In today’s talking points: Renewables gain pace, emissions rise, as Global Economy steadily builds; Autonomous vehicles soon to get moving on mine sites; Methane seen as clean energy resource for China in the face of closing coal mines; No green future on the horizon despite growth in renewables, says OPEC
Renewables gain pace, emissions rise, as Global Economy steadily builds
While emissions continue to steadily decline in the EU and US, China is accounting for much of this year’s increase of CO2 emissions worldwide, with a 3.5 percent rise to 10.5 billion tonnes. According to the 2017 Global Carbon Budget, expected expansion of worldwide GDP in 2018 will increase emissions from industry and fossil fuel, sending emissions higher for at least another year. In contrast, due to falling costs of renewables, more than half of new electricity generation capacity is clean energy, with worldwide growth averaging 14.4 percent annually in the past five years.
Read more at: Sydney Morning Herald
Autonomous vehicles soon to get moving on mine sites
Driverless cars are beginning to make appearances not only on our roads, but also in our mines. The Chief Executive of Gina Rinehart’s Western Australian Roy Hill iron ore mine, Barry Fitzgerald, announced that the mine would begin phasing in autonomous vehicles from late 2018. Despite bringing in driverless vehicles, Fitzgerald remained optimistic about job security for staff, stating, “We’re of the view that people do need to achieve their potential. And so we will work with them, and I think you’ll see that there’ll be some people re-skilled (and) re-trained.”
Read more at: Sydney Morning Herald
Methane seen as clean energy resource for China in the face of closing coal mines
With around 1,000 coal mines closing nationwide this year, coal producers are eyeing off the Shanxi province’s 31.1 billion cubic meters of proven Coalbed Methane (CBM) reserves. While the country’s fight against pollution means phasing out coal mining enterprises over China, there is a growing encouragement of the alternative utilization of CBM. With the Shanxi bureau estimating 5,000 square km of sealed-off coal mines bearing up to 210 billion cubic metres of CBM, further research and development of safer processes of collection and treating is underway.
Read more at: Xinhua
No green future on the horizon despite growth in renewables, says OPEC
The latest World Oil Outlook 2017 report, developed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), suggests that natural gas and shale oil will power the world in the years to come, far more so than renewable energy will. However, renewable energy is predicted to have the highest growth rate, growing at 6.8 per cent per annum until 2040. Coal powered energy consumption is expected to peak in 2035 and then begin declining, although, according to OPEC, “fossil fuels will still retain a dominant role in the global energy mix.”
Read more at: Sydney Morning Herald