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Veggie and winegrowers supported in sustainable water use

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10 Jun, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

Western Australia’s Cook government has doubled the size of grants for horticulture and viticulture growers who rely on the Gnangara groundwater system — Perth’s largest natural water source for drinking water and private supply.

The increased funding is intended to drive sustainability in the sector and protect this valuable water resource.

As part of the $1.19 million Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency Grants Program, up to $100,000 will be made available to growers, and grower co-contribution requirements will be reduced.

“This government has listened to growers who depend on Gnangara groundwater and we’ve adapted this important program to help commercial horticulture and viticulture growers adopt more efficient irrigation strategies for the future,” said Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis.

The grants will help Gnangara growers to install water use efficiency infrastructure, including irrigation system design, soil and crop sensor technology, permanent protected cropping and soil amelioration.

Vouchers of up to $5000 are also available for professional advice to help develop efficient irrigation systems and to adopt new technology and sustainable cropping strategies.

“These grants will drive more sustainable use of groundwater for horticulture and viticulture from the Gnangara groundwater system, so the area can continue to provide fresh produce and employment opportunities close to Perth,” said Water Minister Simone McGurk.

“The program will assist the horticulture sector with the transition to reduced groundwater use before lower water entitlements come into effect from 2028 as part of the Gnangara Groundwater Allocation Plan.”

For more information and to apply for a Gnangara Horticultural Water Use Efficiency Grant or voucher, visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/horticulture-water-use-efficiency-grants. Applications close 30 June 2025.

Image credit: iStock.com/BeyondImages

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ABB receives EPD status for gearless mill drive ring motor

ABB receives EPD status for gearless mill drive ring motor

ABB has gained Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) status for its Gearless Mill Drive (GMD) ring motor — technology used to drive large grinding mills in the mining industry.

An EPD is a standardised document that provides detailed information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. Based on a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, the EPD highlights ABB’s commitment to transparency, environmental responsibility and supporting customers in making informed decisions on sustainability in their supply chains.

ABB analysed the environmental impact of a ring motor across its entire life cycle from supply chain and production to usage and end-of-life disposal. The study was conducted for a ring motor of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill with an installed power of 24 MW and was based on a reference service life of 25 years.

“Sustainability is at the core of our purpose at ABB, influencing how we operate and innovate for customers,” said Andrea Quinta, Sustainability Specialist at ABB. “By earning the Environmental Product Declaration for our ring motor, we emphasise our environmental stewardship and industry leadership for this technology. We adhered to the highest standards throughout this process, as we do in the ABB Ring Motor factory every day. This recognition highlights to the mining industry what they are bringing into their own operations when they work with ABB.”

The comprehensive LCA was conducted at ABB’s factory in Bilbao, Spain, and was externally verified and published in accordance with international standards ISO 14025 and ISO 14040/14044. It will remain valid for five years.

The ring motor, a key component of the GMD, is a drive system without any gears where the transmission of the torque between the motor and the mill is done through the magnetic field in the air gap between the motor stator and the motor rotor. It optimises grinding applications in the minerals and mining industries by enabling variable-speed operation, leading to energy and cost savings.

The full EPD for the ABB GMD Ring Motor can be viewed on EPD International.

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