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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
11

Avaliação do consumo de água e da geração de efluentes em uma indústria de processamento de tilápias /

Murakami, Karline Tikae Tani January 2018 (has links)
Orientador: Marcos Franke Pinto / Coorientador: Danielle de Bem Luiz / Coorientador: Elisa Helena Giglio Ponsano / Resumo: O crescimento sustentável da indústria de processamento de tilápia está diretamente relacionado com o uso eficiente de água e com a gestão da qualidade da água devolvida ao meio ambiente. Foi avaliado o uso global de água um uma planta de produção de filé de tilápia, bem como o uso de água em diferentes etapas do processamento. Para isso, foram instalados hidrômetros em 13 pontos do estabelecimento. Em seguida, foram sugeridas ações de minimização visando diminuir o uso de água. O uso global de água foi de 432 m³.dia-1, sendo a etapa de depuração responsável por 40,7% desse volume, seguida das atividades relacionadas com a limpeza (32,3%). As ações de minimização implantadas reduziram 29% do uso de água referente à área limpa do processamento da empresa. Em seguida, foi realizada a caracterização físico-química e microbiológica dos efluentes gerados na indústria para a determinação das suas cargas de poluentes. A indústria, como um todo, gerou um efluente com alta carga de matéria orgânica, sendo as etapas onde há maior contato da água com o pescado e seus resíduos (cabeça, carcaça, carne, pele, sangue e vísceras) as maiores fontes poluidoras. Os parâmetros de DBO, DQO e óleos e graxas apresentaram os valores acima dos limites estabelecidos pela legislação para lançamento em sistemas de esgotamento sanitário ou em corpos hídricos receptores. Isso evidenciou a necessidade de um tratamento prévio do efluente antes do seu descarte. Além disso, foi avaliado o potencial do efluent... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The sustainable growing of the tilapia processing industry is directly related to the efficient use of water and to the management of the quality of water returned to the environment. The global use of water in a tilapia fillet processing plant and the use of water in different processing stages were evaluated. For this, hydrometers were installed at 13 points within the premisses. Additionally, minimization actions were suggested aiming at reducing the water use. It was used 432 m3 .d-1 of water, being the depuration stage responsible for 40.7% of this volume, followed by the general cleaning process of the plant (32.3%). The applied minimization actions reduced in 29% the use of water in the clean area of the processing flow. After this, the physical-chemical and microbiological characterization of the effluents generated by the industry was performed in order to evaluate the pollutant load. The industry, as a whole, produced an effluent with high organic matter load, being the stages in which the water contacts the fish and the solid residues (head, carcass, meat trimmings, skin, blood and viscera) the main pollutant sources. The parameters BOD, COD, oils and greases presented values above the legal limits to dispose in the effluent treatment systems or in the hydric spring. This demonstrated the necessity of a previous treatment of the effluent before it is discarded. Besides that, the potential of the effluent from the depuration stage to be reused for urban purposes and... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor
12

Cleantech SMEs’ Expectations and Perceptions of an Established Community-based Intermediary Moving into their Sector

Dahiya, Sushil January 2013 (has links)
Innovation intermediaries provide a range of services to assist firms during the process of innovation. How SMEs perceive innovation intermediaries is an area of investigation that would provide important information on how innovation intermediaries’ assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the cleantech industry and explores SMEs’ expectations and perceptions of an established community-based intermediary (CBI) moving into their sector. A qualitative research methodology was adopted to collect data from 15 sample SMEs. In regards to SMEs, the findings show that cleantech companies face financing, partnerships, marketing, sales, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. In regards to innovation intermediaries, the findings showcase how CBI, a regional intermediary, is not effective in supporting cleantech SMEs with their sector specific needs or challenges.
13

Argilas pilarizadas: uma tecnologia limpa na reação de isomerização do óxido de estireno / Pillared clays: a clean technology in the isomerization reaction of styrene oxide

Soraia Peres Lima de Souza 30 March 2012 (has links)
Neste trabalho, fracionou-se e tratou-se a argila Brasgel. Esta argila foi pilarizada em vários estágios de facionamento e/ou tratamento com 5 meq de Al / g de argila: (i) Al-PILC, a argila passou por todos os estágios de fracionamento e tratamento (ARG), (ii) Al-PILCFe, a argila não passou pela etapa de retirada de Fe livre (ARGFe) e (iii) Al-PILCFe/silte, a argila não passou pelas etapas de retirada de silte e Fe livre (ARGFE/silte). Em análise por DRX observou-se que as Al-PILCs apresentaram uma distância basal maior que as argilas de partida. A análise textural indicou que as argilas Al-PILCs e ARGs são materiais mesoporosos, com poros do tipo fenda estreita e do tipo fenda, respectivamente. Além disso, as Al-PILCs apresentaram área superficial razoavelmente maior que as ARGs correspondentes. Outras análises feitas nas argilas foram: teor de Si, Fe e Al; CTC; FTIR; TGA e TGD. As argilas Brasgel pilarizadas foram usadas como catalisador na reação de isomerização do óxido de estireno em hexano sob refluxo. A reação foi seletiva na formação de fenilacetaldeído. As argilas Al-PILCFe e Al-PILCFe/silte apresentaram melhor desempenho catalítico (100 % de conversão em 20 min de reação). Assim, as argilas Brasgel pilarizadas se apresentaram como uma Tecnologia Limpa na reação de isomerização do óxido de estireno ao fenilacetaldeído. Palavras-chave: Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Tecnologia Limpa. Química Verde. Argilas Pilarizadas. Isomerização de Epóxidos. / This work, the Brasgel clay was fractionated and treated. The clay was pillared in several stages of fractionation and / or treatment with Al 5 meq / g of clay: (i) Al- PILC, the clay has passed through all stages of treatment and fractionation (ARG), (ii) Al-PILCFe, the clay would not pass the step of removal of free Fe (ARGFe) and (iii) Al-PILCFe/silt, clay has not gone through the steps of removing silt and free Fe (ARGFE/silt). XRD analysis showed that the Al-PILCs showed a basal spacing greater than the starting clays. The textural analysis indicated that the Al-PILCs and ARGs are mesoporous materials, with pore narrow slit type and slit type, respectively. Moreover, the Al-PILCs showed reasonable surface area greater than the corresponding ARGs. Other analyzes were made on clays: the content of Si, Fe and Al; CEC, FTIR, TGA and TGD. Brasgel pillared clays have been used as catalyst in the isomerization reaction of the styrene oxide in refluxing. The reaction was selective for the formation of phenylacetaldehyde. Al-PILCFe and Al-PILCFe/silt clays showed better catalytic performance (100% conversion in 20 min of reaction). Thus, the pillared clays Brasgel presented as a Clean Technology in the isomerization reaction of styrene oxide to phenylacetaldehyde. Keywords: Sustainable Development. Clean Technology. Green Chemistry. Pillared Clays. Isomerization of Epoxides.
14

Argilas pilarizadas: uma tecnologia limpa na reação de isomerização do óxido de estireno / Pillared clays: a clean technology in the isomerization reaction of styrene oxide

Soraia Peres Lima de Souza 30 March 2012 (has links)
Neste trabalho, fracionou-se e tratou-se a argila Brasgel. Esta argila foi pilarizada em vários estágios de facionamento e/ou tratamento com 5 meq de Al / g de argila: (i) Al-PILC, a argila passou por todos os estágios de fracionamento e tratamento (ARG), (ii) Al-PILCFe, a argila não passou pela etapa de retirada de Fe livre (ARGFe) e (iii) Al-PILCFe/silte, a argila não passou pelas etapas de retirada de silte e Fe livre (ARGFE/silte). Em análise por DRX observou-se que as Al-PILCs apresentaram uma distância basal maior que as argilas de partida. A análise textural indicou que as argilas Al-PILCs e ARGs são materiais mesoporosos, com poros do tipo fenda estreita e do tipo fenda, respectivamente. Além disso, as Al-PILCs apresentaram área superficial razoavelmente maior que as ARGs correspondentes. Outras análises feitas nas argilas foram: teor de Si, Fe e Al; CTC; FTIR; TGA e TGD. As argilas Brasgel pilarizadas foram usadas como catalisador na reação de isomerização do óxido de estireno em hexano sob refluxo. A reação foi seletiva na formação de fenilacetaldeído. As argilas Al-PILCFe e Al-PILCFe/silte apresentaram melhor desempenho catalítico (100 % de conversão em 20 min de reação). Assim, as argilas Brasgel pilarizadas se apresentaram como uma Tecnologia Limpa na reação de isomerização do óxido de estireno ao fenilacetaldeído. Palavras-chave: Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Tecnologia Limpa. Química Verde. Argilas Pilarizadas. Isomerização de Epóxidos. / This work, the Brasgel clay was fractionated and treated. The clay was pillared in several stages of fractionation and / or treatment with Al 5 meq / g of clay: (i) Al- PILC, the clay has passed through all stages of treatment and fractionation (ARG), (ii) Al-PILCFe, the clay would not pass the step of removal of free Fe (ARGFe) and (iii) Al-PILCFe/silt, clay has not gone through the steps of removing silt and free Fe (ARGFE/silt). XRD analysis showed that the Al-PILCs showed a basal spacing greater than the starting clays. The textural analysis indicated that the Al-PILCs and ARGs are mesoporous materials, with pore narrow slit type and slit type, respectively. Moreover, the Al-PILCs showed reasonable surface area greater than the corresponding ARGs. Other analyzes were made on clays: the content of Si, Fe and Al; CEC, FTIR, TGA and TGD. Brasgel pillared clays have been used as catalyst in the isomerization reaction of the styrene oxide in refluxing. The reaction was selective for the formation of phenylacetaldehyde. Al-PILCFe and Al-PILCFe/silt clays showed better catalytic performance (100% conversion in 20 min of reaction). Thus, the pillared clays Brasgel presented as a Clean Technology in the isomerization reaction of styrene oxide to phenylacetaldehyde. Keywords: Sustainable Development. Clean Technology. Green Chemistry. Pillared Clays. Isomerization of Epoxides.
15

Highway to Hell? : Evaluating the effect of environmental policy on emissions from the Swedish truck fleet / Highway to Hell? : Utvärdering av effekten av miljöpolitik på utsläpp från den svenska lastbilsflottan

Johansson, Eleanor January 2019 (has links)
The aim of this thesis is to examine the emissions from the Swedish truck fleet between 2007- 2014. By descriptive analysis the emissions of NOx, PM, HC and CO are found to decrease at the truck level, the firm level and municipal level. A difference-in-difference analysis is performed to Stockholm municipality where a low emissions zone (LEZ) is located. Heavy trucks in the transportation sector are examined. Emissions are found to decrease more outside of the LEZ than within. This contrasts to other studies on LEZs and to the political goal of the zone. These results indicate that a green transition is occurring in the Swedish truck fleet. Moreover, the adjustment to the LEZ appears to mainly force the firms with dirty trucks located outside of Stockholm municipality to switch to cleaner vehicles / Målet med denna uppsats är att undersöka utsläpp från den svenska lastbilsflottan mellan 2007- 2014. Med hjälp av deskriptiv analys, visas att utsläppen av NOx, PM, HC och CO minskar på lastbils, företags, och kommunnivå. En difference-in-differences analys görs på Stockholms kommun där en miljözon (LEZ) finns. Tunga lastbilar i transportsektorn är undersökta. Utsläpp minskar mer utanför miljözonen än inuti. Detta står i kontrast till andra studier, samt till det politiska målet med miljözonen. Dessa resultat indikerar att en grön övergång sker i den svenska lastbilssektorn. Dessutom är anpassningen till miljözonen verkar främst påverka företag med smutsiga lastbilar som är lokaliserade utanför Stockholms kommun att byta till renare fordon.
16

Is the Swedish Environmental Goods and Services Industry Green? : Product and production perspectives

Guziana, Bozena January 2010 (has links)
<p>In most business sectors environmental programs focus on direct, production-related environmental impacts. The design and development of products with reduced environmental impact is considered more difficult. The opposite applies in the environmental technology sector. The business model of environmental technology companies focuses on delivering solutions that contribute to improving the environmental performance of their customers. Products and services delivered by this sector have prominent environmental profiles. However, companies in this sector may not necessarily set and implement environmental goals for their own activities and manufacturing processes, and may not clearly distinguish between production and product related environmental aspects.</p><p>This thesis presents results of an online survey of environmental technology companies listed by the Swedish Environmental Technology Council (Swentec). The survey found that depending on the subsector, only between 21% and 45% of companies provide information about their environmental work on their website.</p><p>Environmental impacts of a company may be product and/or production related. The survey found that these dimensions are treated differently, and are not always clearly differentiated in environmental tools and guidelines, such as the ISO 14000 series, the Reporting Guidelines for UK Business, the GRI and The Swedish Annual Accounts (ÅRL). There are also differences in the ways that information about production and product related environmental impacts are considered within the environmental technology industry. Some companies clearly distinguish between product and activity related environmental issues, while others are unclear about the distinction between their products and their activities in environmental policies and management. While some companies in the sector limit the environmental information they disseminate to the environmental benefits of their products, others explicitly articulate that the predominantly product related environmental profiles in the sector drive them to additionally minimise environmental impacts of their own activities.</p><p>This thesis proposes environmental aspects of products and production as bases for corporate environmental profiles, corporate greening, and for defining ‘green’ and ‘green-green’ business, and concludes that companies within the environmental industry should be expected to be green-green business. This thesis concludes that companies within the environmental technology sector should increase their use of both production and product related environmental profile information in their presentations on their own websites and at platforms such as Swentec. Furthermore, the thesis shows that the use of the term ‘process’ within environmental technology sector to describe both the companies’ own operations and their products can create ambiguities in understanding. Companies that deliver ‘processes’ as products should avoid ambiguity by describing their own operations with terms such as ‘production processes’, ‘production’, ‘manufacturing process’, ‘operation’ or ‘activity’.</p> / <p>Ett företags miljöpåverkan kan vara kopplad till tillverkningsprocesser och till produkter. Miljöprogram inom de flesta industrisektorer är inriktade på direkta, produktionsrelaterade miljöaspekter. Däremot anses design och utveckling av produkter med minskad miljöpåverkan svårare. Inom miljötekniksektorn gäller det motsatta. Miljöteknikföretag erbjuder produkter och tjänster med framträdande miljöprofil och levererar lösningar som bidrar till förbättrad miljöprestanda hos deras kunder. Det betyder inte nödvändigtvis att dessa företag arbetar med miljömässiga mål för egna aktiviteter och tillverkningsprocesser, dvs. att dessa företag gör distinktion mellan tillverknings- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter.</p><p> </p><p>Det övergripande syftet med avhandlingen är att öka förståelse av och insikt i miljöengagemang och miljöprofil inom miljöteknikföretag. Studien innehåller en onlineundersökning av miljöarbetet inom företag som är listade av Sveriges miljöteknikråd, Swentec i dess nätverk för den svenska miljöteknik­ sektorn. Studien visar att, beroende på undersektor, mellan 21 % och 45 % av företagen i undersökta miljöteknikområden har lagt ut information om sitt miljöarbete på företagets hemsida. Information om produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöfrågor varierar. Det finns företag som tydligt skiljer mellan produktorienterade miljöfrågor och miljöfrågor som berör deras tillverkningsprocesser och aktiviteter. Andra företag gör ingen tydlig åtskillnad mellan dessa frågor i sina miljöpolicydokument och miljöprogram. Vissa företag i branschen begränsar sin miljöinformation till miljömässiga fördelar med deras produkter. Det finns dock företag som tydligt uttalar att sektorns produktrelaterade miljöprofil är en drivkraft för att minimera miljöpåverkan från sin egen verksamhet.</p><p>I studien framkommer också att produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter behandlas på olika sätt, och är inte alltid tydligt differentierade i olika miljöverktyg och riktlinjer, som i ISO 14000 serien, Rapporteringsriktlinjer för UK Business, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) och i den svenska årsredovisningslagen (ÅRL).</p><p> </p><p>Produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter föreslås som dimensioner i ett företags miljöprofil och i beskrivning av företagets miljövänlighet. Det samma gäller som grund för definition av ’gröna’ och ’grön-gröna’ företag. En viktig ståndpunkt i denna avhandling är att företag inom miljötekniksektorn bör vara ’grön-gröna’ företag och att dessa företag bör öka användningen av informationen om produktions- och produktrelaterad miljöprofil, både på sina egna hemsidor och i sina presentationer inom nätverk som Swentec. Dessutom visar studien att användningen av begreppet "process" inom miljöteknikföretag för såväl den egna verksamheten som för sina produkter i vissa fall är otydlig. För att undvika denna oklarhet bör företag med ’processer’ som egna produkter, beskriva företagens egna verksamheter med begrepp som ’produktionsprocess’, ’produktion’, ’tillverkningsprocess’, ’aktiviteter’ eller liknande.</p>
17

Is the Swedish Environmental Goods and Services Industry Green? : Product and production perspectives

Guziana, Bozena January 2010 (has links)
In most business sectors environmental programs focus on direct, production-related environmental impacts. The design and development of products with reduced environmental impact is considered more difficult. The opposite applies in the environmental technology sector. The business model of environmental technology companies focuses on delivering solutions that contribute to improving the environmental performance of their customers. Products and services delivered by this sector have prominent environmental profiles. However, companies in this sector may not necessarily set and implement environmental goals for their own activities and manufacturing processes, and may not clearly distinguish between production and product related environmental aspects. This thesis presents results of an online survey of environmental technology companies listed by the Swedish Environmental Technology Council (Swentec). The survey found that depending on the subsector, only between 21% and 45% of companies provide information about their environmental work on their website. Environmental impacts of a company may be product and/or production related. The survey found that these dimensions are treated differently, and are not always clearly differentiated in environmental tools and guidelines, such as the ISO 14000 series, the Reporting Guidelines for UK Business, the GRI and The Swedish Annual Accounts (ÅRL). There are also differences in the ways that information about production and product related environmental impacts are considered within the environmental technology industry. Some companies clearly distinguish between product and activity related environmental issues, while others are unclear about the distinction between their products and their activities in environmental policies and management. While some companies in the sector limit the environmental information they disseminate to the environmental benefits of their products, others explicitly articulate that the predominantly product related environmental profiles in the sector drive them to additionally minimise environmental impacts of their own activities. This thesis proposes environmental aspects of products and production as bases for corporate environmental profiles, corporate greening, and for defining ‘green’ and ‘green-green’ business, and concludes that companies within the environmental industry should be expected to be green-green business. This thesis concludes that companies within the environmental technology sector should increase their use of both production and product related environmental profile information in their presentations on their own websites and at platforms such as Swentec. Furthermore, the thesis shows that the use of the term ‘process’ within environmental technology sector to describe both the companies’ own operations and their products can create ambiguities in understanding. Companies that deliver ‘processes’ as products should avoid ambiguity by describing their own operations with terms such as ‘production processes’, ‘production’, ‘manufacturing process’, ‘operation’ or ‘activity’. / Ett företags miljöpåverkan kan vara kopplad till tillverkningsprocesser och till produkter. Miljöprogram inom de flesta industrisektorer är inriktade på direkta, produktionsrelaterade miljöaspekter. Däremot anses design och utveckling av produkter med minskad miljöpåverkan svårare. Inom miljötekniksektorn gäller det motsatta. Miljöteknikföretag erbjuder produkter och tjänster med framträdande miljöprofil och levererar lösningar som bidrar till förbättrad miljöprestanda hos deras kunder. Det betyder inte nödvändigtvis att dessa företag arbetar med miljömässiga mål för egna aktiviteter och tillverkningsprocesser, dvs. att dessa företag gör distinktion mellan tillverknings- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter.   Det övergripande syftet med avhandlingen är att öka förståelse av och insikt i miljöengagemang och miljöprofil inom miljöteknikföretag. Studien innehåller en onlineundersökning av miljöarbetet inom företag som är listade av Sveriges miljöteknikråd, Swentec i dess nätverk för den svenska miljöteknik­ sektorn. Studien visar att, beroende på undersektor, mellan 21 % och 45 % av företagen i undersökta miljöteknikområden har lagt ut information om sitt miljöarbete på företagets hemsida. Information om produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöfrågor varierar. Det finns företag som tydligt skiljer mellan produktorienterade miljöfrågor och miljöfrågor som berör deras tillverkningsprocesser och aktiviteter. Andra företag gör ingen tydlig åtskillnad mellan dessa frågor i sina miljöpolicydokument och miljöprogram. Vissa företag i branschen begränsar sin miljöinformation till miljömässiga fördelar med deras produkter. Det finns dock företag som tydligt uttalar att sektorns produktrelaterade miljöprofil är en drivkraft för att minimera miljöpåverkan från sin egen verksamhet. I studien framkommer också att produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter behandlas på olika sätt, och är inte alltid tydligt differentierade i olika miljöverktyg och riktlinjer, som i ISO 14000 serien, Rapporteringsriktlinjer för UK Business, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) och i den svenska årsredovisningslagen (ÅRL).   Produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter föreslås som dimensioner i ett företags miljöprofil och i beskrivning av företagets miljövänlighet. Det samma gäller som grund för definition av ’gröna’ och ’grön-gröna’ företag. En viktig ståndpunkt i denna avhandling är att företag inom miljötekniksektorn bör vara ’grön-gröna’ företag och att dessa företag bör öka användningen av informationen om produktions- och produktrelaterad miljöprofil, både på sina egna hemsidor och i sina presentationer inom nätverk som Swentec. Dessutom visar studien att användningen av begreppet "process" inom miljöteknikföretag för såväl den egna verksamheten som för sina produkter i vissa fall är otydlig. För att undvika denna oklarhet bör företag med ’processer’ som egna produkter, beskriva företagens egna verksamheter med begrepp som ’produktionsprocess’, ’produktion’, ’tillverkningsprocess’, ’aktiviteter’ eller liknande.
18

Clean technology transition potential in South Africa's gold mining sector : case of Harmony's Kusasalethu Mine

Chavalala, Bongani 03 July 2014 (has links)
Countries and governments around the world have accepted the scientific argument on the prevalence and the possible effect of global warming and climate change on the environment, world economy and ultimately human life (Nhamo, 2011). Amongst all industrial corporations, the mining industry is the biggest environmental polluter due to its extractive nature and energy intensive operations. However because of its economic importance, it cannot be abandoned, instead it needs to find a win-win situation, where it continues to succeed but minimizes environmental damage. This thesis aims to examine the possible impact of clean technology on the sustainability of South African gold mining sector. Specifically, the study aims to determine the drivers behind the move towards clean technologies and methods, identify challenges and opportunities associated with this transition at Harmony Gold’s Kusasalethu mine. This was achieved through using Kusasalethu as a case study to which investigations of the effectiveness of clean technology and methods were carried out. The case study was multidimensional; exploring the effect of clean technology on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission (GHG), water consumption, cyanide management and Kusasalethu’s financial performance. While the case study was largely qualitative it involved quantitative data analysis that had to be triangulated with other data sources and data gathering instruments to achieve legitimacy. This meant that the study had to adopt the mixed research methods. The instruments used included; key informant interviews, and document analysis, structured questionnaire and a set of open ended questions that served as interview guide. The qualitative data were analyzed by means of coding, descriptions, typologies, taxonomies and visual representations, whilst quantitative data were processed through Microsoft Excel to generate various forms of descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that resource consumption (energy, water, cyanide) depends on the mine design and gold output rate. Clean technology implementation at Kusasalethu helped the mine reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions. However scope 2 (indirect GHG emissions associated with energy consumption) is also determined by coal production technologies and methods used by coal mines. Although data on Kusasalethu water and cyanide management and related technologies was not available, the aggregate data for all Harmony Gold mines indicated higher annual water and cyanide consumption during 2010 and 2012. In terms of Kusasalethu’s financial performance and clean technology adaptation, acquisition of clean technologies increased capital expenditure temporarily. However, the positive effects of the clean technology transition and implementation minimized operational cost and increased operational profit greatly. Although adopting clean technologies calls for increased capital expenditure, this study reveals that this expenditure pays off in lower operation costs for the mine and the environment benefits through lower GHG emission. However, clean technologies are yet to impact significantly in lowering water and cyanide consumption levels as they do with energy consumption. The study concluded that clean technology and methods played a positive role on Kusasalethu’s environmental impact and financial performance by reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions. Though, more need to be done in terms of water and cyanide management. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)
19

Clean technology transition potential in South Africa's gold mining sector : case of Harmony's Kusasalethu Mine

Chavalala, Bongani 03 July 2014 (has links)
Countries and governments around the world have accepted the scientific argument on the prevalence and the possible effect of global warming and climate change on the environment, world economy and ultimately human life (Nhamo, 2011). Amongst all industrial corporations, the mining industry is the biggest environmental polluter due to its extractive nature and energy intensive operations. However because of its economic importance, it cannot be abandoned, instead it needs to find a win-win situation, where it continues to succeed but minimizes environmental damage. This thesis aims to examine the possible impact of clean technology on the sustainability of South African gold mining sector. Specifically, the study aims to determine the drivers behind the move towards clean technologies and methods, identify challenges and opportunities associated with this transition at Harmony Gold’s Kusasalethu mine. This was achieved through using Kusasalethu as a case study to which investigations of the effectiveness of clean technology and methods were carried out. The case study was multidimensional; exploring the effect of clean technology on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission (GHG), water consumption, cyanide management and Kusasalethu’s financial performance. While the case study was largely qualitative it involved quantitative data analysis that had to be triangulated with other data sources and data gathering instruments to achieve legitimacy. This meant that the study had to adopt the mixed research methods. The instruments used included; key informant interviews, and document analysis, structured questionnaire and a set of open ended questions that served as interview guide. The qualitative data were analyzed by means of coding, descriptions, typologies, taxonomies and visual representations, whilst quantitative data were processed through Microsoft Excel to generate various forms of descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that resource consumption (energy, water, cyanide) depends on the mine design and gold output rate. Clean technology implementation at Kusasalethu helped the mine reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions. However scope 2 (indirect GHG emissions associated with energy consumption) is also determined by coal production technologies and methods used by coal mines. Although data on Kusasalethu water and cyanide management and related technologies was not available, the aggregate data for all Harmony Gold mines indicated higher annual water and cyanide consumption during 2010 and 2012. In terms of Kusasalethu’s financial performance and clean technology adaptation, acquisition of clean technologies increased capital expenditure temporarily. However, the positive effects of the clean technology transition and implementation minimized operational cost and increased operational profit greatly. Although adopting clean technologies calls for increased capital expenditure, this study reveals that this expenditure pays off in lower operation costs for the mine and the environment benefits through lower GHG emission. However, clean technologies are yet to impact significantly in lowering water and cyanide consumption levels as they do with energy consumption. The study concluded that clean technology and methods played a positive role on Kusasalethu’s environmental impact and financial performance by reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions. Though, more need to be done in terms of water and cyanide management. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)
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Organisational Learning in Business Model Innovation in the Bottom of Pyramid market : An empirical fieldwork about the market introduction of clean cookstoves in Mozambique

Premer, Stefan, Nansubuga, Brenda January 2018 (has links)
There is a need for cleaner technology initiatives into the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) market to combat the effects of climate change. The difficulty of these initiatives lies in their business model innovation process, as those organisations struggle in finding adequate strategies to establish their business in the BoP market. The BoP market is characterised as highly uncertain, which makes the operation of businesses challenging. Hereby the thesis aims at answering the question on how organisational learning occurs in business model innovation in the BoP market. Through a case study approach, the thesis intends to understand the requirements to establish a functioning business model by analysing organisational learning under business model innovation within the BoP market. This has been realised through a three week field study in Northern Mozambique, observing the market introduction of a cleantech company operating in this context. Hereby the business model innovation process and the environment of operation was analysed. This research contributes to the current discussion of business model innovation in BoP markets by detecting organisational learning as a useful mechanism and adding relevant insights on how organisational learning occurs in this specific context. Therefore the study opens the discussion on organisational learning in business model innovation in the context of the BoP market by asking for further studies on the topic.

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