Date: Monday, 16th July 2018
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm (Lunch & Networking)
Host: University of NSW & Ash Development Association of Australia
Cost: Free (Register to a secure seat)
Venue: University of NSW, Tyree Room (Detailed directions provided after registration)
Background
Coal Combustion Products (CCPs) - also often referred to as "coal ash" - are solid materials produced when coal is burned to generate electricity. There are many good reasons to view CCPs as resources when managed effectively, rather than a waste with associated liabilities and costs. Using CCPs conserves natural resources, saves energy and avoids future liabilities for Generators. Products made from CCPs can perform better than products made without it.
Coal continues to be the largest energy source for electricity generation within Australia, moreover throughout the world, and significant volumes of CCPs continue to be produced and stored. Over 1.2 billion tonnes of coal ash was produced in 2017 (Heidrich, 2017). During this workshop, we bring together a number of international speakers to share their experiences from North America and discuss how coal fired power generators are addressing the challenge of Utilisation Opportunities and Threats.
Speakers
Ken Ladwig, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Sr. Technical Executive
Presentation: EPRI Research on Management of Coal Combustion Products
Management of Coal Combustion Products (CCPs) presents both significant environmental challenges and essential beneficial use opportunities to the electric power industry. EPRI has had active research programs addressing environmental issues related to CCP disposal and technologies for beneficial use since the 1980s. Disposal research is currently focused primarily on groundwater assessment tools and remediation alternatives. Current research on beneficial use targets the harvesting and beneficiation of CCPs stored in ponds and landfills, use of fly ash that does not meet typical specifications for concrete applications, and use of flue gas desulfurization gypsum in agricultural applications. This presentation will provide a brief background on EPRI and summary of current CCP research.
Dr. Bob Jewell, Research Program Manager Environmental & Coal Technologies Center for Applied Energy Research University of Kentucky
Presentation: Functional, Low-Energy, Low-CO2, Low Cost, Sustainable Materials from Coal Combustion Byproducts
International perspective on materials sustainability and research is evolving. An ever-increasing push for affordable higher performing materials with a reduced impact on the environment is trending as the new norm. With less emphasis on basic ash research, industry and federal sponsors have redirected focus towards functionalizing construction materials. Beyond the benefits coal ash provides in the manufacture of a durable, lower cost, concrete product; the development of high-value niche applications for quality coal ash is on the rise. Increasing construction coupled with increasing niche product development have concerned some industry material suppliers on the long-term sourcing of quality fly ash, rejuvenating research in beneficiating technologies for ponded and landfilled ash.
Ari Lewis, Gradient, Principal
Presentation: Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Beneficial Use Evaluation Under the CCR Rule and Other US Regulatory Updates
The 2015 Federal US Rule regulating the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) not only changed regulations for disposal of CCR, but also its beneficial reuse. Specifically, the Federal Rule introduced several criteria that must be met in order for a CCR application to qualify as a lawful beneficial reuse. One of the criteria requires a demonstration that the beneficial use poses no risk to human health and the environment. This presentation will summarize US EPA's guidance for evaluating risk related to this criterion and will also provide an update of key regulatory developments regulated to CCR disposal in the US.
Prof Stephen Foster, UNSW Civil Engineering Director, Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety (CIES)
Presentation: 6 years on, what we have learned about geoplymer concretes
Professor Foster is Head of School, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Australia. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, Honorary Member of the CIA, a member Australian Standards Committee BD2, Chairman of sub-committee BD2/1 “Strength”, BD2/6 “Fibre Reinforced Concrete” and BD2/9 “Geopolymer Concrete”. He is elected Deputy Chair of the Technical Council of the International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib). Dr Foster has over 300 publications in the field of structural concrete, with textbooks on Reinforced Concrete and Prestressed Concrete. His main research interests are in the fields of bringing new materials technologies to the design concrete structures.
Craig Heidrich, CEO Ash Development Association of Australia
Presentation: The new operating paradigm for coal combustion products
New beneficial uses for CCPs are continually under development, but which ones have potential to succeed? The Association in partnership with researchers and upstream users are currently focusing heavily on large volume disruptive technologies with significant potential for reclaiming CCPs that have already been placed into storage. This presentation will discuss the new operating paradigm for coal combustion products.
The Association in partnership with researchers and upstream users are currently focusing heavily on large volume disruptive technologies with significant potential for reclaiming CCPs that have already been placed into storage. Other countries are already exploring ways to recover CCPs from ash impoundments to secure ongoing suypply to existing hard won markets in the construction sectors.
The aim(s) of this Workshop will be to present and discuss;
- International Perspectives on Utilisation Opportunities and Threats with three (3) preeminent US researchers and leaders in the field coal combustion products
- Share perspectives ‘The Coal Ash Disposal Rule’ – lessons learned, what ‘risk factors’ generators face operating long term ash impoundments [dams], opposed to implementing full utilization strategies
- Our seven (7) years journey within the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living – demystifying the specification, manufacturing and testing of geopolymer concretes
- Review of coal combustion product collected data, trends and current research focus
- Current processing capacity, utilisation and long-term storage forecast to 2025 – costs and implications
During the day we will explore and explain the likely impacts from the changing landscape of coal-fired power on CCP generation, processing, use and regulatory implications.
This will be an essential event for anyone responsible for:
- Marketing and sales of CCPs
- Environment management and reporting of CCPs
- Operations and Asset management of CCPs
- Legal council
- Strategic management of CCPs.
The Association looks forward to your involvement and contribution to this important Workshop about Coal Combustion Products: International Perspectives on Utilisation Opportunities and Threats.
Please register below to secure your place in the workshop.