaste.org)
Victorian Turf Club’s water savings
Cranbourne Turf Club’s water savings that cut its water bill by more than 50 times was singled out as an example for water users in Melbourne by public sector water retailer South East Water. The club slashed more than 98% of its water consumption over the past year through investment in a dam and recycled water use.
Cranbourne Turf Club’s (http://www.cranbourneturfclub.com.au/strategy) to reduce its reliance on mains water and improve on site water efficiency has focused on constructing a 25 million litre storage dam, installing an automatic irrigation system, using Class A recycled water and altering the way water is applied.
The irrigation storage dam will essentially enable the club to become drought-proof and provide a leading example to other racecourse venues throughout Victoria. The club has saved 60ML of water and has reduced its annual water bill from $57,322 to just $1016. For more on this story go to:
http://www.environmentalmanagementnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=1002706
Leading in turbulent times: International Business School and You Tube
The well renowned International Business School, IMD, based in Lausanne, Switzerland has gone to You Tube to get some of its messages across.
In this latest update of the Leading in Turbulent Times video series, Professor Jean-Pierre Lehmann (pictured) comments on how protectionism could make the current global downturn dramatically worse. He stresses that business leadership is critical at this stage if we are to avoid the mistakes of the past.
The latest in the video series include:
Protectionism - How can we avoid the mistakes of the 1930's?
Jean-Pierre Lehmann - IMD Professor, International Political Economy
How will organization design change as a result of the current crisis?
Anand Narasimhan - IMD Professor of Organizational Behavior
How can companies innovate in these challenging times?
Don Marchand - Professor of Strategy Execution and Information Management
To see the series go to: http://www.youtube.com/imd
Event 1: Developing Creative Leadership Capabilities
The Creative Leadership Forum is conducting Free ½ day seminars on the topic of "Developing Corporate Creative Leadership Capabilities"
Ralph Kerle, Executive Chairman of the Creative Leadership Forum and Founder of the Creative Skills Training Council will provide updates on his research "Is Australian management creative and innovative?" and launch a new unique diagnostic tool "The Creative Leadership Index" (the CLI) which enables the mapping and understanding of creative leadership, creativity and innovation capabilities within organisations from the perspectives of behaviours, attitudes and practices.
This tool has been designed specifically to assist organisations in understanding their capabilities for business model innovation and transformational change - vital areas in considering strategies for survival in these uncertain times.
The seminar will contain a short background presentation on the research results, a guided tour through the CLI and a facilitated peer to peer discussion around the application of creativity and innovation in organisations.
Sydney
8.30-12.30 Monday 6 April - Morning Tea Provided
2:00-5.30 Monday 18 May - Afternoon Tea Provided
For further information and to attend FREE: gc@thecreativeleadershipforum.com contact Grant Crossley: m: +61 (0) 408 844 009 or go to http://www.thecreativeleadershipforum.com/free-creative-leaders-half-day/
Event 2: Recycling Plastics and Rubber Tyres for Steelmaking
Hundreds of thousands of used car tyres could be recycled every year and turned into steel, thanks to a discovery that rubber can be partially substituted for coke in electric arc furnaces.
Professor Veena Sahajwalla, will discuss how the new technology not only removes used tyres from the waste stream but also cuts the energy demands and costs associated with steelmaking.
Monday April 20, 2009 at 6:30pm for 7.00pm at University of Wollongong. For more information see the Clipboard column in this magazine or enquiries@futureworld.org.au Phone: 02 4274 2939 Fax: 02 4274 4725
Event 3: A low carbon economy based on renewable energy
In this public lecture Barney Foran from the Fenner Centre for Research and Environmental Studies at the ANU will be describing and testing the renewable energy transition to 2050, as well as discussing essential technologies, the science-based approach to modelling whole economy transitions, and flaws in today’s mindset, policy and economics.
Dr Foran was the first speaker and has subsequently chaired the current series of ten seminars on renewable energy held at the Australian Academy of Sciences in Canberra.
Tuesday April 21, 2009 at 6:30pm for 7.00pm at University of Wollongong Northfields Avenue, North Wollongong. For more information see the Clipboard column in this magazine or enquiries@futureworld.org.au Phone: 02 4274 2939 Fax: 02 4274 4725
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