Waste management specialist The Niramax Group, has overhauled its alternative fuel production line with the switch to new shredding technology. The move is expected to boost capacity for the Hartlepool-headquartered organisation, by as much as 30% per year.

Previously operating a high-speed system to transform pre-sorted commercial and industrial waste into a refined SRF for use in combined heat and power plants, the Niramax development team was encountering repeated problems with machine damage, unplanned downtime and excessive wear costs.

Keen to boost the reliability, throughput and profitability of the plant, Niramax has therefore re-evaluated the marketplace and made the switch to an UNTHA XR3000 mobil-e with new XC cutting configuration.

The purchase of the energy-efficient machine follows a successful trial on the Hartlepool site, where operators put the XR to the test using their own materials.

UNTHA XR3000 mobil-e with new XC cutting configuration

Despite the varying and often challenging nature of the input waste, the shredder was able to achieve a homogenous, on-specification <80mm SRF at a continued rate of 30 tonnes per hour. With in-built foreign object protection mechanisms, the shredder came to a stop – safely and without causing machine damage – so that any unshreddables could be safely ejected.

Elaborating on the trial, Niramax’s Managing Director, Nick Elliot said: “We soon learned that UNTHA’s clever foreign object design feature protects our operators as they don’t need to ‘enter’ the machine at any point to investigate the issue. Our machine is protected from excessive wear and potentially costly damage too.

“At the same time, we’re safeguarding the quality of our fuel and maintaining consistent throughputs, which means we can deliver clients’ expectations with ease, and further boost the capacity of our site.”

Now fully operational, the UNTHA SRF shredder is expected to achieve fuel consumption savings of up to 40%. Supplied on rubber tracks with integrated discharge conveyor and cross-belt magnet, it boasts a quick-change cutting system which provides maximum flexibility should Niramax wish to vary their in-feed processes or output specifications.

Commenting on the project, UNTHA UK’s sales director Gary Moore said: “For years, the industry has been persuaded that high speed operations are the only way to achieve impressive throughput volumes. But the production of RDF and SRF is a complex process, not least because the input materials can contain anything from chunks of metal to rigid plastics, textiles, film and more.

“High speed machines simply can’t withstand the pressures that come with processing these tricky and often unexpected wastes, which means at best they encounter continued, costly wear, if not disruptive breakdowns that soon limit the throughputs the operator seeks.

“They risk jeopardising the safety of the plant too, which can no longer be tolerated. Engineering advancements mean slower speed, high torque operations can now satisfy capacity requirements without the same downtime, environmental, financial and safety risks.”

UNTHA UK has launched a series of flexible finance packages with zero deposit and VAT deferment options – plus varied customer support programmes – to help the waste industry keep moving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sulzer has made an investment to acquire 25% of Tamturbo Plc. Founded in 2010, Tamturbo is a technology company that develops and manufactures oil-free industrial air compressor systems. Tamturbo’s disruptive solutions enable cleaner, more energy-efficient and close-to maintenance-free compressed air production with next generation Touch-Free™ compressor technology.

The successful co-operation with Sulzer started in 2018 with a sales and supply agreement as Tamturbo’s oil-free industrial air compressors fit well with Sulzer’s lower pressure compressor offerings in industries such as pulp and paper, food, metals, mining and chemical processing. Tamturbo will complement Sulzer’s portfolio well, leading to scale effects from Sulzer’s strong industrial brand reputation, its experience in manufacturing similar compressor products, its capillary worldwide sales and service network, and its access to key suppliers.

Tamturbo sold their first air compressors in 2017. The company’s sales grew strongly in 2019. In 2019, the company served several of the world’s largest companies within the food, beverage, paper and electronics industries, and is already making in-roads into providing compressed-air products to large household names.

Frédéric Lalanne, President of Sulzer’s Pumps Equipment Division, says, “Tamturbo complements our existing offering in industrial air compressors with its disruptive technology that minimizes cost of ownership. By joining forces, we’ll be well placed to serve a strongly growing industrial automation market with increasing demand for compressed air. Tamturbo has done an outstanding job since inception and we are very happy for Sulzer to have a tight collaboration and support their growth”.

“We are excited to welcome a company with the size and reputation of Sulzer as a significant partner in our venture. Sulzer have had a leading position in the low-pressure market with high-speed turbo compressor products in the past 20 years. We can now join our efforts together using Tamturbo’s higher-pressure products to address a market which is significantly larger.” – says Timo Pulkki, CEO of Tamturbo.

About Sulzer

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class manufacturing facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2019, our 16’500 employees delivered revenues of CHF3.7 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN).

www.sulzer.com

About Tamturbo

Tamturbo is a Finnish industrial growth company in the cleantech sector that enables cleaner and more energy-efficient industrial compressed air production with a new generation of Touch-Free™ compressor technology and service models that add value to customers. Tamturbo develops and manufactures air compressors, which offer a more environmentally friendly solution that is completely oil-free, energy-efficient and a long-lasting option which is significantly cheaper for the customer than traditional technology in terms of total cost of ownership. It is possible to implement the solution as an Air-as-a-Service business model, in which case the customer only pays for the compressed air they use. Tamturbo operates in a fast-growing market and its growth is supported by global megatrends. The Company aims to continue its strong growth in the medium and long term.

www.tamturbo.com

2019 data shows a 38% rise in overall support for the production of fossil fuels

As governments design stimulus measures for economies hit by the Covid-19 crisis, they should seize the opportunity of historically low oil prices to redirect some of the half a trillion dollars spent annually supporting fossil fuels into sustainable investment including low-carbon energy, according to the OECD and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Government support for the production and consumption of fossil fuels totalled USD 478 billion in 2019, according to analysis of 77 economies by the OECD and the IEA. While that marks an overall decline from 2018 as lower oil prices meant governments spent less subsidising energy costs for end-users, the data also show a 38% rise in direct and indirect support for the production of fossil fuels across 44 advanced and emerging economies.

“I am saddened to see some backsliding on efforts to phase out fossil fuel support. This rise in production subsidies seems set to continue in 2020 with some countries targeting state aid to fossil fuel and related industries,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “Subsidising fossil fuels is an inefficient use of public money and serves to worsen greenhouse emissions and air pollution. While our foremost concern today must be to support economies and societies through the Covid-19 crisis, we should seize this opportunity to reform subsidies and use public funds in a way that best benefits people and the planet.”

G20 countries pledged in 2009 to gradually phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. As well as encouraging consumption, fossil fuel subsidies are an ineffective way to support low-income households compared to targeted benefits and tend to favour wealthier households that use more fuel and energy. Money spent supporting coal, oil and gas could instead be invested in sustainable energy infrastructure, research and job training. In the Covid-19 climate, subsidies drain resources that could be spent on strengthening health system preparedness and resilience, for example.

The combined OECD-IEA estimate of fossil fuel support in 2019 shows an 18% decline from USD 582 billion in 2018 that is due mostly to the mechanical effect of the drop in global oil prices on consumption subsidies. On the production side, while several countries reduced support for coal production and state aid to coal-fired power plants, others increased support to oil and natural gas industries, mostly through investments in infrastructure, budgetary support to absorb corporate debt or preferential tax treatment for spending on production. 

The OECD’s analysis of budgetary transfers, tax breaks and spending programmes linked to the production and use of coal, oil, gas and other petroleum products in 44 OECD and G20 countries showed total fossil fuel support rose by 10% to USD 178 billion in 2019, ending a five-year downward trend. (See the OECD Inventory of Support Measures for Fossil Fuels and a data visualisation with support by fuel, economic sector and indicator.)  

IEA analysis of government interventions that keep end-user prices artificially low in 42 economies finds that consumption subsidies dropped by USD 120 billion in 2019, largely due to lower market prices. The further plunge in oil prices this year offers a clear chance to wean economies off this support. (See IEA key findings on energy consumption subsidies.)

“Fossil fuel subsidies are a roadblock to achieving a sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 crisis,” said Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA. “Today’s low fossil fuel prices offer countries a golden opportunity to phase out consumption subsidies. As governments look to boost jobs and plan for a better and more resilient future, it is essential to avoid market distortions that favour polluting and inefficient technologies.”

The IEA predicts that the plunge in fossil fuel prices and use catalysed by Covid-19 is set to bring down consumption subsidies to USD 180 billion in 2020, which would be the lowest level since it began tracking the data in 2007. Meanwhile, sharp declines in revenues from oil and gas production make subsidy reforms crucial to ease pressure on public finances in producer economies. (Read more.)

A separate OECD report published today, Building Back Better: A Sustainable, Resilient Recovery after Covid-19, examines ways governments can use stimulus measures to make investments and societal changes that can reduce the likelihood of future shocks and build more resilient and environmentally sustainable societies.

Fossil fuel support data by country

IEA outlook on consumption subsidies

OECD on climate change action

Reduced demand due to economic slowdown in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region, fueled by the COVID-19 outbreak, has led to long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply contract cancellations and cargo deferments by importing countries. This has resulted in low liquefaction capacity utilization. The cascading impact of global LNG supply overhang coupled with reduced demand may lead companies to withhold or delay their capital spends  on upcoming multi-billion-dollar gas projects, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Haseeb Ahmed, Oil and Gas analyst at Global Data, comments: “Amid weakening demand and falling oil and gas prices, capex spends on LNG projects in the MENA region are likely to be deferred during the period 2020-2025. This is likely to cause  delayed commencement of operations of capital intensive projects in the region. Although the duration of these disruptions is uncertain, the capex guidance would likely remain undeterred in the longer term to meet future LNG demand.”

The bidding process of Qatar Petroleum’s Ras Laffan–North Field Expansion project was hampered, leading to the delay in start year by a few months. The financial investment decision (FID) of the project, which was expected to be in 2020, is also likely to be pushed to 2021. Similarly, the start of the Rovuma LNG project, operated by Mozambique Rovuma Venture SpA, is likely to be delayed by a year, as the current crisis has deferred its FID by a year.

Even active terminals are being confronted with challenges induced by COVID-19. The Egyptian LNG terminal has suspended its work till mid-July 2020 given the current market conditions, while the deal among its shareholders - ENI, Naturgy (Union Fenosa’s owners), the Egyptian government, and EGAS, to revive Damietta LNG terminal, fell through.

Ahmed concludes: “While the depressed financial market can prove challenging for LNG companies to find new investors to fund their projects, LNG buyers and suppliers would contemplate strategy revisions to remain competitive in the mid-term. Possible economic recovery coupled with favorable gas policies in the long-term can drive natural gas demand growth in the region; Integrated gas projects, already announced, will be developed.”

• Comments provided by Haseeb Ahmed, Oil and Gas analyst at GlobalData
• ­This report was built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, technology, energy, financial and professional services sectors.