tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post5644930722228874547..comments2024-03-29T07:54:12.874+00:00Comments on MEI's Barry Wills: Much confusion in the reaction to the news of the UK's first new deep coalmine for 30 yearsMEIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-74623689949360889042020-10-16T15:44:11.949+01:002020-10-16T15:44:11.949+01:00Providing they will listen Jacques. Providing they will listen Jacques. MEIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-46162409415615680262020-10-16T14:08:35.326+01:002020-10-16T14:08:35.326+01:00Barry, yes, there remains a huge confusion amongst...Barry, yes, there remains a huge confusion amongst the public about the metallurgical coal versus thermal coal. Metallurgical coal remains essential for iron & steelmaking (even though about 20% of the carbon load can be replaced by hydrogen, and that is not the metallurgical coal portion anyway, but the thermal coal fines injected via the tuyeres for BF heating). The blast furnace remains the most effective thermal heat transfer reactor for ironmaking and the COx gas from that point source is easy to sequester if required. Given that hydrogen comes predominantly (>94%) from fossil fuels anyway and green hydrogen is still quite expensive if it is to be compressed and shipped (rather than pumped over the fence), I don’t see how other alternatives are changing the industry. Given that one needs steel for wind turbines and supporting infrastructure for solar, the whole argument against metallurgical coal is just stupid. Thermal coal is another matter altogether and non-fossil (nuclear and renewables) energy sources are clearly winning. A lot of public education around metallurgical coal is required.Jacques Eksteenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10242176558870873975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-28051069584969855862020-10-13T09:48:59.186+01:002020-10-13T09:48:59.186+01:00Hi Alan
Add the mining industry to the list of hi...Hi Alan<br /><br />Add the mining industry to the list of historical evils, due to much irresponsible mining in the past (and not always the distant past). But now the mining majors are really promoting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) protocol, but we cannot just rely on the most responsible companies. Governments have a critical role to play in reducing mining’s carbon footprint and bringing all the actors to the same standard.MEIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-39787065165484188802020-10-12T19:31:16.845+01:002020-10-12T19:31:16.845+01:00An interesting blog with some very good points. I ...An interesting blog with some very good points. I don’t know whether the mining sector has a sort of national policy related to new projects but the oil and gas sector has had no option but to communicate how they will attempt to achieve zero carbon targets. Mind you, the oil and gas sector is judged to be the one of the great historical evils.......forget cheap energy, medicines, fuels, manufacturing and so on......its products are more widely used, I suspect, than any other. The ‘OGA’, Oil and Gas Authority has devised one interesting ‘arrow for its quiver’ which is the ‘transition to zero carbon’ .......reduce usage gradually over time to enable replacement technologies. We’re working on offshore Gas2Wire, electricity generation to replace traditional modes of gas production. Google ‘Gas2Wire forum’ which describes some of the stuff going on. <br />Regards, Alan<br />Alan Minty, Wilmslow, UKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-19085472018315140372020-10-12T12:47:20.973+01:002020-10-12T12:47:20.973+01:00Good points Sam. Yes, I believe you are right rega...Good points Sam. Yes, I believe you are right regarding difficulties in recycling the bladesMEIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-74514687227978348002020-10-12T12:38:00.382+01:002020-10-12T12:38:00.382+01:00I would like to differ with you Barry; Academies r...I would like to differ with you Barry; Academies related to GEOENGINEERING (starting from exploration to mining to processing to extraction to environment) have failed to educate the politicians with sound reasons/alternatives available --scientists and engineers belonging to earth sciences are more busy with their comfortable areas of R&D, worrying more about publishing papers with high impact factors etc. Minerals are finite/site specific/non-renewable and God's gift-- those working in these areas are the custodians of this treasure and should take the responsivity to come out with path breaking innovative technologies to present our case. We lost the standing as "think tanks" for politicians to listen and beauracrats to implement.<br />I may be emotional and my comments may upset many. BUT TIME HAS COME FOR US TO COMEOUT WITH IMPLEMENTABLE AND PROFITABLE ALTERNATIVES.<br /> The above may not be applicable to other disciplines.Rao,T.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11160713677908165404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-37942710361736940922020-10-12T12:37:17.745+01:002020-10-12T12:37:17.745+01:00An excellent summary Barry, thanks for keeping us ...An excellent summary Barry, thanks for keeping us up to date. One thing you didn't mention, aren't Wind Turbine blades made from un-recyclable polymer composites? Offshore wind also has the difficulties of construction and access for maintenance. I'm not convinced there's a good economic case.<br />Sam Wood Sam Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17542027710837922686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-77144822506049312962020-10-12T09:43:39.524+01:002020-10-12T09:43:39.524+01:00Very true Nick, thanks. It is difficult to educate...Very true Nick, thanks. It is difficult to educate politicians, however, as they just don't listenMEIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-44729545435053752772020-10-12T09:25:28.768+01:002020-10-12T09:25:28.768+01:00Truth and facts, this is exactly what is needed, a...Truth and facts, this is exactly what is needed, and it all stems from education, if we do not educate children about what enables them to have the comforts that they are lucky to have how can we ever progress and improve things.. It certainly does not help with Exeter University announcing the "pause" to the Mining Education undergraduate degree course at Camborne School of Mines where mining education has been taught for over 130 years. Despite what is said in the press mining brings a huge amount of money into the UK economy and without it we will suffer as a nation. NickWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02319261756715226789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-32889232838179173532020-10-12T05:48:43.310+01:002020-10-12T05:48:43.310+01:00Barry, you gave all aspects of all forms of "...Barry, you gave all aspects of all forms of "energy generation" in a capsule form.<br /> Being not an expert but familiar with the subject, let me express my thoughts in my way.<br />Any of the methods mentioned need metals(to make containers)/industrial minerals (to make structures)/composites etc. So mining is "a must".<br />All these methods produce either emissions and/ or waste materials--and have environmental impact in some form or other, though the degree to which may be different.<br />So, for me, the main question is "have we done focused and intensive research on how to convert gases emitted or waste generated from any of these methods into useful/usable forms?<br />It is a global problem and going to be more alarming as the developing countries become more "energy hungry".<br />Let us document in detail on "what is the environmentally not acceptable thing we do to produce energy by any method--then come out with the most economical and acceptable method to produce energy.<br />I may not have expressed well but what you have put in the BLOG is multidimensional-<br />Still, MINERALS are the" backbone of development".Rao,T.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11160713677908165404noreply@blogger.com