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Feedback sought for updated B-cycle scheme

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19 Jul, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

Australia’s Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) has begun to consult with industry on its proposal to update the B-cycle Scheme. Launched in 2022, B-cycle is Australia’s first nationwide, government-backed battery stewardship scheme.

The B-cycle Scheme Review is being conducted due to significant market changes and the evolving risk profile of batteries, which call for adaptations to the current Scheme design.

The review will explore the inclusion of new battery categories such as loose batteries under 60 kg, including in portable energy storage; embedded batteries not covered by existing regulated schemes; and vapes (both legal and illegally imported). Emerging markets of battery categories will also be considered, such as installed or high-voltage environments, energy storage (residential and grid) and electric vehicles.

By implementing the changes proposed in the Scheme Review, B-cycle aims to achieve its mission of establishing a circular economy for batteries in Australia.

BSC is inviting representatives from industry, government and organisations to provide written feedback on the B-cycle Scheme Review Consultation Paper. Additionally, in-person consultation events are taking place around Australia during July 2024.

In preparation for the Scheme review and consultation, BSC acknowledged that:

  • B-cycle has built a solid foundation for improving battery stewardship and for leveraging BSC’s experience and learning since its launch in early 2022;
  • the current Scheme design is limited in its ability to deliver BSC’s mission to create a circular economy for batteries given the degree of market change and the changing risk profile of batteries;
  • the current Scheme design does not provide adequate financial arrangements necessary for a range of market and economic changes and trends;
  • regulation will be needed to ensure full participation in the Scheme and prevent free riding.
     

Once feedback is received, BSC plans to refine the proposed Scheme design and conduct further consultation as needed. The final approach will be informed by industry feedback and, subject to approval by the BSC Board and the authorisation of the ACCC, B-cycle 2.0 will launch in July 2025.

The deadline for written feedback on the consultation paper is Friday, 2 August 2024. All written feedback can be submitted here. In-person consultation events are as follows:

  • Tuesday, 23 July, 10 am–3 pm including lunch. Register here.
  • Thursday, 25 July, 10 am–3 pm including lunch. Register here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Benjamin Robinson

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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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